Baby Daddies - Tara Brown Page 0,96

I’ve met his parents once and all I recall from it was his mother telling me repeatedly how good I looked for being pregnant with twins.

“Mom, Dad, this is Rick and Judith, Jenny’s parents. Rick, Judith, these are my parents, Lorne and Verna. And this is my grandpa, Harlan Pigott.”

“Lovely to meet you,” Lori’s father says kindly.

“Yes, what a wonderful addition to the family.” Lori’s grandfather beams at his grandson. Lori winks at him. “And, Jenny, it’s nice to see you again.” He hugs me the same way he did the first time I met him at Christmas. “How’s Stan treating you?”

“Oh, he’s super sweet as always.” I smile, certain Harlan had a conversation with Stan at some point in my career. I suspect there might have been threats and promises.

“Of course he is.” Lori’s grandpa nods, satisfied.

Lori’s mother almost looks like she might sniff at my parents, but she manages a half smile and a weird handshake where her hand is sort of flat like she expects them to kiss the back.

“Guess we’re all grandparents together,” Judith says excitedly. “Very proud of these two.” She begrudgingly hands over Adeline to Lori’s mom. Lori, the helicopter parent, is there, ensuring the transition is smooth.

“Lawrence, I have held a baby before.” She sniffs at him and glances down at her granddaughter. Her face loses all the snobbery as she gushes, “Oh my, she’s stunning.”

“And this is the handsomest young man I’ve ever seen.” Lori’s dad is all charm and schmooze. Even so, I like him. He calls me Red and nudges me and stares at my boobs, and he’s still the easiest of our parents to be around.

We’re lucky to have Josh and Harlan. That’s all I’m going to say about that.

The evening progresses as his grandpa and I talk while Lori hovers over the parents who pass the twins, taking turns snuggling and smelling. It’s aggressive and handsy and even Millie sneaks a peek several times to ensure the kids are doing okay. She’s another helicopter. But I’m grateful for her.

The parents go check into the hotel as we order in dinner from downstairs. When they return we eat, watching the sleeping babies.

Judith tries to be fancy enough for Lorne and Verna, and Dad tries to ignore everything coming out of her mouth by talking to me and Harlan excessively.

But it’s okay, we needed the catch up and he and Lori’s grandfather are cut from the same working-man cloth.

By the time everyone leaves, I’m certain I’ve never been so tired, but the little savages are hungry and I’m the feed bag. We prop them up and nurse as a team effort.

Everything is a team effort.

Lori is the best teammate I’ve ever had.

He’s burping and changing and snuggling and rocking until he wears a path in the floor. And instead of just falling more in love with the babies every day, I fall more in love with him too.

The sun is gone, the babies are wiggling, and we’re lying in bed with them on the sheets. They’re touching each other as if they need to and I understand that feeling. “Thank you for being such an amazing person.”

“What?” He laughs as if it’s ridiculous. “You’re the one making humans.”

“And you’re the one making me sane and happy. And I don’t know how it’s possible you’re so friggin’ awesome, Lawrence Eckelston, but you are. You have insane parents and weird siblings. And somehow, you’re you. This perfect boyfriend and now baby daddy.”

He cringes.

“What? I’m being serious.” I sound drunk but it’s more delirious than anything else.

“Baby daddy.” He pulls back. “That’s gotta go, Red. I can’t do it. I’m not a baby daddy.”

“You totally are.”

“We’ll see.” He’s smug and secretive and I roll my eyes at it.

36

The best family a guy could choose

Saturday, July 21

Matt

Eli snuggles into my chest, his blond hair fluttering in the warm breeze coming off the Atlantic. He’s about to wake, which means he will be off and I’ll be running. But for now he’s peaceful.

“Lori, buying this place is the best damned decision you ever did make.” Bev lowers her sunglasses and gives him a cheeky grin. “Apart from convincing Jenny to date you.”

Jenny winks at her as she too is stuck in a chair holding Adeline who is protected from the sun by a shade.

Lori glances around the beach and nods. “I don’t know, Bev. This place might beat dating Jenny.”

I laugh at the size of the balls on this guy, knowing she could kill him