Chapter 18
Bill woke up to Junior’s cries, just after dawn.
Ann got up, practically sleepwalking over to the baby.
When she sat back down to feed him, she didn’t bother covering up, and he was treated to a delectable view of her breast and dusky rose nipple.
This time, he didn’t hesitate to indulge his urge to wrap his arms around her.
She ran her fingers through his hair in soft strokes as she fed Junior. If he was a cat, he would be purring. It was hard to imagine being more content. If this was what life was going to be like as a husband and father, he could definitely get used to it.
As she was burping Junior after feeding, Bill asked, “Would you like me to take him for a bit? You look exhausted. I could let you sleep a bit longer.”
“Would you?” she asked with hopeful eyes. “I haven’t had a good night’s sleep since he was born. Longer, really. I could sleep for a year.”
“Of course.” He buttoned up his union suit and climbed out of bed. “I’ll take him for a little walk around town, and you can rest.” He reached out and took Junior.
She heaved a deep sigh. “Thank you. You have no idea how much I appreciate this.” Then she settled back into bed and fell asleep almost instantly.
He stood gazing at her for a long moment. Good Lord, she was beautiful, not just in her appearance but as a person. He was going to do everything in his power to earn her love.
His revery was interrupted by a sudden warmth around Junior’s bottom, and little fellow started to whimper.
Ah. A diaper change. Should he wake Ann?
No. He’d watched diaper changes often enough with his sister’s children that he knew what to do, even if he’d never actually been the one doing the changing before.
He went over to her bag, got the necessary supplies and did his best. No doubt, Ann would have done better, but he was pretty proud of himself for his first try. Junior was snug and dry, and that was all that mattered.
Bill got dressed and put a onesie on Junior then took him downstairs to the baby carriage. “You and I are going for a little walk.”
Junior cooed in reply. What a sweet little cherub he was! Such a handsome boy. He had Ann’s eyes and the same pert chin. Bill was going to like fatherhood quite a bit.
Enjoying the relatively cool morning air, he walked up and down Front Street, watching as the greengrocer took deliveries and stopping at the bakery for some rolls for Ann’s breakfast. Turning the corner onto Main Street, he spotted his father taking a delivery of flowers for the store.
Now that he was a father himself, he had a whole new appreciation for what his father had done when Bill was growing up.
“Morning, Da!”
“Bill, what a pleasant surprise! Where’s Ann?” he asked, gazing adoringly at Junior.
“She’s exhausted. I offered to take Junior for a while so that she could catch up on sleep.”
His father laughed. “I remember those days. I used to do that for your mother when you and your sister were infants. Come upstairs and have some coffee with me.” He put the last of the flowers into the icebox.
Bill followed his father upstairs.
“Keep your voice low. Your mother is still asleep,” his father said before they went in.
As Bill sat and bounced Junior on his knee, his father put the percolator on the stove. It was funny how normal this all felt, despite how much had changed in the last twenty-four hours. His life had been turned upside down, and here they were, having their morning coffee like on any other day.
Soon the percolator was boiling, and his father poured two cups, putting cream and sugar in his own and leaving Bill’s black.
He sat down across from Bill at the dining table. “How does it feel to be a husband and father?”
“I’m madly in love with both of them.” Bill planted a kiss on Junior’s head. It was a relief to say it out loud. He’d been thinking it so hard the night before that he almost thought Ann heard him.
His father smiled. “Well, that much was clear from when you first brought them around. How is she adjusting? I know this was all rather sudden for her, especially after the shock of what happened.”
His heart ached at the thought of all she’d lost. He might have been able to distract her for a bit during the night, but the full force of it would return at some point.
He could only hope to soften it for her.
“She’s warming to the idea. So far, she’s adjusting better than I expected.
I think the initial shock is fading, though I think it will be a long time before she’s fully ready to move on. ”
His father nodded and took a sip of his coffee. “All you can do is love her and give her time. She’ll come around in the end.”
God, he hoped so. Bill took a deep drink of his coffee. “She’s has been through so much. I’ll call it a win if I can ease her burdens and make her laugh every so often.”
“I’m sure you will, son,” his father said with a smile.
At that moment, his mother emerged from the bedroom wrapped in a dressing gown.
