Forever in my Heart: Book 3 in My Heart Series (5 page)

I offer that Kade and I will happily babysit. I am so goddamn excited, to be honest, I don’t care if she pukes on me or if I have to change stinky nappies; I just want to experience it all first-hand.

And I really want to see the way Kade handles it all as well.

We arrive at their place at five-thirty, making a noisy entrance in Kade’s white beast.

Emma has given me a run down on Crystal’s routine, and how after her bath she should have a bottle then she’ll pretty much fall asleep.

Well, that’s the plan at least.

What do they say about babies and animals being unpredictable?

“Thanks so much for doing this Roxy. A night out without Crystal is just what we need,” Emma admits to me smiling widely as Pete grabs her hand and squeezes.

“Don’t you worry at all Emma, seriously Crystal is in good hands. You enjoy a lovely romantic evening with Pete,” I reassure her that I will take good care of her baby.

“Promise me you will try not to think about her too much and just appreciate each other’s company,” I add.

“Yeah guys seriously, haven’t you seen the way your daughter calms when I hold her,” Kade adds his two cents in.
Who does he think he is, the baby whisperer or something?

I see Pete shake his head and chuckle, knowing his best mate all too well.

“These hands are magic, just ask Roxy.” He smirks at me and I can’t help but smirk back. I feel a little embarrassed by his comment, so I avoid eye contact with Pete and Emma. Maybe it went over their heads.

Not like we would sneak into their bedroom once Crystal falls asleep.

“Okay, I trust you guys, but seriously if there is anything, even the tiniest question, please just call me, I don’t mind,” Emma tells us sounding slightly more at ease.

“Okay, if we need you we know how to reach you. Off you two lovebirds go and don’t come home before ten or later,” I say to ease her tension, even if a little.

There is nothing worse than worrying yourself when you are trying to indulge in a nice dinner. Hopefully, they eat slowly and make the most of the peace and quiet.

“Bye angel, Mummy and Daddy will be back very soon. We love you,” Emma whispers sweetly to Crystal and kisses her forehead as she sits happily in her bouncer. Then Pete does the same and ushers Emma out the door.

“See you guys later,” Pete calls out and Kade gives him a high five as the door closes.

I busily lock the door behind them and by the time I turn back around Kade has Crystal snug in his arms. I could stare at the two of them all day.
I swear to God, they are a vision of cuteness.

“Let me get a photo of you and baby Crystal. Such a great shot,” I announce as I quickly grab my phone and take a pic of the sweetest thing in the world.

“Let’s get this little princess bathed and into this cute little pink pyjama suit,” I remark in my high-pitched little voice.
What is it about babies that make you talk like a fruit loop?

“Okay, do you want to undress her and I’ll run the water Roxy?” Kade questions me thoughtfully.

“Sounds like a plan, I’ll undress you little girl, and we will get you into a nice warm tub, okay,” I whisper pleasantly to Crystal.

“Oh and the water needs to be just warm, not too hot, Kade,” I remind him hopefully not sounding too bossy, but I hate the thought of burning the sweet little girl.

“Well, I wouldn’t be that silly now would I Roxy? Too hot for my hand id too hot for Miss Crystal,” he tells me as he fills up the pink little baby bath and I smile at his caring words and nickname for Crystal.

I gently lay her on the changing table and unbutton the pastel pink suit, then gently remove both arms from the sleeves, thankful that she didn’t cry.

I realise I will have to lift her to pull the pant legs of her suit down.

Oh, crap the singlet, how in the hell am I going to get this off?
I think to myself feeling a little shaky. She is such a delicate flower.

Success, I finally get it off without any tears from her.

I cuddle her into my chest to get the last of it over her little head.

Phew that was a little stressful.

Placing her carefully back down in just her nappy I am in awe of her naked little flesh.

“You are one gorgeous girl aren’t you?” I say to her smiling and adding a high tone to my voice.

“You will be a heartbreaker when you get bigger,” I add now nodding to her. It’s true though; she will have boys knocking down her door.

“Oh, Kade look at her little toes and feet.” I can’t help but brag to him about her cuteness.

He places the filled bath on the sink and eagerly comes over and smiles down at her. He holds her tiny foot in his palm and it is so little compared to his hand
.

