Total pages in book: 125
Estimated words: 121576 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 608(@200wpm)___ 486(@250wpm)___ 405(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 121576 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 608(@200wpm)___ 486(@250wpm)___ 405(@300wpm)
“I don’t know what to do with some of this stuff,” he said, moving on to the next box. “Like her clothes? What do I do with them?”
“You could donate them,” I suggested. “I think you’ll want to keep some of her things for Marley for when she gets older. Or you could keep everything and let her decide what she wants. I don’t think there’s a wrong way to do this.”
Nathan nodded lightly, considering that. He shifted two more boxes out of the way, flipped back the flap of another, and then heaved it off the floor.
“Here,” he said, returning to my side. He held the box at waist level and plucked a framed picture out of it, holding it out for me to take.
It was a photo from their wedding.
Nathan stood behind Sadie on a large dance floor, his arms around her waist and his smile half hidden as he spoke in her ear. A man held a microphone a few feet away. His toast must’ve included a joke or two. Sadie was caught mid-laugh by the photographer.
“Oh my God.” I brought my hand up to my mouth and smiled against my fingers as I studied the picture. “Marley looks just like her. Wow.” Same hair. Same smile. Eyes that sparkled the prettiest blue. I looked up at Nathan. “She’s beautiful.”
Nathan took the frame from me when I held it out and studied it for a moment before placing it back in the box. He tipped his head toward the door, and I took the cue.
“I’ll start on the rest of the boxes tomorrow,” he shared, following me out into the hallway.
We were nearly at the stairs when soft crying stopped us both.
“Shit,” he whispered.
“It’s okay.” I pushed the nursery door open and moved quickly to the crib.
I could see clearly with help from the hallway light and the glow from the moon shining through the window. Marley was on her knees, gripping the rails and peering between them. Tears wet her cheeks.
I scooped her up and brought her against my chest, where she rubbed her face against my shirt. I patted her back and hummed softly, knowing how to calm her since I’d done it several times before. When I turned my head, I saw Nathan watching us from the doorway.
“Come here,” I whispered, waving Nathan into the room. Marley was already settling down again. He set the box next to the changing table and got beside me. “She’s almost asleep.” I shifted Marley off my chest and went to pass her over, but Nathan took a step back. I fought a smile. “Take her. Here.”
“What are you doing?” he whispered back.
“I’m giving her to you so you can put her to sleep.”
“But you’re doing such a good job with it.” He gestured at his daughter. “And look at her. She likes you.”
I cocked my head.
“You do it. She’s going to start screaming if you give her to me, Jenna.”
“I don’t think she will. And I need to go use the bathroom anyway…”
His gaze hardened immediately. “Oh my God. Liar.”
I dropped my head and laughed quietly into my shoulder. Nathan smiled.
“I’ll be right here. Come on,” I encouraged, stepping beside the rocking chair. “Sit down. I’ll pass her to you.”
Hands gripping his hips, he stared at me for another breath before he finally caved and stepped forward, mumbling incoherent words of protest.
“Fine. You want to see a kid freak out in two seconds?” Nathan took a seat in the chair and gathered Marley against his chest when I bent down and handed her over. He froze stiff when she stirred, then glared up at me with an unmistakable I told you so expression.
“Rock her,” I suggested. “And rub her back. She likes that.”
Keeping his eyes on me, Nathan pitched forward slowly, gaining momentum. His back remained rigid against the wood.
I whispered in his ear, “They can sense fear. Relax.”
“How am I supposed to relax? Look at her.”
On cue, Marley squirmed and stretched her legs like she wanted to stand. She was waking up.
I put my hand on top of Nathan’s and coaxed him to rub her back. My other hand gripped the chair and rocked it.
“You’re too nervous right now. If you calm down, she’ll calm down.”
Nathan cursed under his breath. He dropped his head back against the wood and forced his breaths to slow, an action that required a lot of effort, I could tell. We rocked together. My hand remained on top of his, moving us in gentle circles. When Marley cooed and snuggled closer, his gaze snapped to mine.
I grinned and whispered, “See?” I stepped back. “Keep going.”
Nathan stared at the top of Marley’s head as he rocked her. It was as if he was witnessing something he’d never seen before. I watched them from the doorway as minutes passed.