Chapter 15 ~ Tae

Taylor giggled as Rhett once again sighed in frustration. Bent down looking at the different types of bottle nipples, and struggling to tell the difference, his patience was running thin. She bit her lip to keep from giggling as he threw his hands up.

Rhett was doing all the looking while she stood watching over his shoulder holding Levi. He'd wanted to take control of their little trip to get it over with faster, but now, he was beginning to look defeated. He seemed to be realizing that shopping for baby items wasn't as easy as it had appeared.

Rhett looked up at her, frustration showing in his features.

"Are you going to stand there and laugh at me all night, or are you going to help me?" he asked.

He smiled crookedly to show he was only joking with his gruff tone, and she held a hand out to him. He stood stiffly, then stared at the baby when Taylor tried to hand him over. Finally, he groaned and moved to take Levi from her. Deciding the baby was safe enough for thirty seconds in the cowboy's arms, she scanned the shelf, then bent down to grab the smallest size of nipples. Rhett blew out a breath behind her.

"How do you know that those are right?"

Taylor giggled and shrugged.

"Well, he is only two weeks old, so we grab the smallest nipples," she explained. "Besides, he's tiny. I thought he was even younger than that when she handed him over to me. He obviously hasn't been in the best environment to thrive. Anyway, it's not your fault you couldn't read the packaging that said age and weight on it, you're a man."

She waved the package in his face and he rolled his eyes at her antics.

"Whatever," he gruffed. She laughed at patted his pouting cheek. "Now, what else do we need to get? Are we done yet?" he asked.

She smirked at his question. He was in for a long evening if he thought that they were done.

She pointed at the baby carriers and car seats on the next aisle.

"We'll be starting there since you'll be needing your hands, cowboy. You can't carry him around all day," she smirked at his bewildered expression.

They walked to the next aisle, Rhett walking even slower than his normal lope as to not disturb the baby, and she bent down to look at the first seat. Picking out one that she thought would best fit their needs, she stood with it in her arms.

"Wait, is that one going to be safer than the others?" he asked with furrowed eyebrows. "Will one of the others keep him protected better in an accident?"

She raised her shoulders in a shrug. He appeared not to like her answer as he huffed and moved Levi over to his other side to squat down in front of the car seats.

"I've got this. I'll look through them all and see which one will be the best for Little Man," he said, focusing on his new task.

She laughed as she watched Rhett set Levi down in the carrier she had just sat down. He then started reading the previews of the ones still on the shelf. Levi sat in the carrier and cooed up at Rhett as he reviewed the car seats.

Taylor walked to the next aisle and loaded the buggy up with shower gels and lotions. She grabbed newborn diapers and sizes one and two before moving onto the clothes section. She sighed with joy as she began to look through the racks. Sifting through the zero-to-three months she came across a onesie that said 'cowboy like my daddy' she closed her eyes as she imagined Levi in it.

The want that filled her heart as she imagined a family with Rhett was strong. She wanted to be able to say that they were a family. She quickly put the onesie in the bottom of the buggy and covered it up. She picked a few more outfits out, then decided she should check on Rhett.

As she came around the corner she heard them discussing the seat.

"All right, how does that one feel, Levi? Does that one support your kneck?"

She peeked around the aisle to see him pick Levi up from the carrier and set him gently into the next one. He had five seats out and lined up on the floor.

Taylor giggled as she watched Levi start crying as he went into the next seat.

"No, I don't like this one either, buddy." Rhett quickly picked him up and set him into the next. Levi quieted and Rhett pumped his fist. "This is the one, Little Man," he said as he picked him up.

Rhett put up the four other carriers, then picked up Levi and held him to him. Taylor watched as he looked down at Levi, making baby sounds. Levi cooed and swung his small fist up at Rhett. Rhett laughed and then looked up to see Taylor standing there.

She smiled and stepped closer. He proudly looked up at her as he stood.

"I found the perfect one. This one should support his kneck, the straps will loosen as he gets bigger, and he'll have two cup holders. If we were ever in an accident, and with your driving skills-," he broke off. She threw a glare his way and he chuckled. "Well, anyway, this one will be the safest choice to keep him protected."

She smiled and nodded. He looked towards the buggy and she laughed at his wide-eyed expression.

"We need all that?" he asked.

She smiled and nodded. There were so many things they needed. Most couples have nine months to stock up, but they had no warning.

"A baby requires a lot of supplies. You can't use adult products on them because they have extremely sensitive skin. Plus, you have to buy stuff with extra vitamins to help them grow healthily."

His eyes widened, but he kept his mouth shut. Smart.

