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“You wanna hold her?” said Danny.
Adam froze, mid-chuckle.
It was the very question he’d been dreading since that moment, back at the lab, when Lindsay had grabbed his shirt and blown his mind with her revelation. All eyes were on him. Mac’s face wore a sly grin that said he could tell exactly what the lab tech was thinking.
What if I drop her?
“Okay,” he said. “Sure. Why not?”
Babies. No experience.
No problem.
Feigning nonchalance, he held out his arms in a clumsy imitation of Danny’s comfortable pose. Deep down, he couldn’t quite believe that they would trust him with something so fragile.
The world around him disappeared as the little scrap of life was placed in his arms. It was soft and warm. She, not it. Adam held his breath. For some peculiar reason, there was a lump in his throat. He swallowed around it and stared down nervously at the scrunched-up face beneath its pink cap.
Okay – now what?
Talk to her, Adam, you wuss.
“Hey there, baby girl,” he whispered.
She opened her eyes. Bright blue, with pupils like pinpricks. Windows to her living, breathing soul. Adam was enchanted.
With fingers that were ever so gentle, he pulled the blanket aside and tickled her cheek. It seemed like the right thing to do. Such a little person…
“Yes, but then they grow up,” said the voice in his head – the one that was always there, trying to bring him down.
Adam couldn’t help wondering to himself. Had his father ever held him this way? As though he were made of gold? As though he were the most amazing thing in the world right now?
Doesn’t matter.
“You’re a lucky girl,” he told her softly. “I know your mom and dad, okay, and they love you so much already. You’re gonna have a great life. Plus, your godfather – well, that’s my boss, right, and he won’t let anything bad happen to you. Not ever. So, you know, warn your boyfriends, alright? Then there’s me. I’m Adam.” He paused – and grinned. “When you’re older, I’m the one who’ll teach you all the really cool stuff that these guys know nothing about…”
“Okay, Adam. You can give her back now,” Danny quipped. “Time to go.” He turned to his wife. “You must be tired.”
“I am.” Adam sighed happily, gazing down at the bundle in his arms.
It had been a long day. But he wouldn’t have missed it for the world.