Page 95 of Holiday Romance
“I kind of want to eat him. That’s a thing, right? Like, I see his little fists and I just want to… eat him.”
“How about you hold him instead?”
I make a face. “No.”
“Why not?”
“You know me and babies,” I say, even as I find it difficult to tear my eyes away from him.
“Yes, but this one ismybaby. I expect you to show him more love and attention than this.”
“Well, I expected to be a godmother.”
“Would you get over that?” she snaps just as the door swings open and a nurse who does not look old enough to be in charge of, you know, keeping humansalivebustles into the room.
“Twins!” she proclaims, glancing between us. “Which one of you is Zoe? Just kidding. The one in the hospital gown, right?”
“Nothing gets past this one.” Zoe sighs, pushing herself up. “Can I go home now?”
“No,” the nurse says cheerfully. “You do that and you’ll be back here in an hour. It’s feeding time.”
“I’m not hungry.”
I roll my eyes as I climb off the bed. “For the baby, you idiot.”
“Oh.” Zoe looks down at her breasts with a doubtful look. “Will you send Mam in?”
I nod, rounding the bed to kiss my nephew’s tiny little forehead. “I love you,” I whisper because I do, and then hug my sister goodbye.
My mother is talking on the phone outside, but she hangs up when I exit.
“Zoe wants you to go in,” I say and she nods, but doesn’t move.
“Are you alright?”
“I’m fine. I was… Zoe actually…”
She just waits.
“I was thinking about maybe spending today with Andrew. With his family. For Christmas. Christmas Day. And then I could—”
“I think that sounds like a wonderful idea,” she interrupts.
“You do?”
“Yes, it’s not like we’ll be doing anything here,” she says, echoing Zoe. “We’ll be able to celebrate properly tomorrow.”
I raise my brows at that, but don’t say anything.
God, I mention briefly I thought she didn’t want me home and now I’m going to come back next year to find out we’ve won most festive house in Dublin.
“I’ll have to ask him first,” I mutter, pulling my sleeves down over my hands. “He might say no.”
Mam just gives me a look as the smiling nurse pops her head around the door.
“Can we have the mother of the mother?” she asks as Zoe’s frustrated grunt comes from inside the room.
“I can’t do it!” she calls. “My nipples are broken!”
