Page 71 of Invincible
EPILOGUE - THE NEXT SUMMER
“Hey, sweet thing.Come here often?”Knox wedged his big body into the rocking chair, snuggling the baby in his arms.“How did you get so pretty?”he cooed.“Must have come from your momma.Yes, you did.”Looking up, he found Thayer standing in the doorway leaning against the jamb watching him.“There’s your pretty momma now.”
Standing, he waited for her to settle into the rocking chair before passing the baby into her arms.
“I’m sorry.Did she wake you?”Thayer asked with a yawn.Knox turned away until the baby was happily nursing and Thayer had covered herself.He knew breastfeeding was perfectly natural, but that still didn’t mean he wanted to be flashed by his brother’s wife.
“I just wanted to get a little more snuggling in before I left this morning.Don’t want her to forget Uncle Knox before I can get back for another visit.”
He lowered himself down into a crouch near the door.
“Oh, I don’t think she’s going to forget Uncle Knox.I’m pretty sure her godfather is going to make himself known pretty often.”She smiled at him, ending in yet another yawn.
“Well, someone has to spoil her rotten.”Standing, he threw a towel over his shoulder so he could burp the baby while Thayer readjusted.
“I don’t think Blue is the only one being spoiled,” Thayer said, holding her hands out.Knox handed the baby back to her before returning to his place by the door.
“How did you settle on the name Blue?”
“I really liked the obstetrician in Blue Earth, so Memphis agreed to drive me there for my appointments.We agreed to leave Earth off.Eleanor Blue Prescott, after his mother and where she was born.What do you think?”she asked as he stood to take the baby again.
Snuggling the tiny infant against his shoulder, he rubbed her back, waiting for a manly belch.
“It’s the perfect name for the perfect girl,” he said with a wink at Thayer.“I bet she’s the most gifted of us all.A real little dragon slayer.”
Knox placed a gentle kiss on Blue’s tiny forehead before easing her back into her crib.He stood over her for a minute as she wrapped her tiny hand around his finger.Quietly, he followed Thayer out of the nursery, closing the door behind him.
“Memphis plans to make it back to see you off.He had an early call out to one of the farms.Let me get you some coffee.”
Laying an arm over her shoulders, Knox steered her toward one of the lounge chairs in the living room.
“How about you rest while I make you some breakfast,” he said, pushing her gently into the chair.
“Waffles?”
“Waffles,” he answered with a chuckle.It had been Thayer’s favorite breakfast since he could remember.
Hunting down one of the decaf coffee packs, he ran it through their fancy coffee maker.Adding just enough cream, he carried it back into Thayer before returning to the kitchen to begin breakfast.He filled the dogs’ bowls with their breakfast as they ran into the kitchen.He was just pulling the first waffle out of the iron when Memphis walked in the door.
“Waffles?”Memphis asked, hanging his coat up.Helping Thayer out of the chair, he pulled her against him for a quick kiss.Walking her to the breakfast bar where Knox had slid the first plate, complete with bacon, he took a seat next to her.“Uncle Knox is the best.”
“You’re just angling for a free babysitter again,” Knox growled, knowing he would drop anything for a chance to babysit his new niece.
He had enjoyed spending the week with his brother and his growing family.It was good to see him so happy.Even slightly sleep deprived still, he had a smile on his face most of the time.After breakfast had been cleaned up, Knox loaded his motorcycle to continue his trip.
“Don’t be a stranger, brother.We expect another visit before the end of summer.”Memphis was standing on the porch, watching Knox load his stuff.Blue had woken up and was happily clinging to her father’s arm as he bounced her in front of him.Thayer had already said her goodbyes before heading for a much-anticipated shower before Memphis returned to work.
“I’ll be back.I figured I’d spend a week kicking around with Tyler and Dex before heading to California to drive up the coast.As long as I’m back at school by the beginning of August, I’m golden.Load up, Harry.”
Knox strapped the dog in the sidecar before walking back to the porch.He blew a couple of raspberries on Blue’s tiny belly, eliciting a giggle before pulling Memphis into a hug.
“Keep these beauties safe.”
“With my life,” Memphis added, giving him one more squeeze before releasing him.With a wave, Knox climbed on his Harley, starting it up.With Harry barking beside him, he headed for Texas.
“How did I forget it’s like living on the sun here in the summer?”Knox growled around his beer.
“Hey, you’re the one that keeps insisting on visiting in the summer.You couldn’t once have graced us with your smiling face over the winter?”
