Chapter One Hundred and Sixty-Six
Laura literally pushed him out of the door and closed it in his face. Steel laughed as he looked at the expression on Kelley’s face. Kelley muttered under his breath as he headed down the hall.
“There’s a coffee shop in the lobby and a boutique.” Steel looked at Kelley in a way that made it clear they were going to the boutique.
“Why would I want to know that there’s a boutique in the lobby?” Kelley asked him with a frown.
“It’s a baby boutique,” Steel said as if that explained everything.
“Marley went shopping for him yesterday.”
“Not for Kyzer, for Milana. Her shit’s cheap and washed out. We both know she never bought anything for herself when she was at home and I can see she didn't buy anything when she left either,” Steel said.
“I was an asshole, I know. Are you happy now?” Kelley asked him as they got into the elevator.
“I’ll be happy when I see that credit card being swiped,” Steel said and turned around as someone laughed.
“You two are adorable!” It was the female car guard from earlier and Kelley laughed loudly as Steel’s face reddened once again.
The elevator dinged and Steel stepped into the foyer. Kelley placed his hand to stop the doors from closing again and turned towards the woman. “Hormones, he’ll be okay once I buy him something.”
“You are too precious for words,” she said and patted Steel’s back when she reached him. “He’s a keeper.” She winked at Steel and walked out of the hospital. Kelley laughed as he walked towards Steel. The look on his face was priceless.
“I hate you,” Steel said and walked towards the boutique.
They browsed the boutique for five minutes and then a sales lady approached them with a smile on her face. Steel headed to the baby side and left Kelley to deal with the woman.
"How can I help you, Sir?"
"I need some things for my wife," Kelley said as he looked around again.
“Is your wife still pregnant or did she recently give birth?” The woman got straight to the point and Kelley preferred that.
“She had a c-section yesterday. She might prefer something soft, no elastic on the waist,” Kelley said.
“Her size?”
Kelley looked at the woman and blinked. How the hell was he supposed to know that? He doubted anybody knew that. “Uhm … she’s small.” Kelley turned and looked around in the shop. The woman helping him was about four of Milana but he couldn’t tell her that.
“Just give me a minute,” Kelley said and walked towards the baby side.
A woman and her daughter were standing in front of the stuffed animal aisle and Kelley cleared his throat behind them. The woman turned and smiled as she took him in. Kelley was used to that response from women but he barely registered it.
“Yes?”
“This is going to sound very odd but could I borrow your daughter?”
The woman’s eyes widened and she grabbed her daughter’s hand. “Excuse me?”
“No, no, that’s not … I don’t know my wife’s size but your daughter’s the same build. It’s for the sales lady,” Kelley said and pointed to the woman that now stood a few feet away from them.
“Afternoon ma’am,” the sales lady said with a smile and looked her daughter up and down. “I’ve got it.”
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean …” Kelley rubbed a hand over his face and turned to walk away as Steel laughed at him with a teddy bear in his hand.
“There are laws for people like you!” Kelley hurried away from the woman as Steel just laughed louder.
Kelley pulled his credit card from his wallet and pushed it into Steel’s hands. “He’s got my card,” he said to the sales woman and turned back to Steel. “Buy whatever she needs.”
Kelley hurried out of the boutique and towards the elevator as the woman gave him dirty looks, still clasping her daughter’s hand tightly. He closed his eyes inside the elevator and waited for it to come to a stop. Steel was going to tell everybody, he just knew it. He had to grin though, the woman would keep a better eye on her daughter now.
His mother, Laura, closed the door behind her just as Kelley stepped off the elevator. She smiled when she saw him in the hallway and waited for him by the door. “She’s asleep now.”
“You really didn’t have to come all the way to Yorkdare Bay,” Kelley said.
“For my first grandchild? Of course I had to. Take care of them both,” Laura said as he kissed her cheek and she walked away from him. Kelley stood in the hallway and watched his mother until she stepped into the elevator and he shook his head. This day was just getting stranger by the minute.
He opened the door slowly and looked at Milana’s face. Her head was turned towards him and her one hand was resting on the edge of the bassinette. Kelley sat down on the small couch and opened his laptop.
He worked for two hours before Kyzer woke up screaming. Milana’s eyes popped open and she pushed herself up, wincing as she did so. “I’ve got him.”
“No, I have to do it. I haven’t done anything for him.”
Kelley picked Kyzer up and placed him on the bed between Milana’s legs and then he handed her the diaper bag. “You’ll be discharged tomorrow. The doctor came by while you were sleeping, checked your chart and so far he’s happy.”
“How’s all that going to work?” Milana asked him as she changed Kyzer’s diaper. Kelley grabbed a bottle and his formula and made quick work of mixing it together.
“What do you mean?”
“Kelley,” she said and looked down. “I know we talked about things, but is that really what you want?” She didn't seem to believe him and her having doubts hurt him.
“We’re married, we have a son and you’re coming home,” Kelley said.
“Do you really still love me?” Her question was like a sword to the heart but her eyes glistened and Kelley knew he’d never tell her about Sylvie.
“I do love you.”
