Chapter Seven #2
“It’s policy,” Kelsey replied. “Don’t get salty about it. You can bring the car around.”
Andrew grumbled something unintelligible about policies while Kelsey exchanged tearful goodbyes with Royce and Sawyer. They promised to send her pictures every day, and she vowed to get them hooked on reality television during their paternity leave.
“Not going to happen,” Royce called out.
Kelsey’s devilish cackle echoed in the hallway, and Darla wriggled in response.
“That’s a sound she’s used to hearing,” Royce said.
“Maybe we should get Kelsey to record herself reading books and play it for Darla if she gets fussy.”
Royce reached over and smoothed out the adorable furrow in Sawyer’s brow. “Don’t worry that we’re traumatizing our daughter by separating her from Kelsey, or fret that she doesn’t like the sound of our voices.”
“I wasn’t,” Sawyer protested weakly. But then he held up his thumb and forefinger an inch apart. “Perhaps a little. It’s like I’m afraid to be happy.”
“You’re projecting the angst from issues you refuse to dwell on to the things you can fix. You’re a problem solver.”
Sawyer cringed, and his cheeks turned pink. “I sound fun.”
“You’re a fu…flipping delight.”
“Nice catch,” Sawyer said.
“No, you are.”
Kitty walked into the room with paperwork in her hands. “I have your discharge papers.”
“Yes!” Royce fist-pumped the air. “No offense. You’ve all been lovely.”
“No, I get it,” Kitty said. “You’re looking forward to being comfortable in your own home.
” She looked around the room. “Wow, you’re all packed up and ready to go.
We just need to transfer Miss Darla Grace into her car seat so I can make sure she’s strapped in properly.
Then one of you will ride down in the wheelchair with her on your lap, while the other drives the car around to the porte cochère.
I’ll make sure her car seat snaps into the base correctly and turn you loose. ”
“I’ll take the wheelchair, and you get the car,” Sawyer said. “He’s a big fan of the wheelchair scene in Days of Thunder. I can’t imagine him challenging someone to a race with Darla on his lap, but let’s not risk it.”
Kitty laughed. “That’s one of my grandpa’s favorite movies, and I love that scene.”
Sawyer looked at Royce and mouthed, “Grandpa,” at him.
Royce barely resisted the urge to flip him off.
He collected the paperwork from Kitty instead and looped Darla’s diaper bag over his shoulder.
This was his life now, carting around stuff to wipe butts and feed a little person, and he couldn’t be happier.
Royce practically levitated down the corridors and out to their SUV.
Sawyer, Darla, and Kitty waited just inside the hospital until he pulled up under the canopy.
Royce parked and walked around to the rear passenger side, where they’d installed the car seat base.
He couldn’t help but smile at the memory of Sawyer whipping out a small level to make sure they’d evenly secured it on both sides.
He took full credit for that maneuver. Sawyer was pure Locke in name and attitude.
“Do you want me to snap in her carrier?” Royce asked Kitty.
“Not yet. I need to check the base’s installation first.”
Royce stepped out of the way as she performed her safety inspection.
“Snug as a bug,” Kitty declared once she finished. “Excellent job.”
Royce resisted the urge to preen, but just barely. He took the carrier from Sawyer and locked it into the base with a snap. He stepped aside again so Kitty could check the fit. She peeled back the light blanket Sawyer had draped over the car seat to keep Darla warm.
“You’re good to go, guys,” Kitty said. “It was lovely working with you both.”
They thanked Kitty and climbed into the SUV—Royce behind the wheel and Sawyer in the back seat next to Darla.
Royce cued the Baby Mozart soundtrack and eased away from the curb.
One of the favorite baby gadgets he’d purchased was a car seat monitoring system for both vehicles.
He mounted the camera at the rear of the vehicle and the display console on the dashboard.
It would come in handy when they had to take Darla places by themselves, but he especially loved the feature during their first ride home.
Royce glanced at the monitor every time he stopped at an intersection and fell deeper in love with both his husband and daughter.
If only he could stop time and savor this moment longer.
Then someone honked obnoxiously behind him when he’d remained stopped for an entire two seconds after a traffic light turned green.
“Jackass,” Royce muttered under his breath.
“We heard that,” Sawyer teased. “Pretty sure Darla’s little bow mouth started to form the word already.”
Royce chuckled and drove a few miles under the speed limit just to annoy the jerk behind him. They made it home without incident, though he’d irritated plenty of people by obeying the speed limits and traffic laws.
“We’re home,” Sawyer told Darla. “Bones and Dolly will be so excited to meet you.”
“Doubt it,” Royce replied. “Bones shares his dads with the dog he rescued, but I’m not sure what he’ll think about a baby.”
“Guess we’re about to find out,” Sawyer said as they pulled into the garage.
Royce cut the engine and pushed the button to close the door. “You get the baby, and I’ll bring in the bags.”
“We’ll both take our baby inside, and we’ll worry about the bags later.”
Royce grabbed the diaper bag from the front seat and followed Sawyer around the vehicle so they could get Darla.
She was sound asleep in her car seat and didn’t react when they carried her inside the house.
Royce sure did because something smelled delicious.
He stopped in the kitchen, tilted his head back, and sniffed the air. “I smell beef and rich gravy.”
“You could just open the lids on the pots and see what she made,” Sawyer said.
“Where’s the challenge in that?” Royce took another sniff. “I smell potatoes and carrots.”
