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“What?”

“Nothing.”

She narrows her eyes, and I turn back to my plate before she can question me.

After dinner, we migrate into the living room. Dad and Conlin disappear back toward the shop for something they swear will take ten minutes, which means we won’t see them again for at least half an hour.

Briar settles on the couch with Jack, and Ruby sits at the other end beside Mom.

Lachlin lasts maybe three minutes before reaching for the baby.

Briar looks at him. “He’s asleep.”

“I know.”

“You don’t need to hold him every second.”

“I know.”

He reaches anyway.

I laugh from the chair across from them. “You’re doing great with the not hovering.”

Lachlin looks at me without shame. “He likes being held.”

“He’s a new baby. He likes milk and being warm.”

Jack starts fussing as Lachlin adjusts him against his chest. The sound is small at first, then gets louder.

I don’t think about it. I just hold out my hands. “Give him here.”

Lachlin looks at me. “You volunteering?”

“Yes, hand him over.”

Lachlin gets up and brings Jack across the room.

The first time he put Jack in my arms at the hospital, I felt like somebody had handed me a glass sculpture and told me not to breathe wrong. Tonight, I barely think about it.

I settle Jack against my chest, one hand supporting the back of his head while I shift him until he’s comfortable.

“See?” I tell Lachlin. “No instructions required.”

Jack makes another unhappy sound and presses his face against my shirt. I get up and shift him higher against my chest, humming the same melody I used at the hospital without thinking about it.

It only takes a few seconds for him to settle.

Briar smiles from the couch. “You did that at the hospital too.”

“Yeah. It seems to work.”

“He likes your voice.”

“I’m not putting that on my résumé.”

Mom laughs, and I keep walking slowly around the room while Jack relaxes against me.

When I turn, Ruby is watching us from the other end of the couch.