Love Is Always Write Volume 4

dresser drawers. "Purple blankie with the ponies is the warmest, right?" he asked as he began searching for said blanket.
    "Yeah," Bryce agreed. "Aaron, listen to me. I know you're coming and I can't change your mind but you gotta take a deep breath, okay? I can't handle anything else going wrong tonight."
    Doing as instructed he took a deep breath and tucked the blanket around Maisy, letting her and Bryce calm him. He grabbed another blanket and draped it over the hood of the car seat, "I'm okay," he promised. "I'm driving with precious cargo," he added to make Bryce laugh. It worked too. "Don't worry, we'll be right there."
    "Can you stay on the phone?"
    "Lemme get my Bluetooth." He rushed to the bedroom, slipping on his sneakers and his navy blue hoodie, before grabbing his Bluetooth. He switched it on, located his keys and wallet, and then went back to get Maisy. Pulling the blanket aside he saw she was out like a light. Smiling he carried her out to their Escalade and made sure the car seat was secure in the base before getting in the SUV. He buckled his seat belt and put the key in the ignition. "'K, we're leaving. Be there in five if we don't hit any lights."
    "Take your time, I'm not going anywhere."
    "You said that when we first met," Aaron recalled as he pulled out of the driveway. Four years ago he had done some charity work for the local zoo to raise funds. He'd had a photo shoot with the most popular animals and the rarer ones as well. Bryce was the keeper for the lion cubs and he had taken shot after shot of him with the cubs, falling in love with how Bryce laughed and cuddled each one as they crawled all over the younger man. He remembered how Raja, the youngest cub, had wrapped his paws around Bryce's neck so he could purr in his ear and nuzzle him. That shot and the look of adoration on Bryce's face had made him wish the shoot would never be over. It had ended though but to his delight Bryce had accepted his offer for coffee and the rest as they say was history. He still had that photo too, hanging up in their hallway. "I'll never forget that day."
    "Neither will I."
    "I dunno what I would do without you, baby." He blinked back tears as he focused on the road and turned right at the stop sign.
    "I thought I was never going to see you and Maisy again," Bryce confessed. "I want you here so bad."
    "Almost there." Aaron cursed under his breath as he was forced to stop at the red light. He could see the CVS just ahead and he pulled himself together. Bryce needed him to be strong and needed comfort; he could fall apart later.
    It was only minutes until he pulled into the CVS parking lot but it felt like forever. He parked the Escalade next to the two police cars, spotting Bryce leaning against one. His breath caught as he saw a bandage wrapped around one of his husband's arms and he yanked open the door.
    As soon as he stepped out Bryce flew into his arms and Aaron lifted him up. He was a few inches taller and Bryce wrapped his arms and legs around him like a spider monkey. He held onto his husband tightly giving him a brief but lingering kiss, pleased when he saw the fear receding in Bryce's eyes.
    "You said you weren't hurt," he said in worry, glancing at his husband's arm.
    "That's nothing," Bryce brushed off. "Just a scrape when I fell, Raja has done worse playing. They made me get it tended to."
    Brushing a kiss to Bryce's temple he held him tightly, not wanting to let go. He thanked God that his husband was safe in his arms now. "I'm never letting you go on a late night diaper run again."
    Bryce chuckled but it was strangled. "I think I'm okay with that." His husband reached up to card his fingers through his unruly hair; he hadn't even bothered to brush it when he rushed out to get to him. "How's our baby?"
    "Doesn't have a clue how upset Daddy was," he admitted, "She's been asleep since I put her in the swing."
    "That always does the trick."
    "Yep."
    Reluctantly he let go as Bryce set his feet back on the ground. He opened the back door and Bryce leant in, pulling aside the blankets to see Maisy still asleep. "There's our little angel." He ran his fingertips across her cheek then kissed her nose.
    An officer approached them; he was bald with a busy red moustache and looked rather intimidating in his uniform.
    "You must be Mr. Sanders?" He gave them a kind smile and Aaron shook his hand. "I'm Officer Kirk."
    "Thank you, Officer, for everything."
    "You're welcome, I'm just glad Mr. Sanders is all