"You're getting heavy, champ," she teased, bouncing him slightly on her hip.
Timothy giggled, showing off the gap in his baby teeth. "I'm strong now! Strong like superheroes."
"Oh? Which one?" Bella asked, brushing his hair back.
"Spider-Man," he declared proudly. "But better, because Spider-Man doesn't have Mommy."
Bella's heart swelled painfully, her eyes burning as she forced a laugh. "That's right. You're way better."
Rachel, standing by the dresser, smiled faintly at the exchange, though her hands fidgeted with the towel she'd been folding. Bella noticed but didn't say anything yet.
After another few moments of holding Timothy, she finally lowered him to the ground. "Alright, mister," she said softly, "why don't I dress you up and then you go to the living room and play for a bit? Mommy needs to talk to your Aunt Rachel."
Timothy blinked up at her with curious eyes. "Secret talk?" he asked as his mother took up the job to dress him up.