"They need a lot of clothes because they make lots of messes," she added.

He nodded then pointed at the buggy.

"He's going to make enough messes that he's going to need ten outfits a day?" he asked smirking.

She glared at him as she took Levi from him.

"Okay, I might have picked out a few too many, but it's better to have too many than not enough," she said shrugging. He stepped up to the buggy, raising his eyebrows as he picked up one of the slightly larger outfits. "He'll grow into it," she said shrugging again.

Rhett chuckled as he scratched his head.

"What else do we need to get?" he asked.

Taylor looked into the buggy.

"Well, we've covered the basics, so now we get the specifics," she said. He looked completely out of his element. She added, "I'll start this, you go change Levi's diaper in the bathroom."

At Rhett's look of horror, Taylor burst out laughing. She had a feeling this would happen.

"You didn't think I'd be the only one doing the diaper changing did you?" she asked him. He shook his head but seemed to be in shock. She handed him Levi, then the diaper bag. "Go, you've got this," she said encouragingly.

He nodded again, still seemingly in shock. She watched as Rhett turned and headed towards the front of the store towards the bathrooms. She laughed to herself as she went to the formulas. Grabbing the one that had been in his diaper bag when they got him, she put it in the buggy. She would have to schedule a doctor's appointment and ask if this was a good formula for Levi to be using. For now, she would go ahead and continue using it since Levi seemed okay with it.

She looked back down into the buggy taking in what she had already grabbed. She realized she would need a baby bathtub and towel to go along with the soaps and lotions.

Making her way back to the bath section she selected a baby bathtub and picked out a few ultra-soft towels. One was meant to wrap around and had a duck on the head. She couldn't pass it up, and she put it in the buggy. As she was bent down to grab the washcloth that she had dropped, Rhett walked back up. His face was void of emotion and he was holding Levi out away from him. He smoothly handed him to Taylor,

"Well, that was quick," Taylor said smiling down at Levi.

Levi tried to smile and ended up making a grimace. She looked up to Rhett.

"Umm, yeah, no. We didn't get that changed. That little monster has blown out his diaper. I don't know what to do with it," he said grimacing.

Taylor shook her head. She would do it this once, but next time he was going to do it.

"Okay, I'll change the diaper, you pick out some bath toys while I'm gone," she said, giving him a look.

He smirked and nodded.

Saluting her, Rhett said, "Eye-eye, captain."

Taylor snorted and shook her head. She walked through the store and quickly made it to the bathroom. As she was finishing up with his diaper, a woman walked in.

"Aww, aren't you cute," she said smiling at Levi. Levi cooed and put on a show for the older woman. "You must be a first-timer," she said to Taylor.

Taylor laughed and nodded.

"How did you know?" she asked.

The woman laughed and pointed at Levi.

"After the first one, you don't put the mat down on the changing table," she said, smiling widely.

Taylor giggled.

"Yeah, I'm a total newb. We're adopting him, and this is my first day out with the little man," she explained.

The woman looked back at the baby then at her again.

"Well, ain't that wonderful. He looks so familiar, like someone I know," she said again.

Taylor shrugged and packed up her stuff. They made their way out of the bathroom to see Rhett standing outside. She handed Levi over and Rhett caught her for a kiss.

"Thank you, Tae," he said sweetly.

She smiled and kissed him on the cheek. She startled and turned when she heard someone clapping their hands. The bathroom woman had followed them out.

"Oh my lord, Rhett Montgomery with a family. I always knew this day would come," she said as she moved toward them.

Rhett was blushing deeply and smiled sheepishly.

"Hey, Aunt Debbie," he said.

He gave her a one-armed hug around Levi.

Levi was slobbering on Rhett's shoulder, completely unaware of Rhett's embarrassment.

"This is my girlfriend, Taylor Houston, and this little guy is Levi Frank," he said turning the boy around.

Debbie stooped to pick the baby up and Rhett pulled Taylor to him. As Debbie was busy with the baby, he leaned down to whisper into Taylor's ear. She snickered as she heard his words.

"What am I going to tell her if she asks if the baby is mine," he said. "She'll rip me a new one for having a child out of wedlock."

She leaned up to whisper, "I told her we were adopting him. But, she already said he looked like someone she knew. She probably won't believe us since he looks just like you."

He sighed as he moved to talk to Debbie.

"Levi's mother has unfortunately given him up, and the first time Tae saw him, she fell in love. So, we decided to adopt him, and we are in the process of getting full guardianship. The mother agreed to sign her rights away to Taylor," he explained.

Debbie nodded and said nothing more.

