𝐒𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠

𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐫.

𝐒𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠
────── ⋒ ──────

Taylor's pov

Today we were meeting Caleb for the first time. He wasn't coming home with us just yet, the adoption process hasn't fully finalised but his social worker, Grace, is bringing him to our home so we can spend some time with him and so he can get used to us a little bit. I wasn't sure if this was the case for everyone adoption, but I was grateful we were getting given the opportunity. Recently, we'd finished up his room, finalising it and making it perfect for him. It had become my favourite place to be, in his room, imagining what it'll be like when he arrives. I had so much love for him already, which felt weird to say, since I hadn't even met him yet, but I truly meant it.

" do you think he'll like us? " Travis asks me, entering where I was cleaning up the living room. I giggled at him a little bit, I knew he was a little bit more worried about making a good first impression than I was.

" well, he's a baby, so I doubt he'll have much of a strong opinion but I hope so " I reply. Truthfully, Caleb can't talk nor express how he's feeling, I'm also pretty certain he doesn't even know how to dislike anyone yet, but who knows, I hope he doesn't hate us.

" I hope he doesn't cry if I hold him, that'll make me nervous, I don't know how to handle him if he does that " Travis mumbles. Despite having 3 nieces, Travis was definitely less experienced with babies as I was, I wasn't overly knowledgeable, but I knew a bit more than travis at least and I knew he was nervous that he was going to get it wrong, but that was okay. We'd be new parents, we're bound to get things a little bit wrong for a while.

I didn't have time to reassure Travis any further before there was a knock at our door and I straightened up, suddenly anxious. I looked Travis in the eyes, I could feel mine glistening and he nodded his head, assuring both of us that everything would be okay. Opening the front door, we were met with Grace, a soft smile knotted on her lips, a diaper bag and car seat occupying her arms. This was it. This was him.

" hi, you must be Grace, come in " Travis greeted, grinning as he offered to take something for her and she gladly accepted, handing him the diaper bag.

" it's lovely to meet you guys in person, I've been working with Caleb since he joined us and I'm so happy he's got such a loving home to come to " Grace said, walking into the home.

We took her through to our living room where she placed Caleb's car seat on the ground and I caught my first proper glimpse of him. He was so small, with pale blue eyes and soft brunette hair, not much of it, but a few slicked strands. He was wide awake staring at his surroundings, eyes blinking curiously in our direction as he sucked peacefully on a pacifier. Grace smiled at me, I guess to prompt me to interact with him.

" hi sweet boy " I said, quietly approaching his car seat. His eyes opened a little further when he heard me speak, locking on who this strange and new person was standing in front of him. I held my finger out for him and his chubby hand grasped it, spitting his paci out and pulling my finger up to his mouth. " oh, I'm not sure that's going to taste so yummy, here, shall we put the paci back in? " i cooed in a little baby voice which I didn't know really existed, but apparently it did. I offered him his paci, but he spat it right back out again and I giggled.

" go ahead and take him out if you want, you don't need permission " Grace confirmed with a welcoming grin and I smiled back at her. With shaking hands, I undid the straps of his car seat, peeling his arms as gently as I could from them, my fingers slipping under his back as I lifted him out. He made a soft little coo as I held him against me, sighing contently as he cuddled into my chest, his hand grasping for a strand of my hair. I took Caleb over to the couch where Travis was sat, so we could both interact with him. It was hard to act normal with Grace watching us, but I tried my best, if I was tense, Caleb might become tense, and I didn't want that.