Page 37 of A Moment Never Forgotten
“Rock. Casper. Py.” Mak stood gracefully, careful not to disturb the sleeping baby. “Thanks so much for all your help. I’d be insane right now if it weren’t for you.”
Each man looked at the sleeping baby in his arms, and their faces softened.
“She’s beautiful when she’s asleep.” William, whose nickname Micah now knew was Py, gently touched her head.
“She is a cute little shit,” Casper commented.
“Glad she’s yours and not mine,” Lincoln, “Rock”, said as he gave Mak a squeeze on his shoulder, a common silent signal that meantI’ve got your back. “I’ll see you pin-dicks in the morning,” he said on his way out the door.
“Lincoln lives here in the neighborhood,” Berit quietly explained to Micah. “They’re all in the same squad.”
Micah rubbed her shoulder. “Are you doing okay?”
“Yeah.” She looked at her son and her granddaughter. “May I hold her?”
“If she wakes up, she’s all yours,” Mak warned.
She scoffed. “She’s not the first baby I’ve ever held. I changed your diapers for years. Too many years, in fact. I was worried that you were going to have to go to kindergarten in diapers.” Her small smile was distant. “You never slowed down long enough to use the bathroom.”
His gaze swept the room. “Thank God the guys are gone. I’d never hear the end of that one.” He carefully handed his mother the baby, properly supporting its head. He then shook out his arms as though they’d been held in the same position too long. “If you’ve got her, I’ve got to piss.”
Berit immediately started to rock in place. “This precious little bundle is safe with me.”
As though the baby was aware that someone new was handling her, she stirred. As she blinked her eyes open, Micah noticed that they were the same light blue mixed with gray as Berit’s.
“Are we waking up?” Berit cooed to the baby. “What do you need first? A new diaper? Or a bottle?”
The baby simply stared as though studying this new person.
“Let’s go check this diaper.” Berit looked around. “Micah, have you seen the changing pad anywhere?”
He quickly scanned all visible surfaces. “No.” His gaze fell upon a baby bag. “Let me check in here.” He pulled out baby butt wipes knowing she would need those. The bag was relatively empty. On the other hand, the kitchen table was a disarray of spilled formula, several bottles with the empty formula bag still inside, and a dishtowel spread out next to the sink. A roll of toilet paper sat next to a few stacked diapers.
Mak returned looking expectantly at his mother. “She’s awake.” His eyes went wide. “And she’s not crying. Mom, you’re a miracle worker.”
“She just woke up. I need to check her diaper. Where’s the changing pad?” Berit nuzzled the baby’s belly and a giggle erupted from the child.
“What’s it look like?” Mak’s gaze darted around the room.
“About eighteen by thirty-six inches. Vinyl-covered pad usually an inch thick. I already checked the diaper bag.” Micah indicated the pink satchel.
“Is that what that thing’s for?” Mak dashed into the bedroom on the main floor and returned carrying a long, deep drawer. “We thought it was a mattress pad.” He set the drawer on the floor and pulled out the pad.
“What the hell is that?” Berit glared at the drawer.
“Her bed,” Mak said as though his mother was an idiot.
“You put the baby in a drawer?” Astonishment covered her face.
“Yeah. Casper’s sister had a rabbit at college and kept it in a drawer. If it was good enough for a rabbit, it should be good enough for a baby at least for one night.”
Micah laughed. “That was thinking out-of-the-box.”
“Please, for the love of God, tell me that you never closed the drawer.” Berit’s threatening look would have cowered most other men.
“Fuck, no. What do you think I am?” Mak scowled at his mother. “I had her in the bed with me, but then I didn’t think that would work. If I fell asleep and rolled over on her…” He shook his head. “Then I surrounded her with pillows on the bed, but I was afraid if she rolled over she might smother. Casper came up with this idea. We used our beach towels to pad the sides so she didn’t get any little slivers.”
“Ingenious.” Micah smiled.
