Bitter Love

Chapter 17

Luke's POV
I did have a little brother, Junior. We were complete opposites, I was the soft one so he would always beat on me and Momma and rarely ever hit Junior. I never wanted to join the military but he insisted telling me that one day I'd have to provide for my family and wife, that I'd finally have to be the man that he raised.

Junior was always his favourite. He could shoot, he was the school jock, he was everything that Dad ever wanted in a son.

"Luke?" Lauren hugged me from the side tightly.

I sniffled,"Where's Juniper?"

"Our mom's have her so don't worry." She softly answered and rubbed my back.

I tired to catch my breath,"Lauren I just need a minute."

I pulled the covers back and laid down. Just for a few minutes I thought.

Lauren soon laid beside me and tucked herself close to my side and rested her head on my chest.

We laid there quietly for close to half an hour I bet,"You know this is the quietest it's been for us since she was born."

Lauren chuckled and shook her head,"Here's to many more loud years."

I smiled and looked down at her,"And maybe another baby, who knows?"

"Not for a while but maybe." I kissed the top of her nose and sighed.

"What time is it?"

I leaned over the side of the bed and grabbed my clock seeing that it was close to seven thirty,"It's almost bed time. I'll go and get her and you run the bath."

We rolled out of bed and went our separate ways. I walked into the kitchen to see that they had moved into the living room.

I walked in to see Juniper laughing at my mom as she had her facing her on her lap. I smiled at her once she looked over at me,"Is it bath time Juniper?"

She hit her hands together and smiled at me, showing off her two teeth. I walked over and took her,"Sorry Momma but you'll see her later."

I set her on my shoulders and jogged to the bathroom where Lauren sat on the edge of the tub most likely checking that everything was there,"Is that your Momma?"

She turned around and smiled brightly at her,"Hi Juniper. You ready for bath time?"

She kicked her legs like crazy as we undressed her and sat her in the seat. We both decided that she would have to sit in that for the next few months or until we can fully trust her to sit up by herself.

I sat on the toilet cover waiting with her towel while Lauren washed her up. Soon she was placed in my lap so I walked down the hall to her room and got her ready for bed.

Just as I was zipping up her sleeper Lauren walked in and sat in the rocking chair and got ready to feed her. I placed an expecting Juniper in Lauren's arm and took the seat beside them with a book.

"Lauren I'm only going to read a chapter tonight okay?" I asked knowing that at this point I was beyond exhausted.

She agreed so I started reading the book of choice, The Help. We agreed that we would only read Juniper meaningful books but on the odd night she does get a fairytale.

Before I knew it I was done the chapter and Juniper was asleep. I watched as Lauren put her over her shoulder and rubbed her back while walking over to the crib. She leaned on the crib and sighed,"I'm so tired right now I could sleep on the floor."

I chuckled and nodded,"Me to but I've always got to remember why I'm almost killing myself everyday."

I walked over to her and wrapped my arms around her waist and we both starred at Juniper sleeping,"This is why we do it."