Sweet Mischief’s Rollercoaster Romance
Chapter 857

Despite his earlier refusal to let his wife hold the baby, Officer Chad opened his arms wide, "Henry, come here, little man, let Uncle Chad give you a hug." Henry, knowing he was with family, eagerly stretched out his little arms.

Holding Henry close, Chad felt a wave of tenderness wash over him. With the boy nestled against his chest and his arms wrapped around him, Chad gazed at his nephew's chubby cheeks and instantly thought he was the most adorable creature in the world. Soon, he and Molly would have their own adorable little one. He wondered if their child would be as irresistibly cute as their nephew.

Turning his face towards Molly, Henry eventually laid his head on his uncle's shoulder, lazily fixing his gaze on his aunt's belly with a soft coo.

Molly looked on with envy, "Chad, how come you can hold him and I can't? I'm not that far along; it won't hurt."

"I'm just practicing holding a baby," Chad replied.

Molly reached out for her nephew, "Let me practice too."

"You're already a pro, no need for more practice," Chad teased.

After taking turns holding Henry, the little one yawned and settled into his uncle Bruce's arms.

His uncle planted a kiss on his small face before they parted ways at noon, with Chad heading off to his busy day at the precinct.

There was a family chat about fetching Grandma Aubree and Grandpa Elmer, who were insistent on coming back after hearing about the pregnancy. Andre offered to handle it. Being a businessman with a flexible schedule, he could easily make the trip, unlike his brother Bruce, who had limited free time and a pregnant wife, Naomi, to care for.

Andre's offer was a relief, especially considering their father's insistence on personal attention, a charming quirk of elderly vanity. "Alright, but it's a long trip, so let Bruce and Naomi look after Henry for you," Bruce suggested, still hugging his nephew tightly. Naomi nodded in agreement, "Yes, let me take care of Henry."

Their intentions were clear, and without waiting for further agreement, Henry reached out to his father, making his preference known.

Andre smoothly took his son, a gesture he had perfected over countless occasions. "I'll bring him along. Henry loves the outdoors; it'll be good for him to play outside."

"Taking the little trooper might be too much for Mia," his uncle commented, referring to the affectionate nickname for Henry.

"Got a car seat, so no need to hold him all the time," Andre replied.

"He's clingy. If you don't hold him, he'll cry."

Andre responded with a chuckle, "Let him cry. We're tough parents."

Andre often found himself competing for his less-than-pleased child's affection with the rest of the family, who all seemed to adore Henry despite his tears.

At the hospital for check-ups, doctors would often hold Henry, showing him off to other babies before finally attending to him, just to spend a little more time with the charming child.

Three years ago, Andre could never have imagined he'd be married, let alone a father to such an adorable, universally beloved baby.

"Ahh, daddy, da-da," Henry's sweet babble made Andre feel like the luckiest man alive, just like everyone else who adored his son.

When the news reached Grandma Aubree and Grandpa Elmer, they were eager to return. Andre planned to pick everyone up in a larger family van due to the size of the group, switching from his usual sedan for the journey. Before leaving early in the morning, he found Mia still asleep, her back exposed from under the covers.

After dressing, Andre couldn't resist kissing her shoulder, to which she sleepily protested, "Honey, you're annoying."

Amused by her complaint, Andre gently stroked her hair and checked on Henry, finding both mother and son sleeping in similar positions.

The early summer dawn brought a light mist, refreshing yet slightly chilly as Andre greeted the gardener before setting off.

Meanwhile, Leo was trying to wake Anya up for an early start, their morning filled with the small, intimate details that define a shared life.

As Andre navigated the morning traffic, calling home to ensure Henry was getting ready, the simplicity of their daily routine underscored the deep, comforting predictability of family life.

Whether it was a morning hug, a midday check-in, or an evening meal together, each moment was a thread in the fabric of their lives, weaving a picture of quiet contentment and love. This was their life: full of small moments, routine, and the occasional squabble, but always coming back to the warmth and comfort of home. Mary followed the instructions carefully.

She picked up Henry, shook him awake, and attempted to change his diaper, but he kicked his little legs, refusing to let a stranger do it.

With the first cry of the morning, she placed him in a baby walker. A group of people gathered around to entertain him, but he was not pleased and even threw his bottle of formula. "Mary, should we call for the lady of the house?" asked the head housekeeper.

"The master has ordered not to disturb the lady's rest. He will be back shortly," she replied.