Page 13 of One Bride for Three Single Dads

The baby opened and closed her tiny little fists, kicking her legs beneath the lightweight blanket.

Amber looked up at me, smiling in an open and friendly way.

“She’s really a great baby,” she confided encouragingly. “Not all babies love formula, you know? They get gassy.”

“Oh, yeah, totally,” I smiled, marveling at this new piece of information.

“But not this little angel!” Amber continued, directing her oversized smile in the baby’s direction. “This little piggy eats everything!”

Behind us, Alexis and Cole started reciting “This little piggy went to market” from memory. When they got to the wee-wee-wee part, they burst out into giggles.

“You want to hold her?” Amber offered gently.

This was the moment I was dreading. Somehow, I figured actually getting the baby in my arms meant that for sure I could not back out.

I couldn’t just abandon a baby! What kind of monster does that?

And, yeah, I was right to be serious about it. Amber carefully arranged the blanket-wrapped body in my arms, making sure I didn’t throw her in the sink or drop her on the floor or anything.

Once confident that I was going to hold her, she stepped back and crossed her arms so she could look at me.

“You are gonna do fine,” she smiled. “Don’t you worry about a thing. Okay? Everything is going to be okay.”

I glanced up at her, wondering if I looked as terrified as I felt.

“Sweetie, it’s a lot,” she admitted sympathetically. “Three kids? Just like that? And believe me… those boys aren’t much better! They are practically kids themselves. But men always are, you know what I mean?”

Her laugh sounded like music. It went up, then back down. Cole and Alexis laugh behind me. I bet they had a lot of fun together. I wondered why she doesn’t want to keep on watching all the kids.

“Just a little word of advice…” she said, lowering her voice conspiratorially.

I nodded, ready to hear anything.

“Don’t fuck ’em, honey,” she finished.

“Excuse me?” I choked, surprised.

“Oh, I know it’s going to be tempting!” she laughed. “Believe me… I mean, I was married to Harrison, you know? Like, really married. For real.”

“Well, yes, I know.”

“Mm-hmm, oh yes,” she nodded. “And I still wanted to fuck them all. Like all three of them.”

I was unable to think of what to say. It seemed sort of… like a thing a mom would not say? Or like a thing that a married woman wouldn’t say? Even though I knew she wasn’t married to Harrison anymore?

I was totally confused.

“Ohhhhh, yes,” she sighed, drifting off as though carried away by a fantasy or dream. “The three of them… Like, all three?”

I shook my head, confused. “All three?” I repeated dumbly.

She opened her eyes widely, just staring at me until I caught on.

“Tell me you don’t see it,” she challenged me.

My mouth went dry.

“That’s just—”

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