Page 120 of Denim & Diamonds

Brock looked down at the baby. “Patrick. After my grandfather. Nina had suggested it when we met back in Maine to talk. My first instinct was not to take a name she’d come up with. But then I saw this little guy’s face. He looks like me, and I look exactly like my dad. There was no way I could name him anything else.”

“Patrick Hawkins,” I said. “I like it. And I think naming someone after a person who was important in your life is like giving them a piece of history to carry with them always. It’s definitely better than naming him October.”

Brock chuckled. “I have to admit, I thought your name was a little odd when we first met. But now, it suits you.”

“BecauseI’modd?”

“No, because you’re special and should have a name that matches.”

Warmth filled my chest. I allowed myself to enjoy it for a moment before asking the next question. “Has Nina reconsidered about the baby? I wondered if seeing him would make her want to be involved in some way. It must be easier tosayyou’re going to never see your child again than to actually do it.”

Brock frowned. “Unfortunately, no. She said goodbye to him a few minutes after delivering and doesn’t want to see him again.”

“Wow. Gosh. I…I don’t know what to say.”

“She said it would be too hard if she didn’t make a clean break immediately. But she asked if I would send her a letter every year on his birthday, letting her know how he is.”

Sadness washed over me.This beautiful baby boy isn’t going to have a mom.

Brock cleared his throat. “The nurses set me up in a little room where I can spend all day with the baby, even though I’m not a patient. He’ll probably be here two days, so I booked a hotel down the block. I reserved it for a week, because I don’t want to bring him on a plane until I’m more comfortable with him.”

“Are any of your brothers there or coming down to keep you company?”

Brock shook his head. “Elvin and Trev offered, but I told them not to come. Though Elvin insisted he’ll fly down the day I’m flying back so he can take the trip with me. I told him it wasn’t necessary, but he’s doing it anyway. His wife, Linda, also has a menu of meals she’s food prepping for the week I return, and she’s going to stop by twice a day to check in on us.”

“Sounds like you have everything covered.”Without me.

We talked for a little while until a nurse came into Brock’s room. “Hi, Mr. Hawkins. We should probably do a diaper check. Would you like some help?”

“Uh… I should try to do it on my own. But if you don’t mind sticking around, that would be great. It’ll be the first time I’ve ever changed a diaper.”

“Sure. No problem.”

Brock’s attention shifted to me. “Do you want me to call you back?”

I smiled. “And miss the debacle of your first diaper change? Not a chance. Set the camera up so I can watch.”

He smiled and shook his head, but set the camera up a few feet from the portable plastic bassinet so I could see the full room.

Before he started, he stretched his neck left then right and took a deep breath. The nurse stayed in the background, looking over his shoulder. After a few minutes of fiddling around, Brock turned to her. “How’d I do?”

“I’d never know it was your first time.”

He wiped his forehead. “The sweat wasn’t a dead giveaway?”

She smiled warmly. “You’re doing great, Dad.”

“Thanks, even if you’re lying.” Brock ran his hand along the baby’s legs. “He’s really warm. Should I leave the blanket off for a bit?”

“They like to be wrapped tight, but the heat in this little room is pretty suffocating. Maybe leave it off for a few minutes before putting it back on, and I’ll call building maintenance to see if we can get the temperature lowered.”

“Alright, thank you.”

The nurse left, and Brock took the baby back into his arms before picking up the phone.

“Oooh,” I said. “Now that he’s not swaddled, can I have a tour?”

Brock’s brows pinched. “A tour?”

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