Anya squatted on the carpet, her tiny hands rummaging through the box Uncle Andre had brought home. "Uncle, what's this?" she asked, her eyes wide with curiosity.
Andre glanced over and smiled. "It's a self-rocking cradle for Henry. When your aunt gets tired of holding him, we can just pop him in here, and it'll do the rocking for us."
"Do we have to put it together ourselves?" Anya inquired, poking at the assortment of tools in the box.
Andre nodded. "I'll get to it in a bit."
Leo, lounging on the couch, suddenly perked up. He grabbed the bag of parts and started tearing off the packaging. "Uncle, I'll start putting it together if that's okay."
Andre nodded again, and Leo began the assembly. Not long after, Chad also joined in, leaning over the coffee table to study the instruction manual.
Little Henry lay in his father's arms, cooing and babbling as if he were trying to join in on the grown-up conversation. Andre cradled his son with one arm while inspecting the parts with the other.
Before long, three of the most handsome and accomplished men in their respective fields were huddled around the coffee table, assembling a baby cradle for the tiniest member of the family.
Bruce returned home and swiftly claimed Henry, much to the baby's chagrin, who pouted with a chubby-cheeked frown.
Soon, the three women who had been chatting upstairs came down. Naomi spoke up, "Don't worry about anything here, I've got it covered with Mia's help. As for the Byrne family, your mom just had major surgery last year and is still undergoing chemo. When you head back, listen to her and take some of the load off, okay?"
Molly nodded. "I know, Naomi. I'll take care of Grandma and Grandpa too."
"And don't fret about Dad," Mia added. "Naomi and I will handle all his affairs."
"Thanks, Naomi. Thanks, Mia," Molly replied with heartfelt gratitude.
Descending the stairs, they found little Anya still perched beside Leo, eagerly handing him whatever part he needed. Chad was busily attaching a canopy, and Andre was fiddling with some small toys, seemingly part of the contraption.
With Bruce cradling Henry, they both watched the trio's progress in putting together the cradle.
"Honey, what's this?" Mia asked, looking at the incomplete rocking contraption with confusion.
"It's a cradle I picked up for our boy after work," Andre explained. "He's getting heavier, and I don't want you to strain your arm. It's better to have something to keep him entertained without having to hold him all the time."
Henry listened intently but, being just a baby, couldn't grasp the full meaning of his father's words. He simply felt loved.
Noticing it was getting late and after receiving a prompt call from the Byrne family, Chad insisted on staying a bit longer to finish the assembly.
So, the room filled with people watching three charismatic men put together a cradle for a tiny bundle of joy.
When the cradle was finally assembled, everyone watched as Andre gently placed Henry inside and tested the rocking motion. The toys Andre had been putting together were mobiles that hung above, providing entertainment for little Henry as he lay there.
Chad, concerned about the cradle's sturdiness, checked the fastenings and, finding them secure, was relieved.
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The readers' comments on the novel: Sweet Mischief’s Rollercoaster Romance
Please edit seems like a nice novel but not readable...
the novel status is showing as completed but it is not and what About the left over chapters...