Page 73 of Cursed Luck
“What?” he asked, letting his attention go to Brandy. “Did I do something wrong?” he asked and studied Gia’s grinning face.
“I think this is the first time you’ve held her,” Brandy whispered with tears in her eyes.
He thought for a moment and scratched the back of his ear. “No, that can’t be right. I held her after she was born.”
Brandy shook her head, a sad smile on her lips. “You didn’t. Trust me, I remember offering to let you hold her.”
“She looks good in your arms, brother,” Ethan said, with a smirk that sent a wave of nerves through him.
“She’s a gorgeous baby, Brandy,” Mia said, but her eyes were glued to Edward’s.
“That she is,” Brandy said and kissed his cheek. “Did Uncle Eddie just tickle you?”
The baby babbled in reply and raised her hands for her mother. Edward was about to offer her back, not wanting to cause her any discomfort, when his sister shook her head. “You’re fine.”
He ran a hand along the infant’s back and spoke with Gia as if she understood anything he said. Carrying her with one arm, he walked around and greeted everyone with Mia at his side. It seemed like the most natural thing to do. Of all the times he had seen Gia, he could not believe he had never held her, at least once.
Sitting on the grass, leaning against a new patio set, he set Gia on his lap, her back to his knees. He played with her as he listened to the others catch up and chat. The longer he played, the more he wondered what a child with Mia would look like.
Serena called dinner ready, and Ryan knelt at his side. “Here, I’ll take her so you can go get your food.”
Edward shook his head. “Nah, we’re having fun, aren’t we?” he cooed.
“Suit yourself,” he chuckled and left the two of them.
Not long after, he noted sleep trying to take her over. Gia fought it until Edward laid her against his chest and began to hum. He rubbed her back and shut his eyes, letting memories of holding Brandy as a baby come to mind.
He had felt conflicted when Brandy joined their family. His father had not forced any of them to hold her, probably because they were all so young. When no one was around to see, Edward had comforted Brandy, like he remembered his mother had done for him.
His beautiful mother had been so kind and good. Memories of her always threatened to fade into the past.
As he held onto Gia, he realized how much he had unconsciously held back from the family without even trying. How much he had hurt them without intending to. Even worse, how much he had hurt himself by staying on the outside.
Gia whimpered softly before finally giving in to the sleep her little body desperately needed. He let her baby scent and weight fill him, allowing it to heal a part of him he hadn’t realized had been broken.
“You two look so sweet,” Mia whispered.
Raising his eyes to hers, he did not bother hiding the tears brimming in his.
“I didn’t realize I’d never held her,”he told her.
“But you are now,”she said and kissed his temple.
“Would you like a bite?” she asked, raising a forkful of pulled pork in the air.
Edward let Mia feed him as he cuddled his niece, reveling in the feel of her in his arms, making up for lost time. Without trying, the sleeping child wove a spell around her uncle.
When Brandy finished eating, she knelt at his side. “I’m going to lay her down in the travel crib.”
Edward nodded. “I’ll carry her for you.”
He followed her to an empty bedroom where they had placed her baby things for the visit. Careful not to wake her, he set her on her back as Brandy laid a light blanket to her waist. They shared a smile before she hurried him out and left the door ajar.
“How will you know she’s awake?” he asked, worried Gia would not be heard from outside.
“Through the baby monitor.”
Edward hadn’t seen it but trusted his sister. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and dropped a kiss on the top of her head. “I’m proud of you, and I bet Mom and Dad are too.” Brandy turned into him and buried her face in his shirt as they neared the back door.