"Okay," she said finally. "I don't understand yet, because I mean, he looks just like you, Rhett Frankly Montgomery, but I'm going to trust that he isn't yours because I know you wouldn't have a child before you were married, right?" she questioned.

Rhett flushed and choked, but managed to nod. Taylor held back her laugh at Rhett's visible discomfort. She was barely managing to control her giggles when Rhett's hand began tightening on where it rested on her hip. She decided she would help him out.

"He does have the same blue eyes that Rhett has, it's the reason I fell in love with him, those pretty blue eyes," she said smiling.

She realized her words as Debbie smiled happily, and Rhett looked down at her in question.

She quickly added, "Levi that is."

Neither of their expressions changed for a moment, but then Levi shifted in Rhett's arms, and the moment was, thankfully, over.

Taylor moved and took in the basket.

"Well, we're almost done here, so let's go ahead and finish so we can get home," she said to Rhett. She turned to his aunt and smiled sweetly. "It was nice to meet you, Miss Debbie."

Debbie smiled back.

"The same goes to you, sweetheart, and to you little man," she said tapping Levi's little foot. Levi moved in Rhett's arms and Rhett smiled down at him.

"Oh, your heart has already been stolen I see," she said as she began to walk off.

Taylor watched as Rhett struggled to say something. In the end, he ended up turning back to the buggy.

As they walked back to the baby section, Taylor thought about what was left to get. Thinking about the room Rhett had set aside for a nursery, she turned toward the cribs. She looked between the few and decided none of them looked right for the house.

"I can make a crib," Rhett said as he took in the three on display.

She looked up at him in surprise.

"We'll have to get him something temporary while I build it, but I'd like to be the one to build it." He looked down at Levi, then handed him to Taylor. "This one looks like it will be all right for a week or so," he said as he loaded the box under the buggy.

Taylor smiled at the cheap crib he had picked. She grabbed a pack-and-play, because she knew a certain Mama Caroline would want to keep the baby sometimes, then moved down the aisle. They added a few more things to the cart, then Levi started fussing.

Taylor decided they had spent enough time at the store, and if they got home and realized they had forgotten something, they could come back.

She carried Levi as Rhett pushed the buggy to the front. They checked out, and after everything was wrung up, she finally saw the price. Her eyes widened at the number, but Rhett wasn't fazed. He paid and then turned to her. She tried to wipe her face of emotion, but as always, Rhett saw right through her. Before he could say anything, she turned and headed towards the truck.

"Tae, it's okay. I'm very well off thanks to the ranch, and even if I wasn't, it would still be worth it for this little guy. I'd rather be poor with a happy and healthy child than rich with a sickly child," he explained.

He loaded the bags in the back of the truck, then took out the car seat box.

Taylor watched as he read the instructions to hook up the car seat, then put Levi in it. He turned to her afterward, and Taylor wrapped her arms around him. She leaned up enough to meet his lips and breathed him in. After the kiss, she rested her forehead against his shoulder.

"Man, what'd I do to deserve that," Rhett joked.

He stepped back to open Taylor's door. She smiled as he helped her into the truck. He kissed her forehead before stepping back.

Taylor smiled again before answering his question from before.

"You were you," she replied as she buckled her seatbelt.

Rhett chuckled as he shut her door and walked around to his side. He climbed in and turned the radio on to his favorite channel it seemed, the oldies. She smiled to herself as he began to sing along with Don Williams. He belted every word along with Don, causing Taylor to giggle. They rode home in comfortable silence as Rhett serenaded both Taylor and Levi.

As Taylor looked out her window, she thanked the good Lord above that they had been blessed enough to be put in the position to take care of Levi. She sat back and closed her eyes and listened to Rhett sing.

............

Rhett had finished setting up the crib while Taylor was giving Levi a bath. Now, Rhett stood behind Taylor as she bathed Levi. Taylor could feel his presence, and Levi seemed to sense him too. Levi was laying in the baby bathtub inside the big tub. He seemed to be enjoying his bath as he tried to gurgle and smile in the tub. He hadn't been able to fully smile yet, but he was getting there.

Rhett chuckled at Levi's gurgling and sat down on the toilet beside where she sat on her knees on the floor.

"He's enjoying this," Rhett said as he gestured at Levi.

Taylor looked up at him to see his hand was bleeding.

"What did you do to your hand, mister?" she asked him as she grabbed another washcloth and wetted it.

She wiped off Rhett's hand and then moved back to Levi. Rhett carelessly rolled his eyes at her.

"I just caught it on the corner of a board. It's just a scratch; it's not like I'm going to die."

Taylor huffed at his not-worried demeanor. He could cut his arm off and still say he just needed a band-aid.

