“Sure. As long as we can breed like one?” he whispered back.
I giggled. “We already have.”
He smiled with his eyes closed. “Mmmm.”
“Come on, you.”
We snuck out of the room to help hide all the Easter eggs that Mum, Jen and I had stashed away. Jen artistically hid foil covered chocolate bunnies in potted plants, on chairs and under tables. Jake arranged two chocolate bunnies on top of each other in a compromising position, and Bryce and I tossed handfuls of little foil covered chocolate eggs out onto the lawn. When we were all satisfied that our Easter Bunny duties were complete, we sat down at the dining table with well-earned cups of coffee and tea, then waited for the sleeping children to wake up.
“Why is it that on Easter, Christmas and birthdays our little rascals sleep in?” Jen huffed. “I might as well go back to bed.” And on cue the twins started crying. She stood up and stretched. “Ahhh, they are just like clockwork.” She turned to Bryce and smiled at him, raising her eyebrows. “Bryce, do you want to give me a hand?” Jennifer, don’t you dare do anything stupid. I shot her a warning look.
“Sure,” he said.
Steve grinned and leaned back on his chair, glad he had been let off the hook. “Sweet,” he uttered, happily.
“Don’t tell me you breastfeed too, Bryce,” my smartarse brother teased. I grabbed an apple from the fruit bowl and launched it at him. He caught it, and laughing, took a bite. “Thanks.”
I looked to Bryce. “Whatever you do, don’t change Jack.”
“Who said anything about changing them?” he answered, appearing to now regret his acceptance.
“Come on.” Jen put her hands on his shoulders and ushered him toward the waiting bundles of cuteness—and their inevitable soiled nappies.
Moments later, Jen returned to the room, smiling and holding the ‘blue one’. Bryce followed shortly after, his face half displaying adoration of the ‘pink one’ and half distaste.
“Was that a set up?” he asked me.
Jen cracked up laughing.
“Was what a set up?” I asked, slightly confused.
“Elise’s nappy was far from clean,” he blurted out as he bounced her on his hip.
“Oh. Sorry...but shit happens...literally.” I giggled at my lame joke and walked over to him, stopping to take Elise into my arms. “Did you give Uncle Bryce a nice Easter present?” I babbled to my niece.
The entire room fell silent at my choice of words, and I very quickly felt as though I had five pairs of eyes burrowing into my back. I looked up at Bryce who was standing directly in front of me, his face elated—thank goodness.
“Yes, she did. So next time, I choose Jack.” He kissed me on the top of the head and proceeded to sit back at the table, unperturbed at the fact I had just declared him a surrogate uncle. My family, too, continued their discussions and all was well.
Nate, Charli and Olivia woke up shortly after and scoured the gardens surrounding Mum and Dad’s house for treats the Easter Bunny had left behind. When they were sure all traces of foil-covered chocolate had been found, we all sat down and enjoyed another meal together—this one just as entertaining as the night before. After lunch, we sadly said our goodbyes with kisses to the cheeks, warm embraces and promises to see one another soon. Jake had shook Bryce’s hand and warned him—in a friendly manner—to take care of me, and not because he would have to answer to my brother if he didn’t. Instead, because he’d have to answer to me, as I apparently was the scariest one of us all—Bryce tended to agree.
***
Easter Sunday night was spent at the apartment with Lucy, Nic and Baby Alexander. Bryce was once again so natural when it came to handling a baby; it was an incredible turn on. I couldn’t help but formulate a picture in my mind of him holding, hugging, kissing and fussing over our baby. And as a result of this beautiful piece of imagery foresight, I had a ridiculously large smile plastered on my face.
“You seem happy,” Lucy smirked as she gave me a nudge while we made a cup of coffee.
“I am, very happy. Your brother is essentially all one could ever wish for in a man, and I can’t for the life of me remember making that wish or being lucky enough to deserve it being granted.” I looked up from the bench while stirring the mug, noticing Bryce enthralled in a game of peek-a-boo with Charli and Alexander.
“True love is not the result of a wish, Alexis. It is found by those who have open eyes. Unfortunately, so many people are blind—and because of that—will never experience it.” She put her mug to her lips and blew gently. “I will be forever grateful to you for opening your eyes. My brother deserves the love he has found with you.”