Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 86126 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 431(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86126 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 431(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
I wrinkled my nose and she laughed.
“I still say he was flirting,” she said knowingly, closing her eyes.
I held the baby while Esther fell asleep on the couch. She didn’t wake up even when Diana and Ariel’s argument over a little stuffed unicorn turned into screeching that Otto put a stop to before I could. He carried Esther up to the bedroom and I stayed where I was, watching the girls as they moved on to coloring while Ansel slept on my chest.
The rest of the day was pretty full with Otto’s family members stopping by to meet the baby and check on Esther. It was a strange experience. The only people I’d seen for weeks after the girls’ births were my mom, Caleb’s mom, and the midwife. In Otto’s family, even the men were queuing up to hold Ansel, just as excited as the women to meet the newest member of the family.
Their attention didn’t stop with him, either. All of the adults that came to visit doted on each of the girls, passing them around and playing with them. They also fussed over Esther. It was…nice. Really nice.
“We don’t bring the kids on the first visit,” Emilia informed me, sitting down with me at the kitchen table. “They’re too germy.”
“I was wondering where they were,” I replied, smiling at her. I liked Otto’s sister-in-law.
“We’ll bring them around once Esther’s had some time to settle in and Ansel’s a little more sturdy.” She looked at the table in front of me. “What are you making?”
“A blanket for Ansel,” I said ruefully, holding up the blanket that I’d worked on all night. I still had three rows of squares left to attach before it was finished. “I thought I’d be done before he came.”
“That’s gorgeous,” she murmured, reaching out to run her fingers along the edge. “I bet Esther’s going to love it.”
“She picked out the yarn, so I hope so,” I joked.
“I bet she’s really glad to have you here,” Emilia said kindly. “I know she really missed you.”
“I missed her, too.”
“Plus, it’ll be really nice to have an extra pair of hands during the newborn stage,” she added. “I was living with my parents when I had Rhett, but Michael was there for Asa and Eloise.”
I was curious, but didn’t ask why Mick hadn’t been there when Rhett was born. Rhett was clearly his son, the resemblance was so strong.
“He helped,” Emilia continued. “But it was always so nice when Heather came over.”
“I was on my own with the girls,” I replied, beginning to attach the next row of squares. “My husband worked, but he wasn’t much for, you know, baby stuff.”
“That’s hard,” she murmured. “I got really lucky with Michael. He wanted to help with all the things, even when he had no clue what he was supposed to be doing.”
I smiled.
“Women are different,” she continued. “We just look around, see what needs to be done, and do it. Men have to be given explicit instructions.”
“Are you complaining about me?” Mick asked, carrying Ariel and Flora into the kitchen hanging on his biceps.
“Just telling Noel how helpful you were after the kids were born.”
He looked at me and grimaced. “Don’t believe a word she says,” he said playfully. “I’m very helpful. She just prefers to do everythin’ on her own.”
“I do not!”
“You wouldn’t delegate a damn thing,” he countered, lifting the girls higher as they squealed.
“See,” Emilia said, looking at me smugly. “Explicit instructions.”
I wasn’t sure if I should laugh or hush her. Their family dynamics were unlike anything I’d ever known. If I’d said anything like that to Caleb, there would’ve been serious consequences.
“I am yours to command,” Mick said happily, setting the girls back on the floor. He chased them back out of the room.
“I hear Titus stayed with you guys while Esther was at the birth center,” Emilia said after a few moments. “How did that go?”
“It was good,” I replied carefully. What exactly was she asking? “Otto didn’t want us staying here alone after my brother showed up a couple nights ago.”
I forced myself not to cringe or sugar coat it. When I’d called Esther for help, I’d known that I was bringing potential trouble to their doorstep. She’d already escaped. She was already free of them. Ephraim hadn’t bothered them once she married Otto.
The only reason they’d had to deal with our brother again was because of me.
Guilt was a steady companion, but if I let it get to me it would be like throwing Esther’s offer of sanctuary back in her face. She’d made it clear that any repercussions we dealt with were far less important than having me back, and I hadn’t argued, because if the roles were reversed I would’ve felt the same way.
“Yeah, Michael told me about that,” Emilia replied, scowling. “What a jerk.”