In the end, Cooper gave Henry a tiny sip, and the little guy’s face wrinkled up right away. “Cooper’s wine isn’t tasty at all~”
Mia popped open a bottle of soda water and, with a wink, secretly poured it into a cup. “Here, drink what Mommy’s giving you.”
Wayne watched with big, round eyes as Aunt Mia did her magic trick, then looked over at his big brother getting fooled. “Bro~”
Henry, thinking his little brother wanted some too, took a big gulp of the “wine,” stuck out his little butt, and hugged the bottle, offering it over to Wayne.
Wayne didn’t know how to say “fake wine” yet—he just stared at the cup, words stuck on his tongue.
Mia pinched her nephew’s cheek and whispered, “Shhh~”
By the time both families finished dinner, it was already late. That night, Andre took his wife and son to stay over at his father-in-law’s place.
It was just how things went: whenever Cooper came home from abroad, Henry was automatically part of the Irvin family’s crew.
That night, Henry got to sleep with Cooper again, grinning as he video chatted with Kristen before bed.
Cooper sat off to the side, watching his nephew chat away with Jennie, keeping a straight face.
After the call ended, Cooper asked, “Henry, do you like that girl?”
Henry wiggled his toes, confused. “Cooper, I don’t know who you’re talking about.”
Who was this “girl” Uncle Cooper meant?
“Jennie.”
Henry shook his head, all puzzled. He’d never heard that name—who was that supposed to be?
“That’s your ‘Kristen’!”
“Oh, Kristen! Sweetie likes her, but Sweetie likes Cooper even more.” Henry threw his arms wide and dove into Cooper’s arms. No one could top his Cooper.
After a while, Mia handed him over, and Andre said, “You’ve cried enough. Mia’s arms are tired—you can walk downstairs on your own.”
The checkup was wrapped up by noon. At lunch, Henry’s little mouth got spoiled with all kinds of treats. In the afternoon, Andre dropped his wife, son, and Cooper back at the Irvin family’s place and then headed off to work.
That night, he picked everyone up and brought them straight to the Cedillo family’s house.
Henry’s school clothes were all set out. He even tried on his new outfit that night and strutted around for everyone—they couldn’t get enough of him.
Late at night, Henry snuggled in bed between his parents, listening as they told him funny school stories, all in hopes he wouldn’t cry when he had to go the next day.
Andre asked, “Henry, are you a little man?”
“I’m Daddy and Mommy’s little baby~” Henry said, grinning as he nestled between them.
Andre sighed, “But can a little baby be a little man? Little men can protect Mia, you know.”

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