up on the parenthood road by accident. Others spend years preparing for it like Gabi and Alex, and some get the whole kit and caboodle at once like Flynn.
It occurred to me that no one ever perfected the craft. There were just too many variables, and the past few days were case in point.
“Don’t give up, Flynn,” I encouraged. “One day we might all get the hang of it.”
26. OH, MICKY
A good night’s sleep had done Alex the world of good. His mood was infinitely brighter when I arrived at the house to pick him up. He was also less jittery and more relaxed – so relaxed that he took the time to walk around his car and survey for damage.
“I didn’t hit anything,” I said dryly.
He leaned down and brushed his hand against the front bumper. “Are you sure?” he teased.
“Positive.” I dangled his bunch of keys at him. “It handles like a tank, though. The Ute was a much prettier drive.”
He snatched the keys from me. “There was nothing pretty about my Ute. It was manly and loud.”
It must’ve nearly killed him to give up his beloved Ute in favour of a more family friendly car. It didn’t stop me teasing him though. “Unlike this girly thing,” I mocked. “Before you know it, you’ll be trading it in for a minivan.”
He threw open the driver’s door. “Get in the girly car, Charlotte,” he ordered. “And put your seatbelt on.”
We were well out of town before I braved the subject of Gabrielle and Jack. Unlike the day before, Alex wasn’t snappy at the mention of their names. If anything, he was optimistic. “Hopefully, she’ll be much better today,” he told me. I glanced across at him and smiled. “Today will definitely be better.”
As far as I was concerned, it already was.
***
There was a lot going on when we stepped out of the elevator on the maternity floor. Yesterday it was quiet and orderly like a hospital should be. Today it resembled a busy hotel lobby. A big pile of luggage was stacked up near the desk at the nurse’s station and Wade Davis stood at the counter. I was hopeful that meant that Jasmine and her new baby were checking out.
I muttered to Alex from the corner of my mouth as we walked toward the nursery. “Be nice.”
Wade’s whole beefy body went rigid at the sight of him. “Alex,” he muttered, greeting him with a stiff nod.
Alex surprised both of us by replying. “How are you Wade?”
I couldn’t blame him for the look of terror on his face. From what little I knew, my father had threatened to knock him out the day before.
“I’m okay,” he replied. “We’re going home today.”
“Nice.” Alex almost managed to sound sincere. “Good luck with everything.”
Wade’s mouth fell open as if he was going to return the sentiment, but thought better of it. Alex wouldn’t have heard him if he had. He’d already disappeared into the nursery.
“I’m very sorry about yesterday. Alex is too,” I embellished.
“No worries, Charli,” he replied, relaxing in an instant. “I understand.”
I wasn’t sure that he did, but I smiled and thanked him anyway. I then excused myself and followed Alex into the nursery before he had a chance to speak again.
My heart dropped a little bit at the sight of Alex standing over the cot, peering down at the baby. I’d been hopeful that he was over admiring him from a distance.
“Pick him up,” I ordered.
Alex glanced up at me. “No. He’s sleeping. He’s fine.”
My eyes darted around the room; looking for any excuse I could find to make him lift his son out of the crib. “He needs a bath.” I walked over to the baby