The rest of the day passes uneventfully. I guess the doctor’s visit must have tired poor Cami out, because she’s very sleepy. While she naps, I sort through some of the boxes, stacking up nappies and sterilising the baby bottles. When dinner time comes around, I figure she might be ready to try some solids, so I make some applesauce as well as her usual formula. I prop her up in a highchair next to the counter, and she watches, fascinated, as I peel and chop apples.
Apparently, the smell is enticing enough to draw Cyrus out from his bedroom. The man looks wrecked, his dark hair mussed and his jaw shadowed with stubble. He yawns and stretches as he steps into the kitchen.
“Jesus, that smells good,” he grumbles, coming to stand behind me as I pour the mixture into a bowl to cool. He rests his chin on top of my head, looking over my shoulder, and I freeze. “What is it?”
I clear my throat. “Applesauce. Not for you, I’m afraid. Cami’s trying her first solids today. You’ll have to make your own food.”
He sighs heavily and leans over me to open the cupboard over my head, pulling out a box of cereal. His chest presses against my back, hot and hard, and my stomach flips. He pulls away slowly, heading to the fridge for milk.
I swallow, my mouth suddenly dry. “You feeling better?”
“Better, sugar?”
“Your hangover.”
He raises an eyebrow, his dark eyes flicking to mine. “I’m not hungover.”
My cheeks heat. “Oh. Sorry. It’s just—I thought since you came in so late, and then slept most of the day—I thought you’d had a night out.”
He hums noncommittally. “Nope. Not hungover. Just a night owl.” He bends to tug gently at Cami’s pigtail. “And how do you feel, ladybug?” He says quietly. “Still sore?” He touches her forehead. She gabbles at him happily, clapping. “I looked up side effects online,” he says over his shoulder. “She’s not got a temperature.”
My heart melts in my chest. “I don’t think she’s had any side effects. She’s been happily napping most of the day.”
“Good.” He straightens, glancing at the bowl. “Can I feed her that?”
“You’re gonna put me out of a job,” I say, testing the temperature.
He shrugs, taking a massive bite of cornflakes. “If it’s her first time eating real food, I wanna be there.”
“Sit her down on the sofa, then.”
He puts down his cereal and we squish together on the sofa. I watch as he patiently spoons apple mush into Cami’s mouth. She doesn’t know what to make of it, and is alternately eating and spitting it out. Cyrus wipes off her chin, looking for all the world like a doting new father.
“You seem attached,” I note.
“What’s not to get attached to? She’s the cutest kid I’ve ever seen.” He tweaks one of her pigtails, and she beams up at him, spitting applesauce down her chin. “Very ladylike,” he praises, wiping off her mouth.
“But… aren’t you worried about getting too close to her?” I prod. “What if the clinic gets back, and she’s not yours?”
He considers. “I’m not worried. Whoever she turns out to belong to, the outcome will be the same.”
I frown. What does that mean?
Before I can ask, a door opens in the hallway. Jack comes stumbling out of his room, raking a hand through his spiky blonde hair. His thick-rimmed glasses are lopsided.
I smile at him. “Done for the day?”
“Finally.” He tugs the bottom of his t-shirt. It has a D20 screen-printed onto it, under the words this is how I roll. Obviously in reference to our chat last night. “What do you think?” He raises an eyebrow.
“I think you should burn it,” Cy says conversationally, rubbing Cami’s cheek with one of the ears on her bunny. She giggles. “In a bin, in the alley behind the building. Just set it on fire. Bad for the environment, but good for humanity.”
“It’s cute,” I tell Jack honestly.
I could swear that he blushes. Cyrus stretches and stands. “Well, since ladybug’s about ready for bed, why don’t we order some pizza and get to work on these boxes? I want her in a proper cot tonight.”
Jack nods. “Seb should be out in a few. He’s just wrapping up a call.” He turns to me. “You can go if you want. You must be sick of us by now.”
I shake my head. “I don’t mind staying a bit longer and helping.”
He frowns. “Your shift is eight-to-seven, right? You should go. We’ve got this handled.”
“Okay. What do you put inside a six-month-old baby’s cot?”
He looks taken aback. “Just… a mattress, a pillow and some quilts, right? And her toy?” He looks at Cyrus, who shrugs.
“A mattress and a fitted sheet. No pillows. Suffocation hazard.”
Jack pales.
Cyrus clears his throat. “What’s your overtime, sugar?”
“About as much as a medium ham and pineapple pizza. With extra cheese.”
“Noted.”
An hour later, we’ve made great headway. Between us, we’ve assembled a pushchair, a changing station, a crib, and a set of drawers to put Cami’s clothes in. We’ve also demolished three pizzas, three brownies, and a six-pack of beer. I’m having more fun than I have in a very long time.
“What about clothes and stuff?” Jack asks as I try to figure out the baby monitor. “We only have the basics. She doesn’t even have any toys.”
I lift the monitor to my mouth like a walkie-talkie. “I’ll go tomorrow, if you like,” I say into it. My voice finally echoes out of the other monitor, and Cyrus throws up his hands in relief. “Cami could probably use an outing that doesn’t involve getting stabbed.”
