Page 31 of Two Hearts Reunited

It looked like it was time for a diaper change and probably a bottle since it was after seven. He had a feeling she was getting tired. According to the instructions, she hadn’t slept quite as much as she usually did, and Eric had kept her busy moving around for most of the day, even taking her outside for a little walk around the property in his arms.

That way, he hoped, she would sleep all night tonight. Brian and Ashley would probably be exhausted by the time they got home.

As he finished changing Arielle’s diaper, his cell phone rang.

“Hi,” he said to Anya, after checking the caller ID and switching on the phone. “Is everything okay?”

“Yes, fine,” Anya answered. “I just realized that I didn’t know which house belonged to Ashley and Brian.”

Eric laughed. “It’s the old spooky house. In fact, I don’t know if you were here in town at the time, but they hosted the Halloween haunted house the year before last, before COVID.”

“Oh, wow. That’s a big house. No wonder they decided to make the basement an apartment. I’m right down the road. I’ll be there shortly.”

“The overhead light is on over the barn, and then you can just park near the kitchen, alongside the house. My truck is parked near the back door that leads downstairs, so you’ll drive by it first.”

“Okay. I’m pulling into the driveway right now,” she said.

Arielle was in a much better mood after she’d had a quick bath and he’d changed her diaper. All he had to do was find her some clean pjs since she’d gone through a couple of footed rompers already today when she’d upchucked some of her food once and her formula another time.

Which was probably his fault since he’d been carrying her around so much throughout the day.

He wrapped a warm blanket around her and carried her over his shoulder into the kitchen, gently patting her back.

“Come on in,” he yelled as Anya stepped onto the porch, carrying a box which must have been filled with food.

She looked at him oddly as he opened the door for her, still hanging onto Arielle. Walking over to the kitchen island, she laid down the box, suddenly swallowing hard.

He frowned. “What’s wrong? Did something happen? It’s been less than five minutes since we spoke.”

Her eyes suddenly filled with tears. “It’s just…the baby. I was kind of emotional there for a minute when I saw you taking care of her. Look at all those blond curls. Shanna’s hair was like that when she was young.”

“I need to find her something to wear,” he admitted, grinning. “It’s a little draftier here in the kitchen. Why don’t youcome along with us into the living room, and you can sit with her near the fire?”

“Aren’t you hungry?” she asked.

“Yes, I guess I am. But I need to do something with Arielle first,” he said, grinning. “I’ve just discovered that she gets whiny at night when she’s not being held.”

Anya laughed softly. “I’m not too hungry yet. They provided food for us all day long, so I was back and forth through the day munching on appetizers. Will she let me hold her since I’m a stranger? You could eat first and then go look for her sleepers.”

“Let’s try it. Come on. Follow me,” he replied, heading back into the living room with Arielle bouncing over his shoulder. “I don’t want to give her a bottle until I’ve got some pajamas on her. That way, she’ll probably fall asleep in the playpen and won’t wake when Ashley and Brian take her upstairs and tuck her into her crib.”

“This place is really nice,” she said, glancing around with apparent appreciation.

“Did you know that Ashley purchased this place before Brian returned to town? She’d been working full-time in construction before moving back to Crystal Rock.”

Anya’s eyes went wide. “You’re kidding me.”

“No. Not at all,” he answered, motioning her into the small recliner near the fireplace. “I think you’ll be more comfortable there with her than on the couch. The chair’s a little narrow for me, and I’m afraid of Brian’s recliner because of all the remote-controlled gadgets that have been installed on the crazy thing.”

She laughed, sitting on the smaller chair.

“Ashley remodeled the entire kitchen on her own, as well as their bedroom suite upstairs. I’m sure they’ll give you the tour.”

“She did that kitchen on her own?”Anya grimaced. “It’s beautiful.”

“Isn’t it?” Arielle began to fuss when he pulled her away from his shoulder. “Auntie Anya wants to hold you Arielle. See the pretty lady right there?”

Anya reached out with her arms, and that’s all it took for Arielle to reach out with hers. Anya had a look of wonder on her face as Arielle got cozy with her on the recliner, still wrapped in her blanket.

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