A week back, Debra complained about the guys' mess-ups.Erica spotted Debra coming downstairs."Where's my boy?""You're back early. Thought you had half a month left.""Got bored stiff in there."Erica bounced around, not like she'd just popped out a kid."I just found out having a baby is a hassle," she said. "Let Jordan bring the baby here. I'm beat from the trip."Randy helped her to the couch.Debra grinned, "He's not with Jordan."Erica blinked. "What? Then where?""Jordan tapped out after three days," Debra said. "Marion has got him. He just fell asleep. I'll go fetch him."She dashed upstairs."Is my son still breathing?" Erica muttered."Same question," Randy said, pale.Marion was the last candidate to take care of a baby. His vibe was just too fierce.Soon, Debra and Marion came down.Erica zeroed in on the baby in Marion's arms. He was quiet and chill."No way. He is so calm," she gasped, stepping up.Unlike when he was born, Solomon had plumped up now, wi
Solomon Osborne was born. Days blurred caring for the little guy.Erica was wiped post-birth. Randy hit the postpartum center to hover over her.The kid was dumped on Debra, Marion, and Jordan.At the Potter Mansion, they stared at the newborn daily. The guys figured he'd be cuddly, but he peed everywhere and cried nonstop.Seven days in, Jordan cracked. "Help. Can he shut up?"Unshaven, he'd ditched the office. Files piled up at home.The crib sat in his study, but the wails didn't stop.Marion strolled in, calming the baby like it was nothing. The kid quit crying, but he didn't smile."Man, you're a lifesaver." Jordan gushed.Marion and the baby locked eyes, all serious. His vibe almost spooked the kid."You're freaking him out." Debra rushed in, snagging Solomon.In her arms, he bawled for a while and started giggling.She turned on them. "If you two suck at this, why did you fight to babysit? Now it's all on me.""Who knew a tiny thing could make such a racket?" Jordan
Marion got her a new fork. "Maybe we'd better skip it."That was too gory. Still, they booked the earliest flight.Jordan picked them up at the airport and sped them to the hospital."What's up?" Debra asked. "Wasn't it a week away?""The baby came early," Jordan replied. "Randy had arranged for the room and doctors, but her water broke. It's chaotic now."This was also Jordan's first time experiencing the scene of sending a pregnant woman into the delivery room. He felt that any man who witnessed this would be flustered.Debra and Marion raced down the hospital hall. Screams echoed from the OR.Marion winced, and Jordan plugged his ears."Where's Randy?" Debra asked."Inside, probably," Jordan said. " He insisted on being there, no matter what."They paced the corridor. Erica's curses rang out.Marion's face shifted as he knew how tough she usually was. She never flinched at a knife wound.Her cries now were unnerving."How long's she been in?" he asked.The dean spotted
Morning came, quiet as usual.Debra slept till noon. She snuggled against Marion, unwilling to get out of bed."Lunch is ready, sleepyhead," he said, ruffling her hair.She clung tighter. "I want to sleep more."For the first few days on the island, she had been on it, up at eight, chilling with Marion by the sea, bingeing shows, cuddling, hitting the villa gym, gaming, and cooking.Then their clocks went haywire. Nights got wild, with no other activities.Marion couldn't keep his hands off her. Now they slept in hard.But it was chill. Every day felt full.Ori padded in with his bowl, frustration flowing in his big eyes.Meals kept sliding later. He had ditched breakfast, syncing with their noon routine.Debra dragged herself up. "You didn't feed him?""He likes Mom doing it," Marion said, shaking his head.It was not like Ori didn't like Marion, but Debra was his favorite."Boy, it's chow time," Debra cooed, grabbing kibble and treats.Ori's tail went nuts.She hit the
Marion tucked a blanket over her, lost in thought.Erica and Randy already had a kid on the way. He wondered if Debra wanted one too but stayed silent.Debra was 26 now. The doctors said younger was safer.He didn't want her hurt by waiting too long."Are we there yet?" Debra mumbled, half-awake."Not yet. I'll wake you," Marion replied with a smile.She murmured something and conked out again.Two years of grind left her beat. Retirement was just a breather.Marion brushed her hair, and she nestled in his arms.They landed at sunset.Debra felt the peace she'd missed. Work had drowned out beauty like this. Now she could soak it in.On the beach, Marion hauled their luggage. Debra beamed at the sea and sunset."Are we staying here for the next six months?""Yup. Might get boring."Ori barked excitedly, ready to roll in the sand."Go for it," Debra encouraged.Ori tore off, ecstatic."Boring?" Debra laughed, jumping into Marion's arms. "This is my dream life."This was
"Relax," Debra said, grabbing Marion's hand. "We've got a plane to catch."Erica burst in. "What's the holdup? The car has been waiting forever."Beside her, their golden retriever wagged its tail and bolted toward them.Ori was two years old now. He was big and healthy.Debra patted his head. "We're taking you on vacation soon, buddy. Excited?"Ori barked, thrilled.Randy rushed to Erica. "You're a mom now. Slow down. Why did you come alone? What if you tripped?"Erica, six months pregnant, rocked short hair and a big belly. "Ori has got my back. Anyone gets close, he's on it.""Good job, Ori," Randy grinned.Ori was sharp, fed by him and Erica when Debra was swamped. Now he keenly guarded the baby bump."Make this trip count," Randy whispered to Marion. "We've lapped you guys. Step it up."He and Erica got married two years ago. Now a kid was on the way. Randy hovered, paranoid about bumps.Debra cleared her throat. "I heard that. To be clear, we're vacating, not baby-mak