Chapter Text
“Oh I forgot! Her extra wipes are in the cabinet under the bathroom sink, if she needs anymore!”
Meryl smiled at her friend. “Tan, she already has five boxes, they’re going to be fine.” Before Tanith could interrupt, Meryl continued. “You guys haven’t had a vacation in five years, you deserve some time off.”
Charlie looked at her thankfully. As much as he adored his kids, he was looking forward to some alone time with his wife.
“Plus, Maks will be here, and he’s already obsessed with them!”
Maks yelled from the living room, “Bye guys, have a great time!”
The three Olympians laughed, as Charlie and Tanith finally walked out the door, both giving hugs to Meryl as they left.
“Thanks again, Mer. You’re the best,” Charlie whispered in her ear.
She giggled and said, “Enjoy yourselves at the lake house. The kids will be fine.”
As she closed the door, Meryl felt a growing sense of excitement. Maks had started to ask her about getting more serious in the relationship, and this was the perfect test. Would they be able to take care of kids together? How domestic would he be? Would the kids cling to her because they knew her better? She was a little worried, but mostly happy.
This will show me the life I could have with Maks.
The thought made her giddy.
She walked in the living room and stopped in her tracks. Maks had Allie cradled in one arm and was tickling Ben with the other, the four-year-old laughing hysterically on the couch. The nine-month-old was blissfully gazing up at Maks.
“Hey, babe.”
Maks looked up as Ben ran to her.
“Aunt Meryl, Mr. Maks said we could build a fort tonight as long as it’s okay with you! Can we, can we, can we?”
“Well, sure. That sounds like a lot of fun! Why don’t you and Mr. Maks head downstairs to start the fort. I’ll feed your sister and put her to bed, and then I’ll come down later, okay?”
“Yes!” Ben jumped up and down and started grabbing all the pillows and blankets in the living room.
Maks stood up with the baby, and brought her to Meryl. “Here, babe, you sure you’re okay with her?”
Meryl waved him off. “Maks, I’ve babysat before.”
She rolled her eyes at him as he went downstairs
Please. I’ve got this.
However, Allie was extremely fussy. She was wailing and refused to eat anything Meryl tried to give her. It only frustrated Meryl. She was certain something was wrong and was trying to figure it out, when Maks came back upstairs fifteen minutes later.
“Hey everything okay? I heard her crying.”
“I don’t know she’s just so upset—”
Before she could even finish the sentence, Maks had picked up the baby, and she instantly stopped crying. He looked at his girlfriend with a smug look, and took Allie downstairs to join her brother.
Meryl was almost in tears.
How is he so good with babies? I’m supposed to be the maternal one. Is this how it will be with our kids?