Phillip found himself caught in the gaze of those big, sparkling eyes. After a few seconds of staring, Betty flashed him a grin, revealing her tiny, pearly white baby teeth, causing Phillip to crack a smile as well. Curtis, sitting beside them with Betty in his arms, couldn't resist poking fun at Phillip's sore spot. "Engaged for five years and still haven't tied the knot, huh? At this rate, you'll be lucky to have kids before you hit forty. Want to borrow mine for a bit?"
Phillip glanced at Curtis' teasing expression and retorted, "Says the guy who nearly got dumped three years into marriage. What's there to be proud of?"
Now living a fulfilled life, Curtis wasn't fazed by the jab. With the air of someone who's seen it all, he lazily said, "I've been through marriage, a near-divorce, a reconciliation, and now a kid. I'm four steps ahead of you. You should be thanking me for the life lessons."
Phillip remained stoic. "I'll take your mistakes as a cautionary tale."
The brothers were experts at hitting where it hurts, but Leanne and Jennifer couldn't be bothered to intervene. Sitting on Curtis' lap, Betty, however, listened intently.
She seemed to half understand, babbling away in her baby language, unclear if she was trying to mediate or join in the fray.
Curtis clicked his tongue, "Watch your language."
He then covered Betty's mouth with his hand, lecturing her with a serious tone, "Sweetie, that's your uncle. Mind your manners." Phillip, who didn't speak baby talk, was clueless.
Leanne, equally lost, could only watch.
Jennifer chuckled, "Why are you getting involved in your dad and uncle's argument?"
Maddox, usually quite serious, couldn't help but smile, impressed, "The kid's got a way with words."
Leanne was puzzled. How could anyone tell from those gurgles and coos?
During lunch, Jennifer kept Betty entertained in the living room, while Leanne and Curtis prepared her baby food in the kitchen. Of course, Curtis did most of the work while she watched.
They were making a creamy chicken soup, carefully strained three times, with tender chicken pieces and soft egg stirred in.
After Curtis finished, Leanne went to serve it but accidentally scalded herself. She hissed in pain.
Curtis immediately dropped what he was doing and grabbed her wrist, "Did you burn yourself?"
It wasn't bad enough to be a burn, and Leanne shook her head, replying, "I'm fine."
Curtis took her finger, blew on it gently, then kissed it, just like he would comfort Betty when she hurt herself, "Pain, pain, go away." "Nutcase," Leanne teased him.
Just then, they heard Jennifer exclaim from behind, "Betty..."
Turning around, they saw Betty, who had been playing in the living room, making her way toward the kitchen.
"Mommy!" She sounded eager, her steps unsteady.
Leanne was both shocked and delighted, instinctively wanting to rush over and catch her to prevent a fall, but she held back, squatting down with her arms open instead. "Sweetie, come to Mommy."
Betty toddled over, and Leanne caught her securely, praising, "You're so amazing, baby."
Jennifer, who followed, sighed in relief and explained what had happened, "She was playing just fine, but the moment she heard you got hurt, she dropped everything and ran over." Curtis squatted down, gently ruffling Betty's hair, "Such a sweetie, worrying about your Mommy."
Leanne hadn't expected this little princess to make her first steps out of concern for her.
Her heart melted into a sea of tenderness as she held Betty, her voice soft, "Thank you, sweetie. Mommy's all better now."
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