Chapter 29
Chapter
Twenty-Nine
H ayden rocked Nicolaa, sitting right by the bed in the chair they’d gotten Daniel. He was too big for it, but it worked, and he wanted Daniel to see Jacks, who was on the bed with him, and Nicolaa in his arms, when he woke.
Jacks kept switching his attention between his Dan Dan and his new ‘babbie’. He talked and petted and sang and patted. But he was sweet, gentle, and quiet, and that was all Hayden could ask.
Everyone was tired. The house had settled. And Hayden had let Declan hold the baby while he moved all of Daniel’s gifts upstairs.
Daniel reached out and grabbed Jacks’s hand, kissing it gently. “Hey, Jacksy. Did you meet your brother?”
“Brudder!”
“What do you think?”
“Sleeping.”
“He had to fight his way out to us. He’s tired.”
Jacks nodded. “Pwesents.”
Daniel chuckled. “Did you bring a present up from downstairs, my sweet baboo?”
“Papa brunged all.” Jacks waved.
“What a good Papa.” Daniel smiled at him. You’re amazing. How’s the little one? Good? Has he eaten?
He has. Would you like to hold him?
No. I’ll stay with Jacks and then we can trade when Jacks gets sleepy. We need to make him feel good too.
Hayden smiled, because he could feel Daniel’s need to hold Nicolaa, but he was a good Dan Dan.
“I love you.”
Hayden didn’t know who Daniel was talking to, but it didn’t matter.
“I love you, Daniel,” he said back, knowing Jacks was sending heart eyes at both of them too.
“Luff Brudder, Dan Dan! Luff luff luff!”
“That’s right, my little dragon. Luff luff luff.”
He rocked and listened to Daniel and Jacks sing, and soon they would open gifts. He could hear Declan, who was downstairs, moving about to keep watch.
In no time, this huge near-empty house had become a home, their family growing and strong.
They would stand strong together no matter what happened next.
And he couldn’t wait to face it with Daniel.