“Look at the size of her foot, each tiny toe is perfect. It’s amazing how they are born like this, don’t you think Rox?” he remarks with eyebrows raised, really amazed by her perfection.

“Yep, it truly is amazing,” I reply and look over at Kade adoringly.

His eyes lovingly meet mine and he leans in to give me a sweet, deep, loving kiss.

“I love you Roxy, you know that right?” he tells me sincerely.

I smile widely and reply, “I know that one hundred percent Mr. Thomas, and I love you too baby,” I declare to him without a doubt in my mind.

Kade smiles a large beaming smile. “You know our little spawn would be pretty cute one day right?” he adds and my heart somersaults in my chest. He mentioned us having children and he said it with a smile, not a cringe, and said one day not a long way away.

Well, that is progress and another example of just how deep his love for me runs.

“Okay, little girl let’s get this nappy off you and get you into the bath,” I whisper to Crystal sweetly.

Whether it’s motherly instincts or not, I can’t help but feel the water first just to check, and it’s a perfect lukewarm temperature like Kade said it would be.

“Perfect temperature, good job, babe,” I commend him for his efforts, and he nods his head in agreement.

Slowly and gently I remove the nappy, cradle her in my two arms and carry her to the baby bath. The sink is a much better idea for the height.

Slowly I lower her in, letting her body adjust, she flinches at first and then relaxes into it, her arms floating in the water, every so often kicking her legs.

“Shh, Shh,” I tell her soothingly so she knows it is going to be okay.

“Look at that Roxy, she loves it,” Kade tells me smiling as he wets a little pink wash cloth and wrings out the excess water, then he washes her eyes, cheeks and mouth ever so gently.

I can’t help but admire his large hands, the way he is being so gentle and careful; he’s a gentle giant.

My gentle giant.

“Can I have a turn at holding her in the water Rox? She might take after me in the surfing industry,” he asks me looking eager to see what it feels like and making me laugh with his added surfing comment.

“Sure you can, put your hands underneath mine and I’ll make sure you have her before I move away,” I respond to his request.
I love that he wants to do this.

“Got her, Rox,” he states, and I slowly move my hands away.

I gently give her face one last wash and then wash her hands, tummy, legs, and other areas.

I tenderly massage the Johnson’s baby shampoo into her scalp, being extra careful not to get it in her eyes. Then rinse it gently using the cup Emma left on the sink for me.

This is the cutest thing ever.

“If Pete could see me now, Rox, staring at his only daughter naked,” Kade jokes and I giggle and shake my head at his comment. Never a dull moment with my man.

“I’ll get her towel, spare nappy, and clothes ready, baby,” I announce as I busy myself collecting the items.

“Okay, Miss Thorne, don’t worry about me and Chrissy here, we are just chillin’,” he replies and makes me giggle again.

I am all set, so I spread her pretty purple towel with pink flowers across my arms ready for her to exit the bath.

“Okay, I am all set. Let’s get her dry before the water gets too cool, Kade,” I state to him, and I can’t help but notice how concerned I am about her welfare. Definitely my motherly instincts are kicking in.

“Okay, good plan. On the count of three; one, two, three here she comes,” he says playfully to Crystal as he lifts her ever so slowly out of the bath and into my arms, where I wrap her snug as a bug in a rug.

She cries out so I wrap her tighter and rock her in my arms.

“Someone loves her bath so much that she didn’t want to get out,” I say to her in that fruit loop voice again.

Kade chuckles, and I’m not sure if it’s from my comment or from my voice.

“Roxy, you are too cute, you know that? Babies bring out the best in you,” he announces to me smiling and comes over to cuddle both of us.

“Let’s get her dressed nice and warm,” I suggest as I lay her down and dry her better.

“Let me try putting the nappy on, Rox. It can’t be too hard if Pete can do it,” he suggests and I smirk. I can’t wait to see this.

“Go ahead, Einstein, do your stuff,” I reply as he grabs the nappy and starts to unfold it holding it up examining which way it should go.

“Ha, ha,” I laugh out loud at his puzzled expression.

“This is my guess, bigger side at the back and smaller at the front,” he tells me and I nod at his correct guess.

