“He started it.” Chase points to me and sticks out his tongue, making us all laugh.
“Is this what I have to look forward to?” Gabby asks.
“If you have more than one, yes,” Mom answers.
“Let’s see how we do with this one.” Gabby rubs her small baby bump, wearing a smile.
“So, Hollis, tell us about you. What do you do?” Dad asks her.
“Here we go,” I mutter. “You don’t have to answer.”
“I don’t mind. I’m in graphic design. I do websites and company branding mostly. I work independently since it’s all electronic.”
“You kids and these computers, I tell you. I can’t keep up.”
“Mom, you sound like you’re eighty,” Chase jokes.
“I can do what needs to be done, but that design stuff, I don’t know how you do it.”
“You’re not supposed to, dear. We’ll leave all that high-tech stuff to the offspring. We just need to worry about spoiling those grandbabies of ours,” Dad says.
The night couldn’t be better. Hollis fits right in as if she’s been a member of my family for a lifetime. I admit as I sit here, listening to her and Gabby talk to Mom about Gabby’s baby shower, I wonder what it would be like if she were mine. What if she was more than just a tenant or a friend? I can see us here for Mom’s monthly dinners and at home together with Milo. I can see it all, and I confess, it’s enticing.
“Thank you for tonight,” Hollis says when we are in my truck and heading home. “Your family is great.”
I glance over and catch her watching me. The cab of the truck is dark, but from the glow of the dash, I can see her smile. I can’t seem to keep my own from pulling at my lips just because she’s happy. “I told you that you had nothing to worry about.”
“You were right.”
“Wait, can you write that down for me? I might need it for future reference.”
“Oh, hush.” She pushes on my arm, and we both laugh. “Truly, you have a great family. You’re lucky to have them.”
“I couldn’t agree with you more. When you’re ready to talk about yours, I’m all ears.”
“Thank you, but there’s not really much to tell.” Her reply is soft, and from my glance to the passenger seat, I know her smile has faded. Luckily, we’re at home. So I do the mature thing and pretend like I never brought it up.
“I need to get him in bed. Stick around?” I ask. “I have some beer in the fridge. I can tell you about his mom.”
“Colton, you don’t have to do that. I shouldn’t have asked.”
“I know I don’t have to. I want to. I think you’re right. It will do me some good to talk about it with someone who’s not family.” I also hope that by opening up to her, not only does she get to know me better, but maybe, just maybe, she’ll feel comfortable enough to open up to me. When she’s ready.
I grab Milo, and she takes the diaper bag. I can’t help but think that this is how life would be if I had done things in the right order. Or even had a baby momma who wanted to be a momma. I don’t hold that against Laura. In fact, I’m glad she did what she did. She got Milo to family. I don’t agree with her just leaving him on the doorstep and then driving off. How did she know Chase—or, more specifically, I—would take care of him? That part still bothers me, but the fact that she gave him up? Well, I commend her for that. If she knew without a doubt that motherhood was not for her, I think what she did was brave and selfless. It gave Milo the chance to grow up in a home where all he knows is love. I’ll make damn sure that happens.
“I’m just going to change him into some pajamas and give him a bottle. Help yourself to whatever.”
“I think I’m going to go change.”
“Okay.” I lift Milo from his seat and head to his room. In my mind, I’m picturing her stripping out of her clothes, with my help. I have to stop this. I can’t think about her getting naked, just down the hall. I also hope that whatever she decides to change into covers her. I don’t know if I have the willpower to sit next to her in some kind of skimpy lingerie. In fact, I know that I don’t.
“All right, buddy. Time for a new diaper, some jammies, and a nice big bottle. We should really take a bath tonight, but Daddy’s going to skip that.” I lay him on the changing table and get to work. “What do you think of Hollis? She’s nice, right?” He coos. “I know, and she’s beautiful.” I manage to wrangle a clean diaper on him and some pajamas. I even get them buttoned correctly on the first try. “Look at that. Daddy’s getting the hang of this,” I tell him, picking him up and kissing his cheek. “Now, time for a bottle and then lights out for you.”
“Need any help?” Hollis asks.
I look up to find her in a pair of flannel pajama pants, a long-sleeve T-shirt, and her hair is in a knot on the top of her head. No makeup, no fanfare, and I was so unbelievably wrong. She’s just as sexy in this get-up as she would be in lingerie.
I’m fucked.
“I think I’m good. Help yourself to a beer, or whatever you want. I’m just going to mix him up a bottle.”
“Do you mind if I hold him while you do that?”
“Sure.” She holds out her arms, and I pass Milo to her. His eyes are wide open as he takes her in. I can only imagine what’s going through his mind. It’s not the first time I’ve wondered if my son can understand the crazy shit I tell him each day. Only today, not so crazy, I spoke the truth. From the way he’s staring up at her, the way she’s captured his attention, I’d say it’s safe to say that my son is just as enthralled with the lovely Hollis as I am.
Like father, like son.
Quickly, I mix up a bottle, grab a bib, and a blanket. “Thanks,” I say, reaching for my son.
“I can do it.” She reaches for the bottle.
“You don’t have to do that.”
“I know, but I want to. Go do… dad things.” She chuckles. “Fold some laundry or take a long hot shower, or just sit and watch. I don’t mind. He’s such a cutie.” She coos that last part down to my son. He gives her a toothless grin. My boy knows how to turn on the charm.
She reaches for the bottle, bib, and blanket, and I let her take them. I watch in fascination as she heads to the couch and gets settled with Milo on her lap. She’s a natural and looks as though she’s done this countless times.
“You look like you’ve had some practice,” I say, both hands braced on the island as I look toward where she’s sitting in the living.
“A little. I did some babysitting in high school.”
“Thank you.” I nod toward her and my son.
“Go. Find something to do that you don’t usually have time to do or sit down. You’re making me nervous. I promise he’s in good hands.”
“Right. I’m going. I do have about three loads of laundry to fold and put away.”
“Good. Go. We’re just fine.”
I watch them for a little while longer before heading to my room to fold the mountain of laundry I’ve not gotten around to folding. Once that’s done, I change the sheets on my bed and decide to do the same to Milo’s. That’s where Hollis finds me.