Page 82 of Honest Boys Don’t Play

A few minutes later Bertie emerges in a pair of soft looking blue pants and just her nursing bra.

“Come here my hungry little monster.” She holds her hands out for him. “At the rate you’re going you’re going to be the size of your dad in a month.”

I chuckle. “God, I hope not.”

“You never know,” she says, taking the baby before she plops in the chair to my left. She unclips the bra and the baby immediately nuzzles his head into her breast and latches on. “God, that hurts. I thought it would be okay by now.”

“Do I need to get anything for you?”

“No.” She strokes Rory’s cheek. “I’ll do some research, though, and see if I come across anything that might help.”

I silently vow to do my own research as well, because I hate the idea of her suffering in any way.

We’ve already managed to fall into a routine so when Rory finishes eating, she passes him off to me to burp.

“He’s so small,” she says, watching me as I adjust his position since the first way I had him wasn’t working to bring up any burps. “I know I keep saying it, but I don’t know … I guess I haven’t been around babies enough to realize how tiny they are. Look at him, he’s smaller than your bicep.”

I throw my head back in laughter and Rory gives an annoyed grunt. Kid is only a few days old, and he’s already annoyed by me. Figures. “Your compliments are great for my ego.”

“It’s just the truth.” She yawns. “Why am I so tired? I thought I got a good amount of sleep.”

I nod toward the bed. “Go lay down and take a nap. I can handle watching this one.” Rory finally gives out a loud burp that sounds like it comes from a grown man not an infant.

“What time is your mom supposed to get here?”

“Not for a while yet. I think she said it would be around four o’ clock. She’s going to bring us dinner.”

Bertie frowns, wringing her fingers together. “She doesn’t need to do that.”

I’m not sure Bertie realizes it, but she has a difficult time letting anyone do anything to take care of her.

“She knows she doesn’t, but she wants to.”

“That’s really nice of her.” I eye her in concern when her eyes fill with unshed tears. “You’re so lucky to have such a great mom.”

My heart does a sad little dip for her. “Oh, baby. Come here.”

I open my arm that’s not holding Rory and let her dive in. She buries her head in the crook of my neck and sniffles. “I don’t know why I’m crying.”

“Because you’re allowed to be sad, baby.”

She lets me hold her for a good while before she finally gets up and fixes a fresh cup of water. “Are you sure you’re okay if I nap?” Her eyes bounce between mine and the baby in my arms.

“If we need you, I know how to get you. It’s not like there’s any walls.” I gesture around us and she gives a tired laugh.

“Good point.”

I turn the volume down on the TV, so it doesn’t disturb Bertie and put captions on instead. She brings the blankets up to her chin and I’m pretty sure she’s out within a minute, her breaths going soft and even.

Rory yawns sleepily and I rock him in my arms until he’s asleep too. I gently place him down in the bassinet beside the bed. Bertie keeps sleeping, unawares.

I smile at the two sleeping figures.

My heart is so full of love. For the both of them. My family.

CHAPTER 30

BERTIE