“Can I come with you?” Jack asks. “I’d like to help pick stuff out for her.”
Cyrus sighs deeply. “Jack, I swear to God, if you come back with any of your nerdy cartoon shirts—”
“She’s a baby. All kids’ shirts have cartoons on.”
“Then why the Hell do you wear them? Are you in arrested development, or something?”
“Beth likes my shirts,” Jack argues.
Cyrus scoffs. “That’s probably because she’s used to spending all day with children.”
“That is true,” I allow. Jack gives me a faux-wounded look as Sebastian strides into the room. He looks down at all of us, his expression impassive, then focuses his intense stare on me. “Beth,” he calls. “Can I have a word?”
I blink. Am I in trouble already? I’ve been hired for less than twenty-four hours. Nodding, I pass the screwdriver I’m holding to Jack and join Seb by the kitchen counter. He looks down at his hands, his lips tight.
“I’m so sorry,” he says quietly. “For talking to you like that earlier.”
I’m shocked. “Um. It’s okay.”
He shakes his head. “No, it’s not. I’m sorry. I haven’t slept in two days, everything’s falling apart at work, and now this—” he gestures at Cami, sleeping soundly in her new crib. “I didn’t mean to snap. It’s completely inappropriate to speak to an employee like that. You’re helping us so much, and I’m really grateful.”
“That’s okay. I’m sure that all of this is very stressful.”
He nods, lifting a hand to massage his temple. “That doesn’t excuse my actions, but thank you.”
“Do you have a headache?” I ask. “I have some painkillers back in my flat, if you want some.”
“Just a little one. I’m fine.” He clears his throat, turning to Cami. “How is her health?”
I tell him about the appointment. He listens intently, asking questions as I relay all of the information the doctor gave us. At one point, he pulls out his phone and starts making notes.
“Overall,” I round up, “she seems like a perfectly healthy baby girl. Whatever her living situations were before this, they don’t seem to have harmed her health.”
His shoulders relax. “Thank God,” he mutters.
I consider him. I think I might have misjudged him. I was a bit put off when he didn’t want to come to the appointment this morning, but it still seems like he really cares about Cami. Even if he is convinced that she can’t possibly be his.
On the table by his hand, his open laptop dings, and he checks it automatically. His face stiffens.
“What is it?”
He doesn’t respond, his eyes scanning the screen. His hands grip the table as he stares blankly at the laptop, his lips parting.
I put my hand on his arm. “Seb? Are you okay?”
A few seconds pass, then he pulls away from me sharply, turns on his heel, and heads for his bedroom. The door slams shut behind him, the noise ringing through the flat.
Cy and Jack immediately stop bickering about baby clothes, looking up. “What was that about?” Jack asks.
I shrug. “I don’t know. He just got an email.”
They both share a look, then jump to their feet, crowding around the laptop.
“Ah,” Jack says, leaning in to study the screen. “Shit.”
Cyrus grabs the laptop and swivels it so he can see, his eyes flickering over the email. His lips press together unhappily. “Well, well, well,” he mutters. “Who would’ve called it.”
“What’s going on?” I ask. “Is something wrong?”
“No,” Cy says, his voice curt. “The DNA lab got back. They have the results.”
My stomach sinks. “She’s Seb’s, isn’t she?”
“Total match,” Cyrus says. “There’s no doubt.”
I look up at the doorway where Sebastian disappeared, anger suddenly burning in my stomach. “You’re telling me,” I say slowly, “that man just found out he has a baby daughter, and he just ran away? He won’t touch her, or pick her up, or hold her? He’s just disappeared into his study to work?!”
The others sigh. Jack rubs his eyes. There’s disappointment in every line of his body. “You should go get some rest,” he says. “We’ve unpacked pretty much everything, I think Cami’s ready for bed.” He rolls out his shoulders, checking the clock. “You don’t have to come in early. I’ll get her ready and knock on your door at nine to go shopping?”
I know a dismissal when I hear one. I’m sure the guys want some time alone to process the news. I nod sharply, standing and heading to the crib. Cami’s already curled up sleeping, but I pick her up anyway, holding her close and kissing her cheek.
It’s so unfair. She’s a tiny baby. She’s done absolutely nothing wrong. She didn’t ask to be born, but neither of her parents want her anyway. How is that okay?
Cami rouses in my arms, grumbling, so I settle her back down. My throat is tight with tears as I turn to the door, grabbing my keys.
A low voice calls after me. “Beth?”
I turn in the doorway. Sebastian is standing in the lounge. He clears his throat. “What’s your nightly rate?”
“Excuse me?” My voice is cold.
“How much for you to stay here tonight?”
I shake my head. “Nope. Not happening.”
“I’ll double your day rate.”
“You can triple it, for all I care. I’m not staying over. You have to take care of her tonight.”
He frowns. “Why? Do you have something better to do?”
I grit my teeth. “Whether I do or not is none of your business. For God’s sake, you just found out you have a bloody daughter. I’m not facilitating you ignoring your own kid. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
He calls out to me again, but I step out into the hallway, slamming the door behind me.
