Page 41 of Mine To Honor (Southern Wedding)

“What medical school did she graduate from?” I hear Levi mumble to Cici who just chews on her pacifier, kicking her leg up.

“Did she break through yet?” she asks and my eyebrows pinch together.

“Break through what?” I ask, confused.

“Her gums, can you feel the teeth?” I turn, going to sit on the couch next to Levi and Cici.

“Hi, guys,” Levi says, holding up the hand that is cradling Cici, but only for a second.

“You need to feel her gums to see if you can feel teeth,” Addison instructs and I just look at Levi.

“I’m not doing that,” he retorts, putting his other hand over her face. “Leave her alone.” I hear Stefano laugh and see Levi glare at him. “What if I hurt her and she hates me?”

“She’s not going to hate you,” Stefano and Addison say at the same time.

“Why are you even talking?” Levi yells. “You weren’t there when Avery was teething, so you get no say in this. I’ll call you when she turns five and wants to borrow a tiara.” Stefano can’t help but throw his head back and laugh. I try not to focus on him saying he’ll call him when she turns five. “You’re on the girls’ side.”

“I’m not on anyone’s side.” He holds up his hands in a peaceful way.

“Fine, I’ll do it.” I’m not really sure I want to do it. Because what if Levi is right and it hurts her, what if she hates me for it? “I’m just going to feel your gums,” I tell Cici, who just looks at me.

I pull down her lower lip. “Her gums look white,” I observe, trying not to freak out, but Levi is the one who is freaking out.

“Is that normal?” he asks, looking like he’s going to escape from my touch. “Quick, you need to google.”

“I’m on the phone,” I remind him as I hold up the phone. “How do you want me to google?” All he can do is glare at me. I ignore him, sticking my finger into her mouth and feeling her bottom gum. My eyes fly to Levi’s. “Oh, I think I feel it.”

“I want to feel it.” He moves his hand up and he’s about to put his finger in her mouth, but he stops. “I don’t know if I can do it.”

“You just saw me do it,” I point out to him. “Did she cry? Just touch her bottom gum.”

He looks at Cici. “I’m only doing this because she told me and not because I want to.” I roll my eyes at him as Addison and Stefano chuckle from their end of the phone. He moves her lower lip down, looking down as he sticks his finger in her mouth, moving it gently on her bottom gum. “I think I feel it,” he says to me with shock all over his face. “It feels hard.”

“Check and see if it’s white,” I ask to make sure I saw what I saw.

“No.” He shakes his head as he wipes his wet finger in her shirt, not even caring.

“I’ll check.” I try to show him that it’s no big deal. “What is wrong with you?” I look up at him as he glares at me. I move her lip down and I can see two round puffy white marks on her lower gum.

“What helped with Avery,” Addison offers, “is teethers.” I look at Levi.

“Are you not taking notes?” he asks. “Like get a pen and paper so we can remember.”

“That you need a pen and paper to remember teethers is beyond me,” I snap at him. “It’s like teeth and ers.”

“What helps is putting them in the freezer so she can chew on them.” Addison tries to break up our little tiff.

“How long does this last?” Levi asks her.

“Avery started drooling at six months old and only broke through the gums at a year.”

“Six months!” Levi yells. “That isn’t normal.” Addison just laughs at him.

“Also, if you wet a facecloth and put it in the freezer for thirty minutes, that will help, too.” Addison smiles at me. “Definitely not a fun part of parenting.”

“No shit,” Levi mumbles, “six months. That’s like a lot of days.”

“That is like a lot of days,” Stefano repeats what he just said, shaking his head. “You’re a forensic accountant and don’t know how many days are in six months.”

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