“Reedy,” Lark supplied, her gaze not leaving Keaton’s face.
“For our niece, Grace Holt-Taylor.”
“If you can fill out this paperwork.” The receptionist pushed a clipboard and a pen across the desk toward them. “I’ll let the doctor know you’re here.”
Keaton sat beside Grace’s carrier and watched Lark fill out the baby’s pertinent details. As he waited for her to finish, he was bemused at the anxiety that tightened his chest. She’d been caught off guard when he described their dinner as a date, but she didn’t protest the notion. Did that mean she was willing to give things between them a shot?
Before he found out, they were being escorted into a tiny exam room. The nurse who led them there brought in a scale and a tape measure to take Grace’s measurements. Between them the nurse and Lark peeled Grace out of her fleece onesie. Not liking the cool air on her skin, Grace began to protest. In record time the stats were recorded on her chart and then the nurse left them alone to calm the baby.
Rather than dress her again, Lark wrapped Grace in a blanket and held her against her shoulder. It only took a bit of rocking for the infant to calm. Once the room was silent, Keaton spoke.
“I’ve spent the entire day thinking about you,” he said. “I think we have a connection that goes beyond taking care of Grace or simple physical attraction.” The words that had been racing through his mind all day spilled easily from his lips.
“I like you too,” she said, her voice and expression solemn. “It’s just that dating means we’re going down a path that ended badly for Jake and Skye.”
“They decided to run away from trouble rather than face it. We’re both stronger than that.”
“You might be, but then your parents are way more sensible and forgiving than mine.”
The door opened before he could respond and Keaton was left to mull her words.
“Good afternoon, Lark,” Dr. Reedy said, flashing his teeth in a boisterous grin. In his midfifties, the pediatric physician had pronounced crow’s-feet at the corners of his eyes and strong laugh lines bracketing his mouth. He stuck his hand toward Keaton. “I’m Dr. Reedy.”
“Keaton Holt.”
The doctor nodded. “Grace’s uncle. So, how is our little angel doing?”
Lark and Keaton spoke at once.
“Terrific.”
“Wonderful.”
“Fantastic,” Dr. Reedy said. “Well, her weight has increased nicely. She’s a little ahead of where we’d expect she’d be at this time.”
Keaton appreciated that bit of good news. At least when his brother showed up, Keaton could feel confident that he’d done everything possible for Grace. “And her reflux?”
“We’re still giving her the drops and that’s working great.”
“She’s sleeping okay?”
Keaton and Lark exchanged glances.
“Pretty well,” Keaton said. “At first she wanted to be held all the time, but she’s adjusted to her bouncy chair and swing really well in the last few days.”
“Sounds like everything is going nicely.”
After that Dr. Reedy began his exam. Grace hated every second of being checked and let the entire building know. He had a list of questions for Lark and Keaton as he worked and they traded off answering.
“I’d say she’s doing great,” Dr. Reedy pronounced, giving the two adults a pleased smile. “We’ll need to see her in another month. You can schedule that before you leave.”
From the way Lark’s mouth drooped, Keaton suspected she was hoping her sister would be able to bring Grace to that checkup. Keaton agreed and hoped his brother was in town to drive her. The next time Keaton attended a baby wellness visit, he wanted it to be for his own son or daughter.
Eight
After leaving the doctor’s office, Lark sat in the backseat of Keaton’s truck and pulled out Grace’s bottle.
“Do you want to skip the restaurant and do dinner at home?” Keaton offered, watching them from the front seat.
The baby was still agitated from being checked out by Dr. Reedy, but she quickly settled down. “I think she’ll be okay after she has something to eat. She’s really hungry these days. I’ve started preparing four-ounce bottles and she can almost get through the whole thing.”
“It’s amazing how much has changed in the ten days since she’s left the hospital.”
With the bottle half-consumed, Lark took it away and handed the baby and a burp cloth to Keaton.
“And who would’ve guessed you’d be so good with babies?”
“Certainly not me.”