Page 47 of Landing Love

He stood gazing at her for a long moment. Good Lord, she was beautiful, not just in her appearance but as a person. He was going to do everything in his power to earn her love.

His revery was interrupted by a sudden warmth around Junior’s bottom, and little fellow started to whimper. Ah. A diaper change. Should he wake Ann? No. He’d watched diaper changes often enough with his sister’s children that he knew what to do, even if he’d never actually been the one doing the changing before.

He went over to her bag, got the necessary supplies and did his best. No doubt, Ann would have done better, but he was pretty proud of himself for his first try. Junior was snug and dry, and that was all that mattered.

Bill got dressed and put a onesie on Junior then took him downstairs to the baby carriage. “You and I are going for a little walk.”

Junior cooed in reply. What a sweet little cherub he was! Such a handsome boy. He had Ann’s eyes and the same pert chin. Bill was going to like fatherhood quite a bit.

Enjoying the relatively cool morning air, he walked up and down Front Street, watching as the greengrocer took deliveries and stopping at the bakery for some rolls for Ann’s breakfast. Turning the corner onto Main Street, he spotted his father taking a delivery of flowers for the store. Now that he was a father himself, he had a whole new appreciation for what his father had done when Bill was growing up.

“Morning, Da!”

“Bill, what a pleasant surprise! Where’s Ann?” he asked, gazing adoringly at Junior.

“She’s exhausted. I offered to take Junior for a while so that she could catch up on sleep.”

His father laughed. “I remember those days. I used to do that for your mother when you and your sister were infants. Come upstairs and have some coffee with me.” He put the last of the flowers into the icebox.

Bill followed his father upstairs.

“Keep your voice low. Your mother is still asleep,” his father said before they went in.

As Bill sat and bounced Junior on his knee, his father put the percolator on the stove. It was funny how normal this all felt, despite how much had changed in the last twenty-four hours. His life had been turned upside down, and here they were, having their morning coffee like on any other day.

Soon the percolator was boiling, and his father poured two cups, putting cream and sugar in his own and leaving Bill’s black.

He sat down across from Bill at the dining table. “How does it feel to be a husband and father?”

“I’m madly in love with both of them.” Bill planted a kiss on Junior’s head. It was a relief to say it out loud. He’d been thinking it so hard the night before that he almost thought Ann heard him.

His father smiled. “Well, that much was clear from when you first brought them around. How is she adjusting? I know this was all rather sudden for her, especially after the shock of what happened.”

His heart ached at the thought of all she’d lost. He might have been able to distract her for a bit during the night, but the full force of it would return at some point. He could only hope to soften it for her. “She’s warming to the idea. So far, she’s adjusting better than I expected. I think the initial shock is fading, though I think it will be a long time before she’s fully ready to move on.”

His father nodded and took a sip of his coffee. “All you can do is love her and give her time. She’ll come around in the end.”

God, he hoped so. Bill took a deep drink of his coffee. “She’s has been through so much. I’ll call it a win if I can ease her burdens and make her laugh every so often.”

“I’m sure you will, son,” his father said with a smile.

At that moment, his mother emerged from the bedroom wrapped in a dressing gown. “I thought I heard voices. And there’s my sweet little grandson.” She took Junior from Bill’s arms and snuggled him against her. “We just love you to pieces, don’t we, Finn?” she said as she gave Junior’s belly a little tickle.

“Yes, we do,” said Da.

It warmed Bill’s heart to see his parents embrace their new grandchild so quickly and thoroughly. Junior might not have shared their blood, but he was a full-fledged O’Donnell as far as they were concerned.

Hmm. Did he need to do any formal paperwork to change Junior’s last name? He should check on that. Except maybe Ann wouldn’t want to change it. He should check on that too.

“Have you had breakfast yet?” his mother asked.

“No, I thought it best to let Ann sleep this morning.” Bill drank down the dregs of his coffee.

She raised an eyebrow at him. “Not letting her sleep last night, son?”

Blood rushed to Bill’s cheeks and ears. “The baby,” he mumbled, looking at the floor, trying not to think about the feeling of Ann’s naked body beneath him.

She narrowed her eyes at him but let it go. “Here. I’ll give you back your son while I make you some breakfast.”