Free Accidental Fate by M.A. Stacie Page B

I've brought him a few things for Joe," she answered.
    The girl nodded, lifting up the counter so Erin could squeeze through.
    "This is the only way upstairs. Leo never got around to fixing the fire escape at the back, and I guess now he has the kid, he couldn't get the stroller up there anyway." She pointed up the stairs. "The door to his apartment is at the top."
    Erin thanked her, looking up toward the wooden door. It stood ajar, and as she entered the stairwell noticed the baby still cried. No wonder Leo had been distracted yesterday. If Joe cried like that all the time, then he must get very little sleep. Taking a deep breath, she walked up the stairs and tapped on the door. Something dropped, smashing on the floor. A loud curse and a low pleading for Joe to stop followed.
    "Leo?" Erin called out, only to hear him curse again. "Are you okay?"
    "Come in. I'm in the kitchen."
    She walked cautiously into the apartment. It appeared tidier than she had initially expected. She'd assumed the inside would resemble the outside, but it was clean apart from the odd discarded baby blanket or stuffed toy. A Moses basket rested on the couch, but Joe wasn't in there. She couldn't see him at all, though she could hear him, and he had one large set of lungs.
    Erin dropped the sack on the floor, strolling over to where she assumed the kitchen was, and peeked her head around the door.
    "Hi," she said softly, chuckling at the astonished look on Leo's face as he spun to face her.
    Joe snuggled in his arms while he tried to clean up the spilled soup on the floor. The baby was red-faced, his tiny hands clenched tight. Leo spluttered, rocking the baby and sweeping a cloth across the floor with his foot.
    "Um, hi?"
    He worded it more like a question than a greeting, probably perplexed as to what she was doing there. He wore only loose sweat pants, evidence he hadn't expected company. The fact that he wore very little made the atmosphere rather awkward, given he didn't know her.
    "I'm sorry for just strolling in. The girl at the counter told me to come up here."
    They both cringed as Joe let out a heart-wrenching squeal. Erin reached out instinctively, stroked the baby's head, and made a light shushing sound. At her touch, Joe began to settle, closing his eyes and whimpering.
    "How do you do that?" he asked.
    Erin smiled, taking Joe from him and rocking the baby until he began to drift off.
    "My sister has twins—six months old. I'm used to their grouchy behavior."
    "But how do you soothe him? I try so hard. He hates me."
    She sobered, holding the baby tighter to stop from touching Leo. He turned his back to her and leaned over the sink in defeat.
    "I'm sure he doesn't. You're just so stressed around him. He feels it," she tried to reason. "Look, I brought you some things for him. My sister was going to take the twins' clothes to a charity store, but I thought you might be grateful. She put a few toys in for Joe as well."
    Leo turned, rubbing at his bare chest and chewing on his lower lip. He cleared his throat, looking down at Joe, his expression full of love.
    "You didn't need to do that. I crashed into your car. I should be helping you."
    "I'm not the one who has just discovered I had a child."
    "True," he huffed, pointing over to the living room and shuffling forward.
    Erin nodded over to the sack she'd brought with her, sitting down on the couch with Joe. The baby liked her; he calmed at her touch, giving Leo a little reprieve from his incessant bawling.
    She stroked the baby's head as Leo started to check the contents of the sack and heard a small sigh of relief when he saw the small clothes, bibs, and bedding. Fear that he'd reject her help kept her nerves simmering until he shot her a quick grin. His hands were clenched, however, jaw harshly set. His anger dispersed quickly, causing her to wonder what had caused it.
    Leo moved over to her, placing his hand on her shoulder as tears welled in his eyes. Erin lifted her head, trying not to