Page 69 of Finding Basil
That, however, wasn’t half as much as when Basil handed him to Herb. Holding that tiny creature…oh, love just radiated, pulsed through him and embedded into his very core. “Hi, baby. Hi. I’m one of your dads.”
Tilda was being worked on, getting ready to deliver the placenta, and Basil was holding her hand and hugging her around the neck. Herb told her, “Thank you. I cannot ever thank you enough. I truly owe you the world.”
“One more time, Dad. Then…you can find another girl for the baseball team or whatever you’re going for.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
They walked out as soon as the baby was cleaned and dressed and ready to be taken home. When they emerged, the entirefamily, including his parents, were there, all getting a glimpse of the new Jimenez/Buffet child.
Abuela held him first, and she cooed at him. “You look just like your daddy,” she said, then guiltily looked up at Herb. “I mean…”
“The next one will look like me a little, I hope, but I love this one looks like Basil. He’s the love of my life, after all.”
Basil kissed him while the family passed around the baby, and said, “I can’t believe how happy I am right now.”
“I would bet I’m as happy.”
“Of course. Shall we tell them his name?”
Herb nodded, and Basil took the baby from Carla, who’d been making silly faces at him.
“Everyone,” Basil said. “This is Sage.”
Not only did everyone clap and cheer, most also threw in some laughter.
Juan teased, “They had to name the kid after an herb. Are these guys cheesy, or what?”
“That’s us,” Basil said.
Chapter Eighteen
Thefirstfewnightswith Sage were interesting, to say the least. The little boy didn’t like sleep, it seemed. He slept only two hours at a time.
They were exhausted and still blissfully happy. Walking around in a fog while smiling the entire time made Herb feel like he was stoned.
The families had both stayed away so the little family could get into a routine, but on the fourth day, their mothers, Lila, and Abuela came to visit, and right away, saw what was happening.
“The little buster is kickin’ your keesters, huh?” Lila put so poetically.
Katherine and Michelle were in the nursery while Basil was falling asleep as he’d crossed his arms on the dining room table. Abuela pulled him away, whispering, “Let him sleep.”
“There?”
“Probably the most comfortable he’s been. Come.”
The nursery had been a gift from them, the four women. They designed it, and it was beautiful. The wallpaper was muted green with trees, grass and wildflowers growing up from the bottom.
The furniture was all light stained oak, and the knobs on the dressers and changing table were nickel plated flowers.
All over the room were tan and blue stuffed animals, and a tall oak lamp was topped with a thick rattan shade. In the corner was a gorgeous matching rocking chair with a green throw.
It was there that he found his mother, rocking little Sage as he cooed sweetly, as if he was talking to his grandmother.
“He’s been up a lot, I take it?” Michelle asked.
“Every two hours. It’s…a lot.”
Katherine moved from the rocker and ordered him to sit in it. “Go ahead. I’m going to change him, and you can get a little nap.”
