Chapter 14 #3
“We got this,” Tucker told Luke, even though his eyes looked a trifle on the wild side.
“We do,” Luke agreed, scooping up Kyle and Demi. “I’ll settle these two while you grab David. I’ll be there for Kayla in a second.”
“Baby carriers?” Tucker suggested.
“Perfect. We can work while they’re attached to us.”
“I’ll get started after I check for toxic waste deposits.”
Luke snorted, but he had a goal to meet, and time was of the essence. He loped back to the kitchen with a super-bounce in his step, hoping to distract the kids from their rude removal from their pretend dog beds. “Snack time,” he announced. “Who wants a popsicle?”
Protests turned to delight, and even though he’d be popping them both in the bathtub to deal with the mess, it would be worth it.
Hmm, bathtub.
He swung by the fridge, nabbed two freezies, and detoured to the bathroom, calling to Tucker over his shoulder. “When you’ve got David settled, trade off with me.”
Luke laid a thick towel on the bottom of the tub then plopped the kids down across from each other. “You have to sit,” he warned. “So you don’t drop your treat.”
“Popsicles are yum,” Demi announced. “Red popsicle please.”
“Boo.” Kyle wiggled as if about to pop to this feet, then slammed his butt back on the towel as if remembering the rules. “Boo pops peas.”
“Good job, buddy.” Luke handed over the plastic tube as Tucker walked in.
One hand cradled a sniffling David, swaddled inside the sturdy corduroy carrier lashed to Tucker’s chest. “Good idea. I got them, you go settle Kayla. Once these two are done, I may as well give them a b-a-t-h.”
“Good idea,” Luke repeated back as he took off and damn near sprinted across the house to his little girl. “Hey sweetie, what’s wrong? Did you miss your daddy?”
How something this little could make so much noise was beyond Luke’s comprehension.
Her soggy diaper had soaked through the edges and her entire outfit was wet. “Another bath coming up. Poor little thing. It’s not nice to be cold and wet, is it? It’s okay. Daddy’s got you.”
He sang softly as he prepped a warm cloth, then stripped off her wet things and washed her gently. Clean fresh diaper, new warm onesie—it really was like trying to stuff an octopus into an outfit—and Kayla’s cries faded.
He couldn’t find the baby carrier. Instead, Luke held her to his chest, keeping her upright so she wouldn’t start rooting around in hopes of something he couldn’t provide. “You’re with me, kid. We’re on clean up patrol because your brother and cousin are very creative.”
He had to work one handed, which gave him a whole new appreciation for the juggling Kelli did on a daily basis. The baby wipes went in the garbage, but the diapers were still clean. No way did he want to try to get them all back into the package.
A minute later he’d grabbed the extra tote he had stashed in his closet, and all the diapers, including the few left in the bag, were rounded up. He stacked as many on the shelf above the changing table as he could then closed the bin and shoved it under the crib.
Packaging cut up then placed in the recycle bin, Luke hurried to the bedroom and shoved the rest of his things away.
He rejoined Tucker in the bathroom where they were all singing happily.
Kayla’s eyes widened as Luke twisted her into a football hold so she could see what was going on. “Excellent work, Tucker.”
“Thank you. How about you make a s-n-a-c-k? We’ll be done in here in a few minutes.”
“Another brilliant idea.”
Which meant when the ladies arrived fifteen minutes later, everyone was in their right minds and happy as pigs in mud. Seated at the table, babes in arms, toddlers munching—
Grown-ups ready for a nap if Luke was honest.
“Mama,” Demi shouted the instant the women stepped through the door. “We had doggies, and popsicles, and baths. And the trucks went zaroom, and then Kyle read a book and Daddy was so much fun.”
Kyle barked enthusiastically as his contribution to the update.
In spite of the noise, the babies slept on peacefully in their father’s arms.
Ginny laughed, glancing around the room with a satisfied expression. “Looks as if everyone survived and you had fun. Good stuff.”
Later, when they were on their own again and the kids both down for a nap, Kelli pressed a kiss to Luke’s cheek.
“Thanks for the morning out. It was nice to have quiet for a bit. And your idea for the extra diapers is perfect. So much better than before. Every time Demi visits, she empties the bag if I lose track of her for a second.”
“Inspired by the kids,” he told her honestly before tugging her toward the bedroom. “Come on. We don’t have much time.”
Her brow rose. “Really?
He laughed outright. “You’re not going to believe this, but I’m serious. It’s naptime for us as well. Sexy times will resume shortly, but right now, I’m exhausted.”
She smiled and joined him willingly. “Nap now, sexy times soon.”
“Good with me.”
They tumbled onto the bed, and Luke sighed contentedly even as he was amused as all get out that his priorities had changed so much. At least for now.