Kai felt the tension leave his body the moment Khalil’s cries finally died down. The baby finally settled in his arms with only a few soft hiccups. Relief washed over him like a wave, and a small smile tugged at his lips. He rocked a little slower now, proud of himself for getting it right this time.
But before he could savor the moment fully, a gentle hand touched his shoulder.
“Good job, daddy.”
The words landed softly, but to Kai, they might as well have been thunder. He froze as his head whipped around just enough to see Abigail standing there, her hair a little messy from sleep, eyes still hazy but glowing with warmth. Then she reached out and carefully took Khalil into her arms.
Kai stood rooted to the spot, utterly stunned. His ears burned and a rush of heat traveled down his ne
