Chapter 271: ~ 270
Chapter 270
~Octavia~
The digital clock read 3:14 AM. I had gotten one after the birth of Lael. It helped me monitor her routine.
I let out a soft, ragged sigh as I paced around the nursery, gently rocking Lael against my shoulder. She was wide awake, her dark, glassy eyes staring up at the ceiling while she let out a series of tiny, fussy grunts.
My shoulders arched with absolute exhaustion, the skin beneath my eyes feeling heavy and bruised from the weeks of irregular sleep.
Suddenly, a warm pair of hands slid onto my hips from behind. I didn’t even have to look to know it was Franklin. The solid, comforting heat of his chest pressed against my back, instantly melting me.
"Give her to me, sweetheart," Franklin whispered, his voice deep and rough with sleep. He carefully took Lael out of my arms and into his broad chest. "You’ve been pacing around. Sit down before you collapse."
The second Lael hit his chest, she let out a loud, wet burp, followed immediately by a warm rush of milk that spilled right down the shoulder of his clean gray t-shirt.
"Oh, no!" I gasped, reaching for a burp cloth on the changing table. "She just spit up all over you."
Franklin didn’t even flinch. He just let out a low, rumbling chuckle, casually wiping the front of his shirt with the cloth I handed him while keeping his other arm securely locked around our daughter. "Hey, it’s just a badge of honor. I’ve been initiated into the newborn club."
He looked up at me, his gaze softening completely. Despite the dark circles under his eyes and his rumpled hair, the sheer devotion in his expression made my chest ache with love. He reached out, capturing my chin softly between his fingers.
"You are doing an incredible job, Octavia," he said, his voice dropping into a steady, intense tone. "I mean it. I know you’re exhausted, and I know your body is still healing, but you are the most beautiful, fierce mother I have ever seen. Lael is the luckiest girl in the world, and so am I."
Tears pricked the back of my eyes, the raw, volatile emotions of the postpartum phase catching up to me. "I just want to get it right, Franklin. Sometimes I feel like I’m completely guessing."
"We’re guessing together," he murmured, leaning down to press a lingering, warm kiss against my forehead. "Go crawl back into bed for a couple of hours. I’ve got her. I promise."
I nodded, blowing a kiss to him and Lael as I reluctantly crawled back into our bed. Looking at my husband holding our child, I felt a deep sense of peace wash over me.
By the afternoon, the chilly rain from the previous night had completely cleared, leaving behind a brilliant, sun-drenched sky.
"Let’s do a barbecue hangout today," I suggested, turning to Franklin as he walked into the kitchen. "Just a small, casual family gathering in the courtyard. You, me, Grandpa Frederick, and Flynn."
Franklin paused, his hand freezing on the handle of the refrigerator. For a split second, a sharp, tight shadow crossed his face, but it vanished so quickly I thought I had imagined it.
"A barbecue?" he asked, his voice completely level. "Are you sure you’re up for the energy of hosting, even if it’s just us?"
"I don’t have to do anything, Grandpa already said he wants to sit by the grill, and we can just relax," I smiled, stepping closer to loop my arms around his neck. "Please? I think it would be so good for everyone. Especially you and Flynn. A chance to just breathe."
Franklin stared down at me for a long moment, his jaw tightening slightly before he gave a warm smile. "If it makes you happy, Octavia, we’ll do it."
An hour later, the courtyard was filled with the rich, smoky aroma of sizzling steaks and grilled vegetables. Grandpa Frederick was sitting comfortably in a chair near the massive brick grill, a glass of iced tea in his hand, looking happy.
Franklin was being incredibly attentive. He barely left my side, constantly checking to see if I needed water, adjusting the umbrella to keep the sun out of my eyes, and kissing my temple every time he walked past my chair.
"Look at her," I whispered, leaning against Franklin’s side as he held Lael.
He had our daughter cradled securely against his massive chest, his large hand completely covering her tiny back. Lael was fast asleep, her tiny mouth slightly open, completely safe in her father’s arms.
"She looks exactly like you when she sleeps," Franklin murmured, looking down at her with a fierce, protective tenderness that made my heart swell.
"And here comes the refreshment!"
A cheerful voice broke through the quiet hum of the courtyard. Flynn walked out of the glass doors, carrying a tray loaded with tall glasses of freshly squeezed fruit juice. He was dressed casually in shorts and a loose linen shirt, looking completely relaxed and at home.
"Fresh orange and mango juice," Flynn said with a bright smile, setting the tray down on the wooden table next to me. "Hand-squeezed by yours truly. Octavia, you need the vitamins. Grandpa, I made yours with extra ice."
"Good lad," Grandpa Frederick barked, reaching over to take a glass. "My throat was getting dry."
Flynn grabbed a glass and handed it to me with a polite nod, before turning his attention directly to Franklin and the baby. Instead of his usual sarcastic tone, his face filled with a gentle, almost wistful expression.
"Man, she really is tiny, isn’t she?" Flynn murmured, stepping closer to look at Lael. He didn’t try to touch her; he just kept his hands in his pockets, respecting Franklin’s space. "You know, seeing you hold her like that brings back a ton of memories."
Franklin stopped his rhythmic pacing. He turned slowly to face Flynn. I watched his face closely, holding my breath. To my absolute relief, Franklin didn’t snap. He just gave a calm, polite nod. "Memories?"
"Yeah," Flynn chuckled softly, pulling out a chair and sitting down. "My mother used to tell me that when I was a newborn, I wouldn’t sleep for more than twenty minutes at a time. She was practically losing her mind. You know what finally worked?"
"What?" I asked, completely invested, leaning forward in my chair.
"A warm hot water bottle wrapped in a thick towel, placed right next to my side in the crib," Flynn explained, gesturing with his hands. "It mimics the body heat of a parent. The second she started doing that, I slept like a rock. If Lael gives you guys trouble tonight, you should definitely try it."
"That actually makes a lot of sense," I said, smiling warmly at him. "Thank you, Flynn. We might just have to try that tonight."
"Anytime," Flynn replied easily. He looked up at Franklin, his expression completely open and sincere. "Just trying to be useful around here."
Franklin looked down at Flynn, his face wearing a completely normal, cooperative smile. "I appreciate the advice, Flynn. We’ll keep that in mind."
My heart soared. I sat back in my chair, a massive wave of relief washing over my entire body. I watched them continue to converse normally, Flynn laughing at one of Grandpa Frederick’s old stories, and Franklin nodding along, chiming in with simple, easy words.
He’s finally doing it, I thought to myself, a profound sense of happiness settling into my chest. Franklin is finally letting go of the paranoia. He’s accepting his cousin.
I closed my eyes for a brief moment, letting the warm afternoon sun bake into my skin, completely wrapped in the beautiful illusion of absolute peace.
I had absolutely no idea that beneath that calm, polite smile, Franklin’s chest was heaving with a silent, suffocating rage. I couldn’t feel the icy fury radiating off his skin, and that was going to be a problem.