Buddy’s eyes dilated. His mouth dropped, and his fingers twitched as he considered the possibility. Finally, he answered. “Yes, I believe I would. But you’ll have to show me how to pick him up. I wouldn’t want to damage him.”

Lily grinned. “You won’t damage anything, Robert Allen. Just scoop and balance everything wiggling. I’ll hand you the bottle.”

Buddy stood and walked around the bed, carefully measuring the best angle to make his descent and, when he was satisfied that he’d figured it out, leaned over and deftly lifted the baby from the bed.

It was a perfect lift-off. Lily had expected awkwardness, even nerves. She should have known better. When Buddy did something, he always did it to perfection. The baby was in good hands.

“Sit down,” she said, “and cuddle him. Here’s his bottle.”

“Thank you, Lily. Do I insert it now or…?”

The baby began to fuss at being held in the nursing position.

“Yes, Buddy. Insert it now.” She tried not to grin at his terminology.

The bottle went in, and Buddy’s face lit up. “Well, now, Charlie. I’ll bet that just hits the spot. When you’re a little older, I’ll treat you to some of my favorite drinks. There’s one with two scoops of chocolate and—”

“We call the baby Morgan,” Lily corrected. But her brother wasn’t listening. As far as Buddy was concerned, the baby was Charlie. She suspected as time passed, he would be Charlie to everyone. Buddy had a way about him.

*  *  *

Cole walked down the hospital corridor, wincing as a nurse hurried past with a capped syringe in her hand and a look of determination on her face. He was heartily glad he wouldn’t be on the receiving end of that needle. Soft laughter drifted out into the hall. It was coming from Rick’s room.

Cole opened the doorway and paused unobserved. It gave him an opportunity to see for himself how well his partner was healing.

The burden of guilt that he’d been living with, the constant reminder that he’d killed another man, seemed to lessen. In fact, the longer he watched Rick and Tina together, the easier it became to face the fact. Somehow it was finally justified in his mind. If that’s what it had taken to keep a good man like Rick Garza alive, then it had been worth it. He stuffed his hands in his pockets and allowed himself a long, slow sigh.

It was then Rick saw him standing in the doorway. “Hey, buddy. Don’t be a stranger. Come in and see what Tina has.”

Cole grinned. “I heard the laughter all the way down the hall. What’s so funny?”