that. Don’t say that.”
That made Danica laugh even more. “We’re gonna have to watch it from here on. Babies are sponges, and looks like he’s gonna start picking up and repeating everything we say.” Danica was right about that. No less than a half hour later when she was getting ready to give him his nighttime bottle, he started calling out for his baba as he watched her make it. For the third time that day, she and Orlando exchanged equally stunned looks before smiling big and discussing the baby’s latest milestone. Minutes later, she sat in the rocking chair in Orlando’s room as she rocked Oreo to sleep. She was enjoying listening to Orlando on the phone with his mother. He’d been on the phone with her now for a few minutes, gushing about the day’s exciting happening.
Danica glanced down at the baby, who had begun to doze off, and caressed his forehead, but her eyes were back on Orlando when she heard her name. “Yeah, I told you his first word was mama for Dani. I guess ’cause he’s around her so much now. I told you how quick he was to bond with her. It’s crazy, but she’s now mama to him.” Orlando’s bright eyes met Danica’s. “He’s still saying it, right? Like always ever since the first time.”
Danica smiled nervously but nodded. “Yeah, he is.”
She’d yet to meet Orlando’s mom in person, but she had chatted to the somewhat outspoken woman a few times over the phone. Nadia had called to introduce herself as Baby O’s grandmother and check on him the first day Danica had been left alone with her. She’d been nice enough, but as Felicia had that first day, Nadia had a few questions for Danica as well. Only her questions were more on the personal side rather than about her professional background. She’d asked Danica how old she was and if she had any kids of her own. Oddly enough, she’d also questioned Danica about the age of her boyfriend and how long they’d been together. Like with Felicia, Danica had politely answered her questions. Nadia hadn’t commented on the fact that Ted was twenty-four years her senior, but Danica had gotten a strange vibe from his mother. By the time Orlando was off the phone with his mom, the baby was good and out. Orlando walked over before she set him down in the crib and leaned in to kiss his forehead. As with all the other times he’d leaned in so close to her face because the baby was that close to her, Danica breathed in deeply. He was so close she felt the warmth of his breath as he said his good night to Oreo.
Before pulling away, Orlando paused when he glanced up and met Danica’s eyes. She’d been gazing at him and he’d caught her. Danica gulped hard, hoping he didn’t hear her because, as usual, for a moment, she felt struck. His eyes fell to her lips once again, and for just an instant before he seemed to catch himself like all the other times, he finally pulled away. She set the baby down in the crib in Orlando’s room as her heart hammered away. They both slipped out quietly after Orlando set the baby monitor. They were silent for a few long moments as they walked through the hallway of his home. “What a day,” Orlando finally said when they were far enough away from the bedroom. “I think this calls for a celebratory beer. Care to join me?”
“I’m not much of a beer drinker.” Danica crinkled her nose just as Orlando turned to her; then she remembered something. “But I did make rice pudding today. Arroz con leche,” she clarified when he started to crinkle his nose. “That’d be a good way to celebrate for me. It was my favorite growing up, and I thought it’d be a nice treat for Oreo this weekend. You don’t like it?”
“Not sure I’ve ever had it,” he said in a cautious tone, but Danica couldn’t even blame him after all the cooking fails she’d had so far. Except this was the only thing aside from putting together a simple sandwich she’d mastered, and she could kick herself for not making it for him sooner. “But just the sound of rice pudding,” he said once again cautiously. “Doesn’t sound too appealing.”
“Oh, but it is. You have to try it. My mom made the absolute best arroz con leche when