With a Little T.L.C. Read Free Page B

rocked him from side to side. “It’s not easy to find a routine. Every time we do, the master,” she said glancing at the unhappy infant, “changes the rules.”
    â€œMind if I try?” he asked. After fielding the questions he just had, he figured he’d take his chances with the little guy.
    â€œAre you kidding?” Barbara answered. “Be my guest.” She held out the child.
    Joe walked over to her and took Tommy from her arms. It had been a while since his niece had been this small. At first he felt awkward, holding the warm body in the bend of his elbow. The little fella’s face scrunched into an unhappy look as he started to whimper. Uneasily, Joe raised the infant up onto his shoulder. No dice.
    The cry increased in intensity. It was almost as if the child knew he was in unfamiliar arms. Joe didn’t know what else to do but rock those arms—already feeling the burn—back and forth. Nada. The cry escalated into a full-blown scream.
    â€œJust talk amongst yourselves,” he said above the crying. “Tommy and I will take a stroll around the room. If that’s okay with you,” he said to the baby’s mother.
    She nodded. “It’s you I’m worried about. He can keep this up for hours. How long can you hold out?”
    â€œI’m tough,” he said with more confidence than he felt.
    He started walking around the room. The baby’s ear-splitting wail slowed, but he still wouldn’t quiet.Joe stopped and instead of moving him from side to side, he commenced an up and down motion. Almost instantly the baby stopped crying. Every head in the room turned to look at him. When the quiet continued, jaws began to lower. Including Liz who stared at him as if he had two heads.
    â€œI don’t believe it,” his mother said.
    Neither do I, Joe wanted to chime in, but knew that would undermine his accomplishment. He wished he could take credit for the technique. But it was something he’d learned on his niece. He was glad he’d remembered. He hoped this was the final exam, the last test to show Liz that he had what it took to be in her program.
    It was something he wanted to do. On top of that, as the Human Resources Director for Marchetti’s, Inc., he was conducting his own unofficial research to see if on-site child care was feasible. He was always searching for forward-looking ideas to benefit the employees.
    â€œI’m impressed, Joe,” Liz said.
    Was there a grudging note of respect mixed with the sincerity in her voice? He hoped so.
    â€œThank you,” he answered, handing a dozing Tommy back to his mother.
    Another baby started to fuss. Joe remembered it was the baby with the shallow latch. Valerie. Her mother, Andie, looked at him pleadingly. “Want to go for two?” she asked hopefully.
    â€œSure.” He took the infant and tried the same technique. In a few minutes, the fussy child had calmed.
    For the rest of the evening, he became the resident nanny. It gave the mothers an opportunity to listen without interruption to the group. It gave him achance to prove something to Liz Anderson. He didn’t know why that was so important to him, he only knew it was.
    When time was up, the mothers all filed out and he thought their spirits were lighter than when the evening had started. Their radiant smiles as they walked past him were a big clue. So this is what a women’s support group was all about, he thought. Their husbands must be grateful. He was looking forward to learning more about the program. Not to mention the intriguing and exceptionally cute Nurse Anderson.
    Andie looked up at him. “Do you hire out your services?” she asked wistfully.
    He shook his head. “Sorry.”
    â€œAre you going to be here next week?” Barbara asked.
    â€œI’ll have to check my schedule.”
    â€œYour social calendar?” someone asked.
    â€œAnd business,” he