and maybe you two need some time alone.”
“I appreciate you saying that, baby, but I want you with us. I want you to get to know my sister while she’s here.”
“If that’s what you want,” I agree quietly.
“It’s what I want.” He touches his mouth to mine in a short kiss. “I’m going to change. When I get done, we’ll head out.”
“Sounds good.” He gives me a squeeze before walking off, and I watch him go. I ask Heather, “Do you want me to help with anything for Kennedy?”
“No, I’m used to doing it on my own.” She smiles at me, and I hate that is something she’s used to. Being a single parent isn’t easy, but being a single parent when you’re in a relationship must be worse.
“I can make a bottle,” I tell her, picking up a half-empty one from the coffee table.
“It’s okay. She had one not long ago, and I have travel formula packs. I’ll just bring those and a jar of her food with us and feed her at the restaurant.”
“Okay,” I agree, watching her change Kennedy’s diaper and put her in a different outfit, one warmer than the simple onesie she had on before. I take the bottle in my hand to the kitchen and rinse it, then place it in the sink.
“Do you mind holding her while I go to the bathroom?” Heather asks once she’s standing with Kennedy in her arms.
“Not at all.” I hold out my hands as she reaches for me. I place her on my hip and look down at her sweet little face before looking at her mom. “She’ll be okay.”
“Thanks.” She leaves and heads down the back hallway. I watch her go, then take a seat on the couch, laughing as Kennedy tries to eat my hair and drools on me in the process.
“Is Heather changing?” Tyler asks. He appears at the edge of the couch wearing different jeans and a long-sleeve henley.
“Using the bathroom.” I smile as he takes a seat next to us.
Kennedy loses interest in my hair and lunges for her uncle, who easily accepts the burden of her wiggling body. “She seems off,” he states quietly, and I know he’s talking about his sister.
“I don’t know her, but I think you’re right,” I whisper back. “This weekend, you should find time to talk with her alone. If you want, I’ll watch Kennedy. Maybe she’ll open up about things with you.”
“I think that’d be good,” he agrees. I lean into his side and watch him play with his niece. When Heather comes back, we all go out to dinner. It’s not the date we’d planned for tonight, but then again, it’s better, because I get to spend time with Tyler and his family.
Suggestion 10
DO NOT PANIC
LEAH
My front door opens, and Tyler walks in with Heather right behind him. I smile from where I’m lounging on the couch with Kennedy, who’s asleep on her stomach. I have a stack of pillows built into a wall to prevent her from rolling off. “How was lunch?” I ask quietly as Tyler greets me with a kiss.
“Good, baby, thanks for looking after Kennedy.”
I nod at him.
“Was she okay?” Heather asks, looking down at her sleeping girl.
“She was perfect. I gave her a bottle about an hour ago, and she fell asleep right after she burped.”
Her eyes come to me, and I see tears shimmer in them. “Thank you.”
“Anytime, seriously. I loved spending time with her,” I say softly.
I watch her inhale deeply and nod, and then she looks at her brother. “You can go make out with her now,” she says, and I start to laugh, and Tyler chuckles as I get up off the couch. She takes my seat and rests her hand on Kennedy’s bottom; she’s lounging on her side with her eyes on the TV.
The last couple of days, she has caught Tyler and I making out more than once. It’s not that we’re trying to hide our relationship; we just don’t want what we’re building to be in her face, especially with what she’s going through. Since Tyler only has one bed at his place, he gave it to his sister and has been sleeping with me at my place. Not that that’s new—he was staying with me before she arrived.
“Be back in a minute,” Tyler says, taking my hand and pulling me with him to the kitchen.
“How did it go?” I ask softly once we’re out of earshot of the living room.
“She opened