"Hmm, well, I guess I'll believe you. Will you go grab the baby towel I threw in the wash? It should be dry by now," she instructed.

After Rhett had walked off, she bent down to Levi.

"He's crazy I tell you," she cooed down to the baby.

She giggled as he reached a hand up towards her.

Once Rhett was back, she picked up Levi and set him into Rhett's outstretched arms which held the cute, little duck towel wrap thing she had picked out at the store. Levi laid in Rhett's arms as Taylor wrapped the ends of the towel/blanket around him and put up the hood.

"Well, now we have a little duckling, Tae," Rhett said making a funny face.

Taylor giggled and shoved him away. He looked over his shoulder at her and chuckled.

"Be careful, I'm carrying precious cargo."

Tae rolled her eyes as Rhett walked to their bedroom.

Rhett set Levi down on the bed, then sat down beside the baby. Taylor looked at him and waited to see what he would do. He looked up at her and raised his eyebrows. Taylor blew out a breath before she turned around to spin towards the bags they had laid down. She rummaged through the bags until she found the lotion and after bath things she bought from the store.

She began to rub down Levi, and he murmured in contentment. He was beginning to get drowsy from the milk he'd had before his bath, and Taylor watched as Levi's eyelids began to droop. She smiled to herself and heard Rhett start to shift. She looked up to see him looking at her. She smiled at him and pointed to the door.

"Can you go grab the few onesies that are sitting on the dryer clean? I threw in two or three for him," she said. Rhett nodded and walked out the door, and Taylor was left to diaper Levi and get him ready for bed. Once Rhett was back with the onesie, she dressed Levi and moved him into the new crib.

She sighed as she turned off the light and cracked the door on the sleeping Levi's room.

"Well, we're about to find out how he sleeps," she said smiling sillily. "Here goes nothing. I hope he at least sleeps for three hours straight. I've heard of devil babies that wake once an hour," she said grimacing.

She watched Rhett's face contort with pain.

"Let's hope he isn't one of those," he said, smiling now.

She shook her head with a laugh and set out for the kitchen. She put a bag of popcorn in the microwave while Rhett poured himself a glass of sweet tea. He sighed and rubbed his eyes. She knew he hadn't slept much in the last week worrying about Rose. She slid close to him and wrapped her arms around him.

"Why don't you go grab a shower. I'm going to turn on a movie and try to set up the baby monitor. I want to be ready tonight in case we can't hear him," she said as she stole his glass to take a sip.

"Hey, that's mine," he said teasingly.

She smiled and handed it back.

"What's mine is yours, and what is yours is mine," she said greedily.

He chuckled again as she kissed his cheek. She knew he would need a push to go to bed.

"I'm thinking about watching Dirty Dancing again."

She knew what his reaction would be. He groaned.

"Aw man, I guess I'm going to have to miss it. I need to go get in the shower," he said backing up already.

She laughed and rolled her eyes.

"Fine," she said. "But next time, you're watching it with me. Mmm, Patrick Swayze," she said goading him.

"Yeah, and with that, I'm getting in the shower," he said walking towards their room.

She laughed to herself once he closed the door. She took her popcorn out of the microwave and moved to the couch. She turned on a random movie that she hadn't seen before, then began to read the directions to the monitor.

She quickly put it together and moved the base monitor into the nursery room. Looking around the room, she decided it definitely needed decorating. They'd have to order stuff to put in the room. They still needed a changing table, and she'd like to have a bookcase and rocking chair, or maybe a glider.

With the thoughts of decorating, she moved back to the couch and opened her laptop. Scrolling through Pinterest, she looked for cute ideas for baby boy rooms.

Seeing some cute cowboy rooms, she created a board just for the cowboy aesthetic. She laughed as she saw silly pictures of cows that could go on the walls. She saved them to show Rhett later. After scrolling for a while, she finally closed the laptop. She closed her eyes for a second trying to take a breather. It wasn't every day you meet your boyfriend's psychotic mother and adopted a newborn. Before she knew it, Rhett was carrying her into the bedroom.

"Well, hello, sleepy head," he said smiling widely. "It seems it should have been you taking a shower and going to bed, not me."

She smacked him as he sat her on the bed and then began to make her way to the closet. She changed for bed and crawled in next to Rhett who was already sprawled out.

"We better get some sleep. Before we're ready, we'll be waking up to take care of Levi," she said yawning.

He agreed, and they both settled in for the night. Neither spoke of how everything had changed. Neither spoke of the words they'd accidentally said, and neither acknowledged that their entire relationship had just gotten real.