Page 20 of Winter's Surprise
“It’s my turn!” Michelle whined.
Jake smiled at the baby. “Shh… Elle, you’re going to wake him up!”
She crossed her arms and pouted. When she turned from the impossible, baby-stealing man, she found three pairs of eyes on Jake. Part sadness and part hope shone in his direction. The man didn’t notice it one bit. He was entirely enthralled with his godson.
Michelle had learned that little fact after they were allowed back into the room. She also learned that nurses were incredibly protective over new mothers. The group was kicked out of the room soon after Bobby was cleaned, so they could show her how to breastfeed the hungry newborn.
“I’m sorry to say, visiting hours are over. It’s time mom and baby get some rest,” a nurse informed them from the doorway.
Michelle sighed as she realized her turn to cuddle wouldn’t happen until tomorrow’s visiting hours. “Baby stealer,” she mumbled at Jake.
She watched him stand and walk Bobby back to Janey. The moment his lips pressed against the peach fuzz on the baby’s head, Michelle felt her heart trip right over itself. The sweet kiss did things to her insides that she was too afraid to process.
“Thanks for coming today. You guys are our family, and I couldn’t have done this without you,” Janey whispered as she cuddled her son in her arms. Michelle could hear the utter exhaustion in her friend’s voice.
Jake bent over Janey and kissed her cheek. She couldn’t hear Janey’s whispered words. Jake’s expression became somber before it lightened. A smile crinkled his eyes. “Love you, Janey-girl.”
Michelle didn’t have a lot of time to examine their exchange as her friend’s attention moved from Jake to her. She kissed her godson’s head and looked at her friend whose eyes were narrowed on her.
Janey raised her brow. “We are going to have a long little talk when my vagina’s not on fire from being torn into two.”
“You did great, Janey. I’m so proud of you!” Michelle said, evading her friend’s threat.
Michelle and Jake walked out of the room and down to the elevators hand in hand.
“He’s so beautiful,” she told Jake with a sigh. Today would go down in Michelle’s memory book as one of her most exceptional days. Between her time with Jake to being there when Bobby was born, her grateful meter was filled.
When Jake only remained quiet, she turned to him and noticed the faraway look on his face. His mood was somber, unlike ten minutes ago.
“Guys, wait up!” Scott called as the doors began to shut.
They held the doors open, and Scott joined them. “Any way you guys can drop me off at the house?”
“Sure,” Jake told him. Michelle noted with that one word how thick with emotion his voice sounded.
The ride in the elevator went quickly. The trio moved through the hallways and outside. They walked in silence to Jake’s car. She held Jake’s hand the whole time but could feel a wall between them that wasn’t there hours ago.
“I can’t believe I’m an uncle,” Scott said after a period of thick silence.
Michelle glanced at Jake who only acknowledged his friend’s words with a look in the rearview mirror and a nod of his head.
“Jake… um… I know this is—”
“Scotty,” Jake warned.
The rest of the ride was spent in silence. Scott was dropped off at Janey’s, and then they were on their way once again. Michelle thought through all the information she learned about Jake in these last few days. The grief she’d witnessed once was drowning the man next to her now.
They arrived at her place, and Jake put the car in park. She stared out the windshield as snowflakes drifted by. Michelle didn’t know what to do—if she should push or let him be. Seeing him hurt like he was felt awful.
She had not been so affected by another’s misery, except for Janey’s, in so long that the feeling felt foreign. All she could think was that Jake shouldn’t be by himself.
“Come inside?” Michelle asked and turned toward him. “We can watch a movie or have a drink or just—”
“I’m not the best company right now,” he mumbled.
Michelle removed her gloves and cupped his face. “Come inside, honey,” she pleaded. “It’s warm inside. You can hang out while I get some things cleaned up. You don’t have to talk. Just don’t go, not when you’re clearly upset.”
She took a chance and switched off the car and removed the keys. Jake didn’t say a word, only watched her movements. Michelle got out of the car and shut the door, hoping he would follow her. She forced her feet to move, and as she let herself in, she heard his car door shut.
