Page 78 of Missing Marcus

“It doesn’t matter. Just do it, brother. For Pete’s sake, hold on to whatever manhood you have left when they’re done with you.”

“What the hell! What did they plan?” he groaned.

Claire approached the truck. Patch shut the engine off and smiled. “Don’t let them smell fear. You’ll make us all look bad.” He opened the door and pulled Claire to him. “How are ya, Claire Bear?”

“I’m working, Patch.” She reminded him as he bent to kiss her.

“No. You’re having fun. Don’t try to play me.” He kissed her on the mouth and growled under his breath as he whispered in her ear making her giggle before getting back into the truck. Grinning at Knight, who held his door in a death grip, Patch said, “Good luck, Asshole.” Before nodding for him to shut the door.

36

Knight followed Claire up the stairs and into the house. Bryanna, Kassie, Samantha, and Catherine sat in the living room while Lizzy, and the woman Patch referred to as Victoria stood at the kitchen counter.

“Knight, you know those three. May I introduce Lizzy and Victoria? They’ve agreed to help us in our endeavor. Since you don’t have any experience with babies, I feel it’s important for you to get acquainted with a few. Kassie and Catherine have volunteered Grace and Tori for our practice sessions. Since your sister’s expecting, it’s important you feel comfortable with two babies. After all, Bryanna says she’s hoping to convince Gabby to stay in the area.”

“Did she mention something to you about where she plans to move?” he asked nervously.

Bryanna shook her head. “No. I hope to keep her close. She’ll need support and doesn’t need to handle a newborn alone.”

His jaw clenched as he bit back the retort. He didn’t plan on letting her do it alone. “What do you want me to do?”

“We’re spending the afternoon working on baby care,” Claire announced. As if on cue, a cry from the nursery alerted them to one of the babies waking.

Victoria walked toward the nursery when Kassie called out, “Victoria. We agreed to let Knight handle this. You can show him how to hold and change her while we’re finishing our tea.” Claire bounced over to join the other women leaving him alone with the older woman. He made a conscious effort not to hold his hand at his crotch as he entered the room. One baby wailed while the other started whimpering and her mouth drew into a bit of a pout.

“Listen and listen well. Both of these precious children stay under my protection. You drop them or hurt them in any way, I’ll unman you in mere seconds,” Victoria threatened.

“Victoria! Monitors, please,’ Kassie called from the other room.

The redhead had the audacity to smile widely at him. “I’m only joking,” she called out to the room as she narrowed her gaze, making Knight want to call this off. Only the thought of Gabby experiencing this alone stopped him. He refused to turn into his father.

“Where do we start?” he mustered.

“Pick up the one screaming her head off. Grace has a bit of colic. It’s important to remember she can’t tell you what’s wrong. We’ll comfort her the best we can. Right now, she needs a diaper change.”

Claire walked in and picked up Tori. “I’ll hold her while you instruct. I’ve missed holding the girls.”

Knight gingerly picked up the crying Grace and held her away from his body as if she resembled a bomb.

“Nope. Cuddle her close, you’re scaring her and not making her feel secure,” Victoria instructed.

When Knight held her to his chest, her cries lessened. “Now take her to the diapering station and let’s get her changed. She’s most likely hungry. You’ll need to rush it or we’ll all need earplugs.”

“I haven’t changed a diaper since Bryanna,” he admitted, feeling helpless.

“We’re here to talk you through it,” Claire encouraged.

He lay Grace on the changing table. Then peered up at Victoria, who rolled her eyes. “Take off her pants and remove her nappy. You’ll find fresh diapers on the side and wipes to your left.”

He grabbed a diaper, removed the tiny pants, and unfastened the soaked diaper, laying it to the side.

“With girls, you must remember to wipe from front to back to prevent UTI’s. Once you wipe her, we’ll add a thin layer of A&D ointment to protect her skin.” Victoria nodded toward the wipes, where he discovered a tube. He gently cleaned Grace, added the ointment and then stared at the diaper. He glanced back at Victoria. “The side with the tape goes on the bottom.”

Knight wrangled the diaper open and tried to capture Grace’s legs as she began to wail. Victoria gently brushed him aside. “Watch.” She showed him how to hold Grace’s legs, slide the diaper underneath the child, and fasten it, all while cooing to the baby. Once finished, she raised the child and held her. “Do it again,” she commanded as she indicated Tori in Claire’s arms.

Claire stepped forward and handed Tori over. Knight copied his actions from before and lifted the little girl to his chest, smiling at the women. Claire grinned at him while Victoria only narrowed her eyes and left the room. He followed with Tori.

The women kept talking as he crossed into the kitchen.

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