Page 77 of Luci’s Lullaby

We follow Charlee to the door, watching as she leaves. Luci’s busy chugging her bottle when I glance at her. “Did you hear her? She thinks I want her to leave.”

Luci grunts again. “No, I don’t like her that way. We’re friends.”

I gaze at Luci and all I can think of is Charlee holding her. She does it with such care and love. “I can totally just be friends with her.”

I sit down with her on the couch, putting my feet up. She stares at me with wide eyes, and I’m taken aback by how beautiful Luci truly is, so much like her mom. “You not only remind me of your mom but of Charlee. You could pass for being our daughter, you know that?”

Luci wraps her finger around my pinky. “Look at you, before long you’ll be holding your own bottle.”

I sit up, grabbing my phone.

Guess who just held my finger?

The Easter Bunny? ~C

Smartass

Language! ~C

She can’t read.

What are you saying? ~C

Luci’s the smartest baby ever in the history of ever. ~C

That she is.

You in bed?

I roll my eyes. “Why would you ask that?”

I am. ~C

You? ~C

Naw, she’s still eating.

She’s gonna drink the whole thing this time. ~C

It looks like it.

How much is left? ~C

Hang on, I’ll send a pic.

I flip the camera and snap a shot of Luci in my arms. Hitting send as soon as I approve of it.

Awe, look at y’all. ~C

See what you’re missing out on.

I know, wish I was there. ~C

Stop running away.

Stop pushing me. ~C

Luci finishes her milk, so I shove the cell in my pocket and take her bottle to the sink, rinsing it out. My messages go off several times as I walk to my bed, laying down with Luci beside me.