When A Hero Comes Along
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He started to lift the child out of the chair, then released the seat belt when he got hung up. The baby’s feet caught on the tray and, with one arm around J.T.’s waist, he untangled them.
“And we have lift off.” In more ways than one, he thought when there was an unmistakable sound from the region of the baby’s tush. Sniffing, he said, “Tell me that isn’t what I think.”
Kate grinned and it could only be described as evil, with a little wicked thrown in for good measure. “There’s never been a better time for diaper-changing 101.”
Joe groaned. He held the boy in both hands, out in front of him so as not to squish anything any more than necessary.
Kate instructed him to put the baby down on the changing table, which was the easy part. Keeping him there was like trying to lasso a hurricane. His son wanted to roll sideways, chew on his feet and grab tubes, tissues and everything else lined up for this operation. Joe felt a trickle of sweat on his back, not unlike the first time he’d taken the controls of a helicopter.
“You’re going to need wet wipes and lots of them,” Kate said, amusement dripping from every word.
With one hand firmly on the baby’s midsection, he looked at her. “You’re enjoying this way too much.”
“I know.” She smiled.
“You’re not even going to deny it?”
“Nope.” She shook her head. “This is just too good for words.”
She verbally walked him through the process, but remained hands-off while he struggled to keep small hands and feet out of the radioactive zone. Then she told him what he could do with it, the diaper that is. Who knew there was a gizmo that magically contained odors? There was a good reason it was called a Diaper Genie.
“Mission accomplished.”
“Not so fast, Marine.” She laughed. “You’re not finished yet. It’s bath time.”
Lord have mercy, he thought. Words that struck terror into his warrior soul. At least she took pity on him and put out the supplies, then filled the tiny tub. Keeping the baby contained in it was diaper-changing bad times ten. Holding on to a slippery baby was like trying to steady his chopper in a twister. When goo and God knows what else was washed off, Kate handed him the towel. Probably not because she wanted to help him as much as because she didn’t want the baby to get cold.
“I’ve put out his clothes,” she explained.
“Changing table?” He held back the groan.
“You’re catching on.”
Not really, but he was glad she thought so. When he put J.T. down, Kate handed the baby a toy that went straight in his mouth. It also kept his hands busy. She could have done that before.
“Here’s a fresh diaper.” She held out a small, folded, not-quite-square white thing.
“Where are the schematics and operating manual?”
She laughed and opened the square, sliding it under the baby’s bottom, getting in close to Joe’s side. Her shoulder brushed his arm and he swore there were sparks. She glanced at him, then stepped sideways.
“Just cover him and hook the tabs,” she instructed. “Here’s a onesy.”
“A what?”
“It’s a shirt that snaps between his legs so it won’t ride up. One piece. A onesy.”
“Not a very manly name.”
“Trust me. You’re the only one offended. J.T. is all about being comfortable.”
At least one of them was. With her so close, Joe was anything but comfortable. Not to mention soaked. He was as soaked as she’d been the night before, but it looked much better on her. The wet shirt she’d been wearing had been practically transparent. Molded to her full breasts it had made her look like a randy teenage boy’s best dream.
He hadn’t known at that point, but it had been only the first temptation of the evening. If there was any silver lining to J.T.’s meltdown, it had been the glimpse of her creamy skin when she’d fed his son from her body. The message had come through loud and clear that she wanted him to leave. But he’d already missed too much to retreat at the signs of hostility in her eyes. And he was glad he’d stood his ground. It had been the most beautiful sight he’d ever seen.
A high-pitched squeal pulled him back to the present. J.T. was rubbing a chubby fist in his eye, following the action with a big yawn. It didn’t take a rocket scientist to know he was tired. That made two of them. Babies were definitely high-maintenance.
“Nap time?” he asked, looking at Kate.
She nodded and he felt as if he’d deciphered intel that would bring down a whole terrorist network. “But he has to eat something first.”
“Again? The teething biscuit wasn’t enough?” He picked the boy up. The feel of the baby weight in his arms was a little better. “Scratch that. He was wearing most of it.”
“You’re very observant.”
He watched Kate prepare a baby bottle she took from the freezer, which was probably the pumped breast milk she’d told him about. When it was ready, she settled him on the couch with J.T. in his arms.
“I think you can figure it out from here,” she said, hovering close by.
He put the bottle up to the small mouth and the kid latched on. At least one of them knew what to do. And that’s when it hit him that he was feeding his child for the first time. This was a photo moment of monumental proportions. This was huge.
The baby must have felt some of these vibes because he started squirming.
“It’s okay, buddy. Easy does it,” he said softly.
That seemed to calm him because he started sucking again. After draining the bottle, he let out a big burp.
He grinned at Kate. “I’m so proud.”
“You’re such a guy,” she said, rolling her eyes.
When J.T. heaved a satisfied sigh, Joe wondered what to do now. Then the baby closed his eyes and the sight made Joe’s chest grow tight. A second later something expanded and moved through him, filling up some of the empty places in his soul.
He’d done Marine Corps boot camp, flown helicopters in Afghanistan until his eyes felt as though all the desert sand was in them. But he’d never felt as tired as he did now. Being a father was hard work—in the most awesome possible way. What if he had never received the letter?