Adrianne Byrd - She's My Baby

As he entered, Omara shrieked with joy at the sight of the armload of gifts he’d purchased.

Tamara rolled her eyes and shook her head. “We’d agreed on just one gift.”

“You said one gift, but I never agreed to it,” he reminded her with a soft smile and set the gifts down in the center of the floor.

His niece squealed in delight as she flew from her father’s lap to the packages.

“You two do nothing but spoil her,” Tamara complained.

Garrick laughed. “That’s what you’re supposed to do with little girls.”

“She knows,” Orlando said, winking at his wife. “She’s nothing but a big daddy’s girl herself.” He returned his attention to his brother. “Every time I see her father, he’s cleaning his gun.”

“I don’t blame him. She could’ve done better.”

Orlando’s brows dipped. “Hey!”

“What?” Garrick jabbed a thumb at his chest. “I was available.”

“You stay away from my wife, bro.” Orlando looped an arm around her waist. “I mean it. You play too much.”

“Daddy, look!” Omara tottered over to showcase her latest baby doll. “It cries just like a real baby!”

“Oh, joy.” Orlando smote his brother with a narrowed gaze.

“Hey, anything for the kids.” Garrick chuckled.

“That’s all right,” Tamara said, patting her husband’s leg. “Revenge will be ours when he finally has children.”

“If he can convince a woman to reproduce.”

Garrick’s smile disappeared. “That’s a low blow, man.”

“Cheer up. You were a hot commodity back in college. You just need to dust off your old player skills and jump back into the game.”

“Thanks for the pointers.”

“Anytime.”

The doorbell rang.

Garrick stood and headed for the door. “But Tamara’s right. I’ll have my turn one day. Hopefully sooner than later.”

Orlando and Tamara glanced at each other with knowing smiles.

“Is there something you want to tell us, bro?” Orlando shouted after him. “Do you have a bun in the oven somewhere?”

Garrick opened the door and then jumped back as a hysterical Leila breezed through.

“I can’t do this! I can’t do this!” She thrust Emma into his arms. “Here. If this is a woman thing, I’m missing a few genes.”

“What—?”

“I can’t fix a bottle…. I can’t even warm a jar of food—a damn jar.”

Garrick turned the child away from her. “We’ve been over this. Watch your language!” He stroked the child’s back and she immediately quieted down.

Leila’s eyes narrowed as she jabbed a finger into his chest. “Since you know so much, you take care of her.”

A stunned Tamara and Orlando inched into the foyer.

“Bro?”

Tamara folded her arms. “Aren’t you going to introduce us?”

Garrick turned and then followed their wide stares. “Oh, no. She’s not…We’re not…This isn’t what it looks like.”

Leila felt like an ass.

“You have company,” she said, pointing out the obvious and backing toward the door. “I—I’m sorry.” She reached for Emma while a tidal wave of embarrassment crashed within her.

Garrick stepped back as his eyebrows rose in surprise and in amusement. “Apology accepted.” He faced his family again. “I’ll be right back.”

Tamara’s eyes darted between her brother-in-law and Leila. “Is there something wrong?”

“No, no.” Garrick gestured Leila toward the door. “This will only take a moment. Just tell Omara I’ll be right back.” He followed his neighbor across the threshold and closed the door behind them.

Once alone on the front porch, Leila slumped against the white colonial column. “This day couldn’t possibly get any worse.”

“I take it you weren’t able to find anyone to help you?”

“It’s Christmas. Everyone I know is out of town or just cruelly avoiding my phone calls,” she complained, warding off tears. After a long, sidelong glance, she couldn’t discern if he thought she was a raving lunatic or not. Then again, why wouldn’t he?

“Look, about earlier—”

“Forget about it.” He smiled and glanced down at the sleeping baby nestled against his chest. “Looks like your little angel is knocked out.”

“Angel? Try devil.” Leila chuckled. “She hasn’t stopped screaming since you left.”

“Ah, poor thing,” he said as he descended the front stairs.

Leila’s gaze followed and took note of his strong shoulders, broad back and his cute butt. “Not bad,” she mumbled.

Garrick glanced back over his shoulder. “Are you coming?”

She blinked. “Oh. Yes, I’m right behind you.”

Tamara and Orlando crowded together at the window by the front door. “What do you think is going on?” Tamara whispered.

“I have no idea, but did you see her hair?”

“Her hair?” Tamara leaned back to stare at her husband. “Surely that wasn’t the only thing you noticed?”

“Oh, you mean the baby?”

“Duh.” She popped him on the back of the head.

“What’s going on?” Omara joined them at the window, hugging two more dolls. “Where’s Uncle Garrick?”

Orlando peeked out the blinds again. “He, uh, just went to help out a neighbor. He’ll be right back.”

“Will I get to play with his baby when he comes back?”

Orlando glanced over at his wife’s smug smile. “Out of the mouths of babes.”

Now that her moment of temporary insanity had come to an end, Leila stepped out of the shower refreshed. Maybe it was all she needed to get a firm grip on her new situation. She donned her gray sweat suit and ran a brush through her hair while she blow-dried it straight. Minutes later, she descended the stairs.

“Wow. You clean up well,” Garrick complimented.

Flattered by the unexpected praise, Leila smiled as she stopped in front of him. “Where’s Emma?”

“Napping.” He smiled back and shoved his hands into his pants pockets. “I, uh, cleaned up the mess in the kitchen, made a bottle, and jotted some notes on how to warm up everything.”

A blanket of shame covered Leila. “Look, my behavior today is inexcusable.”

“There’s no need—”

“Please, let me finish.” Her lips slid wider as she gazed up at him, noticing his brown eyes were more like the color of Hershey’s Kisses. “I’m normally a sane person and I truly appreciate you for not calling a mental institution to come and pick me up. You’ve gone beyond the call of duty for a new neighbor.” She shrugged. “Thank you.”

Garrick waited, and then asked, “Is that it?”

“If there’s anything I can do for you, please don’t hesitate to ask.”

He chuckled. “You don’t owe me anything,” he assured and turned toward the door. “I was happy to help. If there’s something I forgot to write down, I’m just across the street.”

Though his words were kind, Leila couldn’t help but feel a chill—a distance.

Garrick stopped at the door. “If you need anything else—”

“I won’t. I mean—I’ve bothered you enough. I even dragged you away from your family…on Christmas,” she added with a small laugh.

He forced out a chuckle and shuffled out the door.

She watched him leave, still feeling like a complete ass.

“That poor woman,” Tamara exclaimed after Garrick relayed this morning’s shenanigans with his new neighbor. “Can you imagine waking up to something like that?” she asked her husband.

“I highly doubt you would run out in the neighborhood screaming like a banshee,” Garrick said, admiring his new watch from his niece.

“Don’t be so sure.” She rolled her eyes and shook her head. “A baby is a big deal—a lot of work, a life-changing event.”