Page 69 of Devil in Disguise

Owen was already at the sink, washing his hands. “They’re stronger than you think. Here. I’ll show you how it works.”

He dried his hands, got the clean diaper and wipes ready, then picked up the little bundle, who barely took up one of his hands, let alone two, saying, “One hand under his neck and head, the other one under his butt and back, and you’ve got him safe.” He set Nick gently on the bed beside Jennifer’s legs. The baby must have smelled her, though, because the wails increased and his head turned back and forth. Owen unwrapped the blanket and said, “Keep a hand on his belly if you turn away. You’ll think it doesn’t matter now, when he’s not so mobile, but they can be surprisingly squirmy.” He told the baby as he took off the diaper, “Yeah, you’re a little worm, huh? Little worm boy?” In answer, Nick cried some more.

“How do you know all that?” Annabelle asked over the sound of the increasingly frantic squalls.

“Four nephews next door,” Owen said. He switched the diaper out pretty damn fast, taking care around the clamped umbilical cord, his heart turning over at the baby’s skinnier left leg, the way his toes pointed down. It didn’t stop him kicking, but it was such a vulnerable look, and one that would surely make any man want to hold him even closer. That was how Harlan looked right now, in fact. Like he’d walk through fire for the two of them.

And if Owen was a little jealous of that—well, that was his problem.

He said, “Hey, little guy. I’ve almost got you there. Yeah, you’re about to be with your mama.”

Dyma put her finger out, and Nick grabbed it. She said, “Wow. He’s strong.”

“You bet he is,” Harlan said, as Owen picked the baby up again, put him gently into Jennifer’s arms, and cleaned up the mess.

“And that’s all there is to it,” he told the others, going to wash his hands again. “Keep your hands clean, keep him clean, and make sure you’ve got the stuff ready before you start to change him.”

“Want a job, bro?” Harlan asked.

“Any time,” Owen said. “I like babies. Tough little suckers. He’s a good sleeper, too. Got that going for him.”

Jennifer said, “Yes. He is.” Her hand cupping the baby’s head as she fed him, a finger stroking his cheek and an expression on her face that Owen recognized from his sister-in-law. Even with the twins, she’d still looked like that. Like they were her miracle.

“I can leave while you feed him, Jennifer,” he said. “If you’re more comfortable.”

“What, and have you miss out on our scintillating dinner-table conversation?” She laughed. “No. Stay. I’m guessing you’ve seen this before.”

All the same, as soon as everyone was done eating, he said, “Well, you know what—I think maybe Dyma and Annabelle and I should get out of here, let you all get some rest.”

“Probably better,” Jennifer admitted. “Honestly, I just want to brush my teeth, then fall asleep watching TV.”

Harlan said, “I’ll sit with you while you do that, and then sleep on this couch thing.”

Jennifer eyed the vinyl window seat. “That’s a terrible idea. Nope. Hold me while I fall asleep, and then go home, get your shower, and go to bed. Come back in the morning.”

“I’m not—” Harlan started to say, and Owen said, “Right. That’s us headed out.” They could have this fight without an audience. He was betting on Jennifer, though.

“Wait,” Dyma said. She bent down and gave her mom’s cheek a kiss, then kissed Nick’s. He was cuddled up against Jennifer’s shoulder now, having his back rubbed to get the bubble up. “He’s a great baby, Mom,” she said, and Owen would swear there was a catch in her voice. “He’s so sweet, he kind of kills me, you know?”

“Yeah,” Jennifer said with the kind of smile that kept the world turning. “I know.”

“Maybe he’ll be less of a Tasmanian Devil than me, too, you think?” Dyma asked.

“I think so,” her mother said. “Though I loved my Tasmanian Devil. I still do. To the moon and back.”

Dyma took an uneven breath and said, “OK. I’m going before I cry again. I’ll see you in the morning.”

“School,” Jennifer said.

“Yeah, you know what?” Dyma said. “I think I can miss a couple classes while my baby brother has surgery. I’ll bet Annabelle can, too. We’ll both be here. Family’s a thing, and ours needs to stick together.”

31

Bouncy

It waslast summer all over again. Sitting in the media room with Owen and Annabelle, watching an episode of a TV show. Holding hands with him, and that was all.

It was good, though, she guessed, because Annabelle was quieter than ever today, and she needed to see what that was about. But then the movie ended and Owen hauled himself up, collected the various icepacks he’d distributed around himself, and said, “Got an ice bath and a bed calling my name.”