“I thought I heard voices. And there’s my sweet little grandson.
” She took Junior from Bill’s arms and snuggled him against her.
“We just love you to pieces, don’t we, Finn?
” she said as she gave Junior’s belly a little tickle.
“Yes, we do,” said Da.
It warmed Bill’s heart to see his parents embrace their new grandchild so quickly and thoroughly. Junior might not have shared their blood, but he was a full-fledged O’Donnell as far as they were concerned.
Hmm. Did he need to do any formal paperwork to change Junior’s last name? He should check on that. Except maybe Ann wouldn’t want to change it. He should check on that too.
“Have you had breakfast yet?” his mother asked.
“No, I thought it best to let Ann sleep this morning.” Bill drank down the dregs of his coffee.
She raised an eyebrow at him. “Not letting her sleep last night, son?”
Blood rushed to Bill’s cheeks and ears. “The baby,” he mumbled, looking at the floor, trying not to think about the feeling of Ann’s naked body beneath him.
She narrowed her eyes at him but let it go. “Here. I’ll give you back your son while I make you some breakfast.”
His son. Junior was his son. He liked the sound of that so much he thought his heart might burst.
With a little chuckle, Mum headed into the kitchen and proceeded to make him a breakfast of bacon, eggs, and toast while he bounced Junior on his knee and talked about the war with his father.
“You’re in no danger of being sent back to Europe, are you?” Da asked.
“Not that I know of. It’s always possible, but I think I’m here to stay.” They’d had this conversation before, but Da always liked the extra assurance.
“Good. I should hope so,” Mum said, bustling out of the kitchen and placing a plate before him.
Bill dug in, famished after a long and tumultuous night.
“Would you like another helping?” Mum had only taken the first few bites of her own breakfast when Bill polished the last crumb from his plate.
“No, I should go back home and check on Ann.” He took his dish to the kitchen sink and rinsed it.
“Give her my love,” his mother said over her cup of coffee.
It was nine o’clock by the time Bill climbed the stairs to his apartment. When he opened the door, Ann was up and dressed, drinking a cup of coffee.
“I brought you some sweet rolls from the bakery,” he said, offering her the little box tied in twine. “I ate with my parents.”
Ann’s tenuous smile fell at that. “I wanted to make you breakfast, but I suppose it wasn’t fair to expect you to wait.”
He folded her in a hug and kissed her forehead. “You can make me breakfast tomorrow. I have to fly in the afternoon, but I’m free all morning tomorrow.”
“What about today?” she asked, taking Junior from him.
“I’m free all day today. I fly out every Wednesday afternoon, and then I get back Friday evening.” If he’d had more time to plan, he would have taken at least a week off for a honeymoon, but everything had happened so suddenly.
“Good to know,” she said with a smile.
What would Ann do while he was away? She would need something to occupy her so that she didn’t sink into the doldrums too much.
“I was thinking we should go to the dry goods store and get you things for knitting and crocheting. I’m afraid this apartment doesn’t have a single doily.
It needs the urgent services of an expert. ”
She laughed. He loved the sound of her laugh.
“And I am urgently in need of a kiss.” Bill took Junior from her arms and set him on the bed, then folded her in his arms. He kissed her deeply and thoroughly, leaving them both panting.
“I think I like being married.” He kissed her neck and took her breast in hand, running his thumb over her nipple.
“We should stop, or we’ll never get out of the apartment.” She arched into his touch.
Reluctantly, he let her go, and they straightened their clothing. “Right. The dry goods store.” He retrieved his wallet while she retrieved Junior. “And we should stop at the bank so that I can give you money, and perhaps we can stop by the real estate office to look at what’s for sale.”
Lord knew they needed a proper house. The apartment was far too cramped for three people.
They headed out into the bustling street with the baby carriage like any other young family out to do their errands. He had to quell the urge to stop everyone they passed and gush about Ann and Junior. Just wait until he had a chance to tell the boys about all this!
At the bank, he signed the necessary papers for her to have access to his account. She clutched his arm when she saw the bank balance. He couldn’t help beaming with pride. “I told you I had plenty of savings.”
“I wish you didn’t have to spend it on me, but I won’t lie; it’s a tremendous relief to know I have enough to live on again. I’ve been on the brink of destitution ever since Roger passed.”