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Conlin must be having the same reaction because he studies Lachlin for a second and says, “Well, this is unsettling.”

Briar laughs softly. “What is?”

“Lachlin looking domestic.”

Lachlin looks up. “Get out.”

“There’s the brother I know and love.”

Briar laughs again, and some of the tightness in my throat eases as we move closer to the bed.

Jack is tiny. That’s the first useful thought I manage as I get a better look at him. He has a tiny face, a tiny nose, dark hair flattened against his head, and one hand tucked near his cheek beneath the blanket.

“He looks like Lachlin,” I say.

Briar gives me a tired smile. “He’s been alive for three hours. Too early to tell.”

Lachlin shakes his head, but he’s smiling as I lean closer to study Jack again.

I’ve been around babies before. Friends’ kids, cousins, random babies at family gatherings where somebody always seems to end up bouncing one on a hip while carrying on a conversation. None of them ever made me nervous.

This one does.

Because this isn’t somebody else’s kid. This is my nephew. Jack Liam Hale, who’s been part of the family for less than a day and already feels different from every baby I’ve ever been around.

Briar watches me for a moment. “You want to hold him?”

I hesitate, which makes her smile. “I can admire him from here.”

“You’re holding him.”

“I like how motherhood has already made you bossy.”

“I was bossy before.”

“That’s true.”

Lachlin is already moving toward me before I can come up with another excuse. “Sit down.”

I do, mostly because he’s holding his newborn son and somehow that makes arguing with him feel like a bad idea.

Lachlin shows me how he wants my arms positioned before carefully lowering Jack into them. He’s lighter than I expected but warm and solid against me, and the second Lachlin lets go, I become painfully aware that I have no idea what I’m doing.

“Support his head,” Lachlin says.

“I am.”

“A little higher.”

“I’ve got him.”

“Your hand should be more under his neck.”

Briar gives him a look. “Lachlin.”

He stops talking.

I glance at her. “Thank you.”