Michael brings her into his side and tries to mop her tears up with the tissue Lucien passes him. Those two make me laugh sometimes with how they dote on Lily. If I didn’t know any different, I’d say Lily was in a relationship with them both.
I’m not the only one watching the antics of the two men. Sabrina is sitting beside Sylvia with a frown on her face probably wondering what the heck is going on.
Pulling away from Michael, Lily turns to Lucien, who wraps her up in his arms before letting her go to hug his father and the three remaining brothers before Michael helps her get to her knees for a closer look.
I watch them and can’t help being in awe by the scene and the gift. The bassinets are beautiful and look to have hand carved pictures in the wood. With curiosity getting the better of me, I stand and move closer. Crouching down, I start to trace some of the carvings with my finger.
As my finger slips over the image of a teddy bear, tears spring to my eyes as I read the inscription beside it, ‘To cuddle you close, Love Uncle Sebastian’. Oh my. I look up and meet Sebastian’s eyes as a tear escapes.
Quickly swiping at my face with my fingers, I take a wobbly breath and look back at the bassinet, moving on to the next picture and inscription, a pair of boxing gloves. Really. Without looking at the inscription, I can guess they are thanks to Ruben, and reading the inscription, ‘To defend you, Love Uncle Ruben’, I was correct. I chuckle and move around to the opposite side where my finger traces over the set of ABC building blocks, with the words ‘To build your dreams, Love Uncle Ramon’.
Emotions swell through me as I fight the lump of tears in my throat. I’m so emotional today and only hope I can hold it together until I’m alone, preferably back at the apartment or even inside Ramon’s car. He’s seen me cry often enough to be able to handle me in tears, especially when I’m going to be blaming his family for their thoughtfulness with this amazing gift they’ve created for Lily and Michael’s babies.
My fingers trace their way onto two entwined hearts, which are tied together with ribbon and the inscription that reads, ‘You’ll always have my heart, Love your God Father, Uncle Lucien’.
“Oh,” I whisper to no one in particular.
“They’re amazing aren’t they,” Janet says to me as I stand back up and notice the tears on her face. She points towards a large inscription inside the bassinet, where I presume the baby’s head will rest. As I look, there is a guardian angel with a prayer of protection underneath followed by the words ‘Mommy & Daddy’.
I start to brush away the tears, I can’t seem to control any longer, they fall even harder when Janet points out the poem on the foot, ‘Hush, little baby–’ by ‘Love Grandma & Grandpa’.
Ramon’s comforting hand comes out of nowhere and settles on my shoulder as he passes me some tissue while taking me into his arms for a hug. In his arms I stay while I keep my face hidden, until my tear ducts decide to have a dry spell.
A few minutes later, I pull my face from Ramon’s chest and realize I’ve soaked his shirt through. “God, I’m sorry.”
Chuckling, Ramon puts me away from him and yanks his shirt off over his head, screws it up in one hand before pulling me in close again to kiss me on the forehead. “Don’t worry about it. You’re not the only one to end up like a waterfall.”
While I keep my arm around Ramon, I look around and notice there isn’t really a dry face in the room, and yeah, I’m also counting the guys.
Everyone seems distracted enough with the gifts for the twins, except for Sylvia who keeps passing sly glances at Ramon and our arms, which are still wrapped around the other, and Sebastian who looks upset, and not because of the gifts.
“Are you okay now? I think it’s the dirty presents now,” Ramon whispers into my ear.
To anyone looking, we look like a couple in love. Little do they know.
“Yeah, I’ll be fine.” I flash him a grin, which he returns knowing what I’ve bought Lily.
I might add that he only knows because he caught me wrapping it the other night. I tried to hide it, but hiding it in the middle of the fruit bowl with yellow bananas wasn’t the wisest choice I’ve ever made, especially when the gift is florescent pink.
Chapter 6
Sebastian
Snagging a beer from the fridge on the way out back, I take a long pull on the ice cold drink before resting my arms on the porch railing. I look towards the snowcapped mountains in the distance without really seeing anything other than Carla wrapped around a topless Ramon.
What is happening today? First she looks ready to come apart at the seams with just my touch in the pantry and next she’s all over my damn brother.
Today is the first time I’ve seen anything more than a peck on the cheek exchanged between them and I don’t like it. In fact, I hate it. Way to go Seb. Falling for your brother’s woman.
“What’s up your ass?” Ruben asks leaning on the porch beside me, but refusing to meet my eyes.