The Guard To My Sanctuary

Chapter 29

Marco

Moving from the kitchen, I noticed Cartier looking around as the sound of Elm's brother and his wife's car leaving the driveway faded.

"Mama, Dada," Cartier said. She must have realized that they were really gone as she looked around but did not see them.

"You're going to stay with Uncle Elm and Marco for the night, and your parents will come to pick you up tomorrow. How about I get you a popsicle?" Elm said, walking back into the kitchen. He grabbed one of the sugarless neon yellow banana-flavored popsicles from the freezer. He unwrapped it, handing it to Cartier, who eagerly grabbed it with her little pudgy arms. She began munching on it ferociously when it was secured in her hands.

"How about you run her a small bath, then we can put her to sleep, and you can get some rest," I told Elm, who nodded and went upstairs. Cartier kept munching on the popsicle until it was all gone, then looked at me for our next move.

"How about a bath now? You're all sticky," I said as I began to walk up the stairs. I carried her up one step at a time until I was at the top, walking to her room, which doubled as the guest room. I walked into the bathroom, where Elm tested the water with his elbow.

"Is it good?" I asked. Cartier was already falling asleep in my arms.

"Yeah," he said, holding his arms out for me to hand him Cartier, who was babbling incoherently. I gave him his niece, and he removed her clothes and placed her in the tub. She started playing with the water and laughing. Seeing Elm being so caring and even more gentle than he was with me was heartwarming. He cleaned her off quickly and let her play momentarily to tire herself out.

"Go get her a onesie and some underwear," Elm turned and said to me. I nodded and walked into the room. I started looking through some of the drawers and found a pink onesie and some underwear. I took them to Elm, who already had her dried off and was playing peek-a-boo with her.

"Here you go," I said, handing him the clothing. He smiled at me before taking them and putting them on Cartier. She looked pretty tuckered out. Elm picked her up, and I cleaned everything up before we left her room and went into Elm's. It was freezing cold inside because Elm had started having hot flashes in his sleep. Elm pulled the covers back before climbing to the side near the wall and placing Cartier between him and the wall.

I turned the light off and climbed in behind him. It was only eleven-something, but I was tired since I had been up at five. I spooned Elm while he held onto Cartier, who was already asleep. It wasn't long before she was fully asleep, and Elm turned in my arms to face me.

"That wasn't so bad getting her to sleep," he said. I kissed his forehead; I couldn't help it. He looked so cute and had this glow, and he smelled different. This excellent, unexplainable natural scent made me want to hold him even more than usual. I was happy that out of all the people in the world, he was the one carrying my children.

"Famous last words," I said, knowing that tomorrow could be different.

"I hope not," he said, turning back around. I felt myself getting tired before he did, and I gave in...

"SSSSAAAUUUSSSSAAA!" Cartier screamed, causing me to rise up from my slumber. I looked over to see her standing in the bed, her warm undertones now rosy while she cried.

"What, baby girl? What's wrong?" I asked. Elm was asleep or pretending to be asleep. I looked over at the clock and saw that it was six in the morning, so either could be true for him since he tended to sleep in these days.

"I want sauces," she said aggressively, giving me the stink eye.

"Okay, baby girl, hush now. Your uncle is sleeping; he needs all the sleep he can get so your baby cousins can grow big and strong," I told her, reaching over to pick her up.