Takeoff (Open Skies #5) - Becca Jameson Page 0,41
her gaze to look at Raeann. “Oh,” she repeated. “I’m so sorry. You were on a date.” She glanced back and forth between them, her hand coming to her chest.
An older man was sitting at the kitchen table. He was holding a bag of ice to his forehead, and there was blood on his shirt.
Deacon’s mother wiped her hands on a towel and extended one to Raeann. “I’m so sorry, dear. I’m Marcy. This is my husband, Ted. We had a little accident.”
“Nice to meet you both.”
“Goodness, I interrupted your date.” She glanced back and forth again.
“Mom, it’s okay,” Deacon insisted. He shifted his niece’s weight to his hip and leaned in to lift the ice pack from his father’s forehead. “You really bonked yourself, Dad.” He turned to his mom. “You take Dad to the hospital and get that stitched up. I’ll stay here.”
His mother pursed her lips and wiped tears from her eyes before she rushed from the room.
Deacon turned his gaze toward the little girl. “I think I hear your brother. You want to stay with Papa while I go check on him?”
“I’ll go,” Raeann stated without thinking. “He won’t be hard to find.” She turned around and headed toward the hallway in the direction Marcy had gone. It only took seconds to follow the sound. When she pushed open the door, she found the little cherub standing in his crib, tears running down his face. He had on blue-footed pajamas like the pink ones his sister was wearing.
Raeann had no experience with kids. None. Zero. Zip. She’d never even changed a diaper. But she had empathy and common sense. “You’ve got this,” she muttered to herself as she closed the distance.
The little boy didn’t even care that she was a stranger. He lifted his arms in the air and let her pick him up, immediately snuggling into her chest, his chubby little arms wrapped around her neck.
There was a rocking chair in the corner, and Raeann shuffled toward it and sat, cuddling the warm bundle against her chest. “Shh. It’s okay.” She rubbed his back as she rocked.
He sniffled several times and settled down, going mostly limp in her arms. He smelled like baby lotion, so she didn’t think he needed a diaper change. Was he hungry?
The room was dimly lit by a nightlight, and Raeann shifted her attention to the doorway when a shadow fell into the room. It was Marcy. She was pulling on a sweater. “Thank you so much, dear. I’m so sorry I interrupted your date.”
“Don’t worry about it. Family comes first.” Raeann smiled.
“Well, make yourself at home here. I’m sure Deacon can get them settled quickly. It’s past their bedtimes.”
“What’s this little guy’s name?” Raeann asked.
“Oh, that’s Teddy.” She slapped her hand over her forehead. “And he didn’t have his bottle yet. That’s why he’s crying. I was about to feed him when Ted hit his head, so I put him in his crib to keep him safe while I took care of Ted. I meant to come back with his bottle.”
“Don’t worry. We’ll figure it out. You go take care of your husband.” Raeann didn’t have the foggiest notion of how she would figure it out, but hopefully, Deacon knew.
Raeann continued to rock Teddy for a while, mostly because he’d stopped crying, but also because it felt good holding him. She’d rarely held a baby. Hadn’t wanted to even. She’d told herself babies didn’t interest her since she knew she’d never have one.
Several minutes later, Deacon came into the room, shaking a bottle. The little girl was on her feet now, but holding on to his leg. Deacon froze just inside the room. “He stopped crying.”
“Yeah. He just wanted someone to pick him up.” Raeann finally lifted him away from her shoulder. She wasn’t entirely sure if he was still awake. He was though. His big eyes met hers. He was sucking his thumb.
“Mom said he hadn’t eaten. I can take him.” Deacon continued forward.
Raeann reached out a hand. “I can do it. I mean I assume I can.” She chuckled. “Are there any tricks or rules?”
The little girl giggled.
Raeann looked at her. “What’s your name? You didn’t tell me.”
“Katia,” she said proudly. “That’s my brudder, Teddy.”
“I heard. I think your brother is hungry.”
“He’s still a baby. He needs a bottle. I’m big.” She stood tall, her wild curls everywhere.
Raeann smiled. “I can see that. How old are you?”
She held up her hand. It took her a minute, but she