“No one smells carrots,” Sawyer replied.
“I do.”
Evangeline hustled into the kitchen, halted five feet away from them, and performed a happy dance. She took a deep breath and pushed her hands down as she exhaled. “Okay. I’m good.” Evangeline calmly walked toward them and said, “Welcome home.”
Sawyer kissed her cheek and gave her a one-armed hug. Royce wrapped her up with both arms when it was his turn.
“Dad is in the living room. He’s taken over your recliner and your pets,” Evangeline teased. “Eddie and Jo are on their way too. I hope you don’t mind that I invited them.”
“Of course not,” Royce said.
Evangeline pressed her hands to her chest. “Phew. I just made so much food. There’s no way you boys could eat all the leftovers.”
“A challenge I would’ve happily accepted.”
“What did you make?” Sawyer asked. “Royce smelled beef and a rich gravy, potatoes, and carrots. My vote is pot roast.”
“Not this time,” Evangeline said. “I made my beef and noodles, mashed potatoes, and glazed carrots. Jo is bringing pineapple upside-down cake and a loaf of sourdough bread.”
“Sounds like heaven,” Sawyer said.
Evangeline winked. “It will taste like it too.”
The little posse moved into the living room, where Barron indeed had taken over the recliner and had both pets in his lap.
Dolly stood up and wagged her tail excitedly when she saw them, but Bones only cracked open one eye.
Royce could hear him purring from across the room and suspected it would take more than a little stranger to disrupt his nap.
Dolly moved to jump down, but Barron snagged her and placed her onto the floor.
She darted over to them, looking at the car seat carrier with enormous eyes.
She barked twice and woke the baby from her nap.
Darla blinked twice, scrunched up her face, and tested out her lung capacity.
Dolly darted behind the recliner with her tail tucked between her legs.
Sawyer set the carrier on the coffee table and unbuckled the crying baby while Royce tried to coax Dolly out from behind the chair.
The small dog peeked her head around the corner, and Royce squatted down and patted the floor in front of him.
“It’s okay, sweetheart,” he cooed. “You didn’t mean to scare the baby.”
Dolly inched forward a few steps at a time, darting glances between Royce and Sawyer, who sat on the couch with Darla. The baby had stopped crying, but she continued to fuss.
“I think she’s looking for her next meal,” Evangeline said when Darla nuzzled her face against Sawyer’s chest.
“You won’t find anything there, Pumpkin,” Sawyer said.
“Want me to get a bottle ready?” Evangeline asked.
Sawyer checked his watch. “She’s still got another hour before her next bottle. Let’s see if we can get her a little closer.”
Royce returned his attention to comforting Dolly.
She ducked her head and ran to him, and Royce scooped her up and kissed the top of her head.
“Let’s go meet your human sister.” He carried her over to the couch and sat down beside Sawyer and Darla.
“You might not know it yet, but the two of you will be best friends someday.” He looked over at the recliner, where Bones slept without a care.
“It might take the cat a while to acknowledge Darla’s existence, but he’s going to love her too. ”
“I could do this all day, every day,” Sawyer said, tipping his chin to Darla. “But I promised to help get the bags inside.”
“Sounds like a mission for me,” Barron said.
He powered the footrest down and stood up with Bones in his arms. The massive feline looked mad as hell when Barron set him back down in the chair alone.
Bones looked at them on the couch, his gaze fixed on the wriggling baby against Sawyer’s chest. The cat stood up, stretched his enormous body, and pranced across the end table between the two pieces of furniture and stalked toward them.
“Hi, Bonesy. I missed you.” Sawyer extended a hand toward him, and Bones butted his head against it and purred loudly.
The feline got close enough to sniff Darla’s leg. Dolly barked, the baby cried, and Bones got the hell out of there, heading down the hallway toward the bedrooms.
“Shhh, sweetheart,” Sawyer said. “Dolly isn’t nearly as mean as she sounds.”
“She’ll get used to the noise,” Evangeline said.
The doorbell rang, the dog barked, the baby cried, and the cat stayed hidden.
“But will we?” Royce asked Sawyer.
“That will be Eddie and Jo,” Evangeline said. “I’ll get the door.”
Royce stood up with Dolly. “I’ll calm the dog.”
“And I’ll soothe the baby,” Sawyer said. “We’ve got this.”
And they found a harmonious balance over the next ninety minutes.
They ate a fabulous meal and fussed over the world’s most perfect baby girl as she mostly slept, reveling in the newfound happiness they’d found.
Eventually, their company went home, the pets went to sleep, and Royce and Sawyer were alone with Darla.
“Let’s transfer her to the bassinet in our bedroom and see if we can get some rest,” Royce suggested. “We can worry about unpacking tomorrow.”
“Everyone has advised us to rest when she does,” Sawyer said. “I feel too amped up to sleep, but let’s try.”
Darla slept through the transfer and didn’t stir while they took turns showering and brushing their teeth.
She slept through them turning down the bed, shutting off the lights, and slipping between the sheets.
Royce spooned up behind Sawyer, wrapped his hand around his waist, and kissed the back of his neck.
Sawyer wiggled closer and said, “Good night, love.”
“Night.”
Royce closed his eyes and sighed with contentment.
He was just about to fall asleep when Darla cried, Dolly barked, and Bones darted out from under the bed and fled the room like his tail was on fire.
Sawyer shook with laughter, and Royce rolled onto his back, grinning in the dark like a lunatic. “Home sweet home,” he said.