Page 9 of Not the Bodyguard's Baby
“Mandy boxed everything up to donate to charity. It is stuff Joy has grown out of or duplicate gifts she received. She’s been waiting until I found out the gender of these three before donating. And since I don’t need any girl clothes, you are welcome to take your pick. There were a few things I would have kept, but Preston’s mum might not survive the wordhand-me-downfor her grandbabies. I think she is buying up half of Europe as we speak.”
Adam shook his head. “Do you and Mandy realize hand-me-downs are not something normal in the way upper 1 percent?”
Abbie laughed. “Chicago society might never be the same because of the two of us, and now with Candace married to Colin, no telling what will happen to Chicago’s upper crust.”
“As long as you don’t create a scandal, they will survive. But a few might skip your parties.” Adam shook his head as he walked upstairs to the room his mother had set up as a grandbaby paradise. This diaper changing went much better, with no clothing damaged in the process. Maybe he could figure out this baby thing after all.
* * *
The breast pump beeped. September checked the bag.
Empty.
Empty arms.
Empty heart.
She tried to pump before going to sleep. The bottles were almost empty.
If only her dreams were empty too.
* * *
The aisle of diapers went on forever. Adam pulled out his phone and texted Abbie.
What kind of diapers should I buy?
— Mandy likes the ones in the red box.
What size?
— Get 2 size ones and one size 2.
That many?
— 3 isn’t that many. Oh, don’t forget a couple boxes of wipes.
— and formula
— and diaper rash cream. There is none in the bag.
Anything else?
— Not tonight.
Adam pulled the policewoman’s card out of his pocket and found the formula she’d recommended. Did he need another bottle, too? The last time he was in the Crawford’s kitchen, there had been several draining on the sideboard. There had only been one in the diaper bag. The bottle display was more confusing than the diaper section. Its color coding and nipple shapes made little sense. He picked up one brand after another.
A woman with two children in her cart stopped next to him. “New baby?”
“Ya, kind of.”
“Six to eight weeks, I’d guess by the diapers. Trying to choose the first bottle?”
“Yes, her mom had been—” He felt the heat rise in his neck. Was it appropriate to discuss nursing with a stranger?
The woman picked up a bottle and a set of nipples. “Try these. All of my kids liked them the best. If this is the first bottle, you might want three or four.”
“Thanks.”
