Page 72 of Something Like Shelter

“I hated that stuck-up, slimy, piece of shit ex of yours from the moment I saw him.”

“You weren’t overly discreet about that, Dad.”

“And that was before the whole truth came out.”

“Yeah, well, to be fair, I hated him a lot after that too.”

“That said, I like this one. Calm, stable, gentle with my grandbaby, and my baby, knows when he needs help, takes the bins out…”

“He cooks too.”

“Sweetie, you don’t need to sell me on him,” he said, giving me a smile. “I know that bastard did a number on you, and you’re probably not sure about who you can trust, but I think he’s one of the good ones.”

“We can just leave it there, you know,” I told him. “You don’t have to enlist Aunt Alex and have her hack into all his socials or anything like that.” My aunt was a hacker disguised as a private investigator. She specialized in cheating husbands, but was known to run background checks on the men her nieces got involved with.

If only I’d had her run a check on my ex…

No.

Then I wouldn’t have Adelaide.

And I wouldn’t trade her for anything.

“Hey, Mama,” my mom said from the doorway. “Do you want me to give her a bottle, or do you want to give nursing a try?”

“My body is producing antibodies,” I said, holding my heavy arms out for my baby. “The more she can ingest through my milk, the better.”

With that, they made their way out to check out the guest room Owen had set up for them, so I could nurse in peace.

Adelaide was still a little fussy and didn’t get as much milk as she normally would have, but the medicine must have made her feel a little better because she settled down right after.

I was starting to doze with her in my arms when I felt her gently being lifted. When my eyes snapped open, I saw Owen there. “Your dad brought the bassinet up to the guest room. They’re going to take her in there and just bring her in if she needs to nurse.”

“Okay.”

“How are you feeling?”

“Meh.”

“Sleep will help. Do you know where Tuna’s fish toy is?”

“I think he stashed it under the couch pillow. Why?”

“He won’t settle without it. I’m trying to keep him out of your parents’ room.”

“They won’t mind,” I assured him. “You need to get some sleep. You have to be exhausted.”

“I’m alright. I’m just going to close down the house for the night, then turn in.”

“I’d offer for you to turn in here, but I don’t want to get you sick. Or keep you up all night with Adelaide. Or my nose blowing. Or hacking, since I’m sure that’s coming, too.”

“For the record, I wouldn’t mind any of that. But I don’t want to make things awkward with your parents in the house.”

“They’re aware Adelaide didn’t come from immaculate conception, you know,” I teased, getting a little chuckle out of him. “But you really do need some sleep. Go on.”

“I’ll check on you.”

“You don’t need to do that.”