A part of me really wanted to cancel today’s meeting with Huey’s uncles. I’d sat through the hearing, but I still didn’t really understand their dynamic with Alana. Had River Cooper dated her? Were they former lovers? Or was it the familial relationship that River’s lawyers had stated it was?

There was only one way to find out, and to discuss what was best for Huey. And that was to go down to the Cheeky Javelina.

It had taken me two hours to get Huey ready to leave the house. I’d gone through the Diaper Bag Checklist twice, as well as stumbled through the Morning Routine Checklist. I burped him the way Rita had showed me, trying to judge what he needed to wear in summer in Tucson.

I decided on a short-sleeved onesie. And then I packed a little cardigan thing in case it got cold. And a sleep sack thing in case it somehow became arctic. And his little knit cap. And sixteen diapers. And a warm bottle of water, and a container of formula. Wipes. A change mat. Infant Tylenol. The list went on and on and on.

I watched an online tutorial on how to get the baby carrier on. Then I started to worry I’d drop the baby accidentally, and decided to just put him in the car seat thing that went into the car and also into the stroller.

Long story short, I was now running ten minutes late, my hair was in a messy bun on top of my head, I was wearing jeans and an old band tee that I loved, and I probably looked so sleep-deprived that I actually appeared insane.

I hadn’t slept well since my parent’s accident, so I was used to living on minimal sleep. Janette had said that it would take time for Huey to adjust. I just had to stick it out.

The cafe was busy, but it wasn’t hard to find where Huey’s uncles were sitting, since everybody in the cafe was angled in their direction. Mostly so they could get a better look without being obvious, but some people—mostly women—were openly staring.

I mean, when I spotted them, I understood completely. They were handsome as hell in suits. But casually reclining in jeans and tight t-shirts?

Hooboy.

When I stepped further into the cafe, it was the tall, dark and handsome one who spotted me first. Devan, that was the name they’d used yesterday at the hearing. He was Alana’s foster brother too, apparently.

His dark eyes burned into me, his face tense, and I felt stripped bare. I wanted to fidget on the spot, but I held my gaze steady as I stared back at him. I navigated the stroller around all the chairs and people, and when I made it to the table, Devan’s eyes dropped to Huey.

And his face softened completely.