Then he lifts Crystal’s legs and pulls the nappy under her, undoing the sticky parts, then sticking down one side then the other.

“Voila!” he commends, smiling and looking very impressed with him.

Who would have thought the world champion of surfing would be happy with mastering a correct nappy change?

“Beginners luck,” I joke to him as I punch him playfully on his arm.

“Now singlets are another story,” I state as I know how hard it was to get the last one off, to get one on will be even trickier.

Kade stretches the neck of the pretty little yellow singlet then places it at the top of crystals head. “Shit Roxy, how in the hell is that going to fit?” he questions me looking a little concerned.

He stretches it a little more as I sit her up, still supporting her head as he places it gently over her head. She cries out and obviously isn’t a fan of getting dressed.

“Is it hurting her, Roxy?” he panics and asks me sounding concerned.

“No. It’s probably a little uncomfortable just get it over her head. I’ll put her arms through the arm holes,” I state to him. The quicker we get this done, the better.

“All done. Phew, that was bloody stressful,” he comments and I look to see a sweat forming along his hairline.
Just adorable.

I lovingly give Crystal a little cuddle afterwards to assure her she is okay, and then move the wet towel away as I place her back down for her pyjamas.

“Oh, look at these cute little pyjamas with puppies on them, they are very sweet,” I state as I hold them up to figure out where to start with the all in one suit.

“Feet first.” I put her feet in and pull the legs to her suit up, as Kade lifts her to his chest I pull the suit up her back and pop both arms through.

He lays her down as we do up the million buttons,
or so it seems.

“Great teamwork, Rox,” he announces and smirks at me.

“All ready for bed princess?” I whisper to her and get a little smile back and it melts my heart.

Kade picks her up again and holds her across in his arms.

“Wow, Kade you really are natural; changing nappies, settling and soothing. Is there anything that you can’t do?” I state to him, praising him but also stirring him up a little.

“Not so far Rox, but I may gag if her nappy resembles something Dad’s dog does in the garden,” he replies chuckling.

“It’s all about the signs Rox. Once we give her a bottle, she should be content, just like I am after a bottle of beer,” he exclaims smirking and claiming expertise in the baby department.

I smile in amazement with pride and love for this charming man that holds every part of my heart and soul.

I microwave her bottle, testing the temperature, and then put a bib around her neck.

“Here you go Uncle Kade, you can give your Chrissy her bottle,” I comment to him teasing him with his cute little nickname.

“Ha, ha very funny. You wait Rox, I will be her favourite uncle,” he tells me as he slowly puts the bottle to her mouth. As she drinks and guzzles down her milk, Kade looks at her in amazement and grins. He looks up to me with his beaming smile, and I return it with my own. In this moment of unspoken words, I know this man is going to make me insanely happy for the rest of my life.

Crystal falls asleep in Kade’s arms and we all cuddle on the lounge watching the end of
“The Mentalist”
on TV. I really love Simon Baker as an actor.

I am startled when I hear the door unlock at around ten-thirty and see Emma’s cute face appear so eager to see her daughter. She smiles widely when she sees her in Kade’s arms and Pete shakes his head in amazement.

“She has been perfect,” I whisper to assure Emma that it went as planned.

She sits on the lounge next to me and hugs me tight, as we both gaze at Kade with Crystal snug in his arms.

After chatting about their meals and how they really enjoyed the restaurant they ate at, we say our goodbyes.

“Thank you so much, we owe you guys,” Pete tells us appreciatively.

“Anytime dude. Seriously. She is awesome,” Kade replies to his best mate. Who would have thought a sweet little baby girl could turn two grown men to mush?

“Yes, she totally is awesome,” Emma comments smiling as we exit their front door.

Kade and I casually drive back to my place, which is pretty much Kade’s place as well.

As the truck approaches the apartment, we park and my favourite person in the whole wide world reaches over and holds my hand.

“I love you unconditionally Rox. It’s not just love, it’s friendship too, baby. Just like how Pete and Emma started out,” he confesses to me looking so scrumptious.

“In such a short time, you have taken me to unseen heights and helped me to sort through my demons and smash my goals out of the park,” he admits honestly, not holding back anything that he is thinking or feeling. I love it.