“Lee? You in there?” I hear a knock on the door, but I must be hallucinating now. Fantastic, the fever has gotten so bad I now hear voices.

I hear the banging again and Aarabelle squeals. “Okay, okay. Shhh,” I beg the door and Aara, since my headache is now full out throbbing.

“Natalie . . . I’m going to use the spare key if you don’t open,” Liam’s voice is warning as I drag my body to the door.

I open it and lean against it. My eyes squint from the bright sun and I moan.

“What the . . . ?” he trails off as he looks at me.

Glancing down at myself I realize what has him mystified. I’m in my grey Navy Wife sweatshirt and orange sweatpants. I lift my hands up to smooth my hair, only to feel that it’s half in a ponytail and half out. Well, no going back now.

“If you’re going to judge, you can leave.” I cough at the end and he steps in the house. “Enter at your own risk. I’m dying.”

Liam chuckles and shuts the door. “You’re not dying.” He steps in and kisses my forehead. “I think you need to take more medicine and go lie down. You’re burning up.”

Sleep.

Sleep sounds good.

Sleep and drugs.

“Okay . . .” I trail off as I drag my feet. “Wait!” I exclaim and then cough.

“What?” he asks, picking up one of the burp clothes with a pencil.

“Aarabelle. I have to watch Aarabelle,” I remind him and start to shuffle back toward the couch.

Liam grabs my shoulders, laughing. “I’ve got her.”

Well, that wakes me up. “Huh?” My eyes are wide as I look at him.

He shrugs and smiles. “I’ve got Aarabelle, you go to bed. Maybe a shower too,” he nags while laughing. Dick.

“Bed. Okay. Are you sure?” I question him one more time. This is his last out. Otherwise, I’m going to bed and taking some heavy medication. I need to kick this virus and fast.

“I’ve fought in wars, survived BUDs, dragged bloody bodies out of firefights, and much worse than a few hours with a kid.” Liam cocks his head and the confidence he has rolls off him in waves.

I half laugh and half cough again at his self-assuredness. He has no idea what watching a mobile child is like. But okay, I’m sick as a dog, and honestly, I’m afraid I’ll fall asleep with her awake, so at this point he’s better than I am. “She just ate, she’ll probably be hungry around five. She woke up from her nap a little while ago, so you’ll have to entertain her,” I say as he scoops her into his arms and she giggles. They grin at each other and Aarabelle slaps her wet hand she had in her mouth on his face.

“Baby slobber,” he says and wipes his cheek. “We’ll be fine. Go.” Liam juts his chin out instructing me to head to bed. “We’ve got this, right, Aarabelle? Uncle Liam and you are going to watch football while Mommy sleeps.” I stand there for a moment and watch the scene before me. The man who I’ve known for years, the one I never could’ve imagined feeling anything for in a romantic sense . . . standing here as my heart swells. Each time I wonder if this is right, he does something that smothers my doubt.

Liam owes me nothing. He’s here, again, because he cares about us. Last we spoke, he wasn’t due home until tomorrow, but he got back and came right here. I lean against the wall as he talks to her and I could cry. Only this time, they’re tears of joy and love.

“Okay, the Packers are on and we want them to annihilate the Bears. Say ‘Go, Pack, Go!’” Liam plays with Aarabelle and lifts her arm toward the sky.

I tiptoe to my room, take the strongest flu medication I have, and pass out in my bed.

Hours pass and I wake feeling rested and slightly disoriented. It’s dark, which means I’ve slept way past the two-hour nap I’d planned. I climb out of bed and clean up, brush my teeth, and try to fix my face. My hair is unsalvageable, so I do the best I can. I look a little better, but the bags under my eyes are not normal.

I check Aarabelle’s room to see if she’s in there, but it’s empty. Afraid of what I might find, I head to the living room where nothing could’ve prepared me for what I see.

Lying on the couch is Liam with Aarabelle fast asleep on his chest. Her tiny hand is wrapped around his and they’re both holding on to each other. His huge body shields her as his arm holds her tight. It breaks my heart and mends it at the same time. Two parts of me are pulled apart. The one side that’s sad it’s not her father. The other part which is grateful it’s Liam. Aarabelle shifts a little, and even in his sleep, he moves to accommodate and protect her.

“Feeling better?” Liam’s rich voice cuts through the silence and I jump.

“Hi,” I whisper and kneel so we’re face to face. “I didn’t mean to wake you.”

His eyes crinkle and he nods. “I don’t think I ever sleep fully. I could feel you watching me. Plus,” he yawns and shifts Aara, “She moves every five seconds.”

“I can take her.”

“No, she’s fine.”

The television is muted but it illuminates the room. Liam’s eyes are tired and yet he still won’t let me take her. He lies here and lets my daughter listen to his heart. I place my hand on her back and Liam places his over it.

“Thank you,” I smile softly.

“I wouldn’t thank me yet . . . I made a mess.”

I grin and look around the room. He’s not kidding. There are bottles, food jars, and about ten diapers strewn around the room. For the first time, I really notice that Aarabelle doesn’t have clothes on and I burst out laughing.

“Oh my God,” I whisper and try to calm my laughing. “Why does she have two diapers on? And is that rope?”

Liam shifts and cradles Aara into his arms so he holds her like a football. “Who made these stupid things? Those tabs rip off for no reason, then who the hell can figure out which way the thing goes? So I tied it on.”

“With rope?”

“I had some in my bag,” he whispers and kisses the top of her head. “It works.”

“I don’t even know what to say to you,” I giggle and cough a little.

“How about . . . ‘Oh, Liam, you’re so amazing, sexy, funny, and I owe you a lifetime of favors which you can collect at any time,’” he quirks his brow.

“Not likely, dumbass.” I stifle my laugh and kiss his cheek. “Give her to me, I’ll put her to bed.”

He hands Aarabelle over and I grab a diaper as he stands there with his arms crossed.

“You know how long it took me to put that on?”

I look down and there are at least three knots and the rope is looped around her waist and under her legs. I can’t believe she even fell asleep with this thing on.

“Watch how long it takes me to put it on the right way,” I laugh and look at the knots. “What the hell kind of knots are these anyway?” I ask while he stands there looking proud of his work.

“Need help?”

“I need a knife to get her out of this!” I whisper-yell. He’s insane. I start at the one knot and it lets out. I glare at Liam in mock anger. “I swear if she wakes up, I’m going to tie you up.”

He huffs, “I might like that.”