it looks like I got done with my rounds just in time.”
Charlie couldn’t mistake her father’s sardonic tones coming from the entry to the living room.
Giggling, Charlie held up a jumper that would be perfect for Stella in a couple of months. “Oh, Daddy, you have to admit this is the cutest thing in the world.”
Walking over and giving his daughter a kiss on the top of her head, Steven Ambrose replied, “Well, not as cute as the little person that will wear it.”
“I see you have some practice with daughters, Steven. I’ll admit before you showed up I was completely at a loss.” Robert Carter chuckled.
“One word of advice. Beware,” Steven stated, perching on the edge of his daughter’s chair and holding another garment up for inspection.
“Ha ha. Why don’t you make yourself useful and make me something to eat. I practically starved on hospital food,” Charlie teased, giving her father a nudge with her elbow.
Steven put on his best “hurt” face and said, “See what I mean? Complete control no matter how old they get. You are in for a world of hurt, young man.”
Charlie’s father gave her another kiss on the top of her head and began to stand. “Do you want me to grill? Micah and Thomas are both working shifts, but Edward said he would be over later. I can call him and have him pick something up.”
“Um, that sounds fabulous. It’s such a nice spring day we can eat by the pool.” Charlie smiled warmly at her father.
Leaning down, he gave her yet another kiss, but this time on the tip of her nose. Even though her father was known for his sardonic humor, she could tell he was bursting with pride.
“I can help you, Mr. Ambrose,” Grant said, moving toward the middle of the room.
“Well, first you’re going to have to start calling me Steven. Unless you’re engrossed in all things baby, Robert, I suggest you take the out they have given us.”
Chuckling, Steven began to walk toward the kitchen.
Patting his wife’s hand, Robert rose and began to follow Steven into the kitchen. Grant turned to leave but walked over to Charlie first.
“I do think the things are nice. I’m sure peanut is going to look great in them.” Hesitating briefly, Grant leaned down and gave Charlie a soft kiss on her forehead.
She was actually a little embarrassed by Grant’s sweet words and gesture. Smiling back at him, she could feel a blush blooming across her cheeks. Watching him leave the room, she was a bit confused about the feelings she had for him. She couldn’t deny she was still attracted to him, and the way he was with their daughter cemented a special place in her heart for him, but she really didn’t know what she felt beyond that.
“Your son is very charming, Eveline,” Charlie's mother said in a wistful tone.
“Yes, well, all the Carter men have that special charm,” Eveline replied with a chuckle.
Charlie quickly began to look at the other baby items because she was too affected to look at either woman. She had to keep telling herself it was just Grant’s charm that made him slightly irresistible. Also, hormones were still rushing through her body, and his being the father of her child made things even harder. She was relieved when both her mother and Grant’s began to start talking about child rearing. Once she felt she had gathered herself enough, Charlie began to join in the conversation.
Time actually seemed to fly by once the women got started. At some point Stella woke up for another feeding. All three women chatted in her little room while the baby nursed contently. When she was done, Charlie carried her back out to the living room. During the time they were away, her brother Edward had shown up and had music playing softly in the living room and on the outdoor speakers. She watched the men bustling about getting things set up for a late lunch and was seized with a feeling of complete joy. Of course, there was still that little voice niggling at the back of her mind
Charlie couldn’t mistake her father’s sardonic tones coming from the entry to the living room.
Giggling, Charlie held up a jumper that would be perfect for Stella in a couple of months. “Oh, Daddy, you have to admit this is the cutest thing in the world.”
Walking over and giving his daughter a kiss on the top of her head, Steven Ambrose replied, “Well, not as cute as the little person that will wear it.”
“I see you have some practice with daughters, Steven. I’ll admit before you showed up I was completely at a loss.” Robert Carter chuckled.
“One word of advice. Beware,” Steven stated, perching on the edge of his daughter’s chair and holding another garment up for inspection.
“Ha ha. Why don’t you make yourself useful and make me something to eat. I practically starved on hospital food,” Charlie teased, giving her father a nudge with her elbow.
Steven put on his best “hurt” face and said, “See what I mean? Complete control no matter how old they get. You are in for a world of hurt, young man.”
Charlie’s father gave her another kiss on the top of her head and began to stand. “Do you want me to grill? Micah and Thomas are both working shifts, but Edward said he would be over later. I can call him and have him pick something up.”
“Um, that sounds fabulous. It’s such a nice spring day we can eat by the pool.” Charlie smiled warmly at her father.
Leaning down, he gave her yet another kiss, but this time on the tip of her nose. Even though her father was known for his sardonic humor, she could tell he was bursting with pride.
“I can help you, Mr. Ambrose,” Grant said, moving toward the middle of the room.
“Well, first you’re going to have to start calling me Steven. Unless you’re engrossed in all things baby, Robert, I suggest you take the out they have given us.”
Chuckling, Steven began to walk toward the kitchen.
Patting his wife’s hand, Robert rose and began to follow Steven into the kitchen. Grant turned to leave but walked over to Charlie first.
“I do think the things are nice. I’m sure peanut is going to look great in them.” Hesitating briefly, Grant leaned down and gave Charlie a soft kiss on her forehead.
She was actually a little embarrassed by Grant’s sweet words and gesture. Smiling back at him, she could feel a blush blooming across her cheeks. Watching him leave the room, she was a bit confused about the feelings she had for him. She couldn’t deny she was still attracted to him, and the way he was with their daughter cemented a special place in her heart for him, but she really didn’t know what she felt beyond that.
“Your son is very charming, Eveline,” Charlie's mother said in a wistful tone.
“Yes, well, all the Carter men have that special charm,” Eveline replied with a chuckle.
Charlie quickly began to look at the other baby items because she was too affected to look at either woman. She had to keep telling herself it was just Grant’s charm that made him slightly irresistible. Also, hormones were still rushing through her body, and his being the father of her child made things even harder. She was relieved when both her mother and Grant’s began to start talking about child rearing. Once she felt she had gathered herself enough, Charlie began to join in the conversation.
Time actually seemed to fly by once the women got started. At some point Stella woke up for another feeding. All three women chatted in her little room while the baby nursed contently. When she was done, Charlie carried her back out to the living room. During the time they were away, her brother Edward had shown up and had music playing softly in the living room and on the outdoor speakers. She watched the men bustling about getting things set up for a late lunch and was seized with a feeling of complete joy. Of course, there was still that little voice niggling at the back of her mind
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