Baby boy

Promises in the Quiet Hours

Damien's POV

With Jesse wrapped in his favorite dinosaur pajamas, I carry him downstairs. His head rests on my shoulder, his little arms clinging loosely as he settles into the comfort of being held. Lauren is waiting in the living room, her face lighting up when she sees us.

"How about some playtime before bed, buddy?" I suggest, bouncing him gently in my arms. His tired face perks up at the idea, a hint of excitement in his eyes.

I set him down on the soft play mat we'd laid out earlier, and Lauren sits beside him, reaching for a set of soft, colorful blocks. She starts building a small tower, and Jesse watches, intrigued. Slowly, he reaches out and grabs a block of his own, stacking it onto her tower. His focus is intense, his eyes fixed on the blocks as he adds another piece, then another, as the tower grows.

"Whoa, that's getting tall!" I say, clapping softly, which makes Jesse smile a little.

Just as he's about to add another block, the whole tower wobbles and tumbles to the ground. For a split second, I see his face freeze, his eyes widening in shock, and I can tell he's unsure of how to react. But then Lauren lets out a big, playful gasp, reaching out to tickle him gently. "Oh no! Our tower! What a silly tower!"

Jesse giggles, the tension melting away as he claps his hands and starts rebuilding with renewed enthusiasm. For the next few minutes, we watch him stack blocks, knocking them over and laughing each time, growing more confident and relaxed with every tumble.

After a while, Lauren glances at me. "What do you think, Jesse? Want to watch a show with Mommy and Daddy before bed?"

Jesse looks up, curious but a bit hesitant. I can tell he's not used to sitting down and watching something in a cozy, relaxed way. I hold out my hand to him. "We'll all snuggle on the couch, and you can sit right between us."

He reaches out, letting me guide him to the couch, and once he's settled, Lauren and I each tuck in close to him, wrapping our arms around his little body. Lauren flips through a few options on the TV before landing on a gentle, animated show with friendly animals singing and playing together.

Jesse's eyes are glued to the screen from the first scene, his mouth slightly open in awe. When one of the characters—a cheerful little bear—starts singing a song about sharing, Jesse looks up at me with wide eyes.

"Bear?" he whispers, pointing at the screen.

"Yep, that's a bear!" I whisper back, smiling. "Just like your tiger, but a bear."

He gives me a shy smile, looking back at the screen with fascination. Each time a new animal appears, he glances up, watching my reaction, as if seeking reassurance that this new experience is safe and okay. I nod each time, and soon he relaxes completely, leaning back against Lauren, his eyes big with wonder as he takes in the colors and sounds.

Halfway through the episode, one of the animals does a silly dance, and Lauren starts to wiggle in her seat, mimicking the movements. Jesse giggles, watching her dance along with the characters, and soon he's clapping his hands and swaying along, his laughter filling the room.

"You're a natural dancer, Jesse," I say, reaching over to ruffle his hair. He beams up at me, his face filled with happiness I hadn't seen earlier in the day.

As the episode comes to an end, he lets out a soft yawn, his eyelids drooping. Lauren glances at me, and I nod—time to wind down. I turn off the TV and gather him up in my arms, holding him close.

"Did you like the show, buddy?" I ask, rubbing his back as I carry him toward the stairs.

"Yeah," he murmurs, his voice sleepy. "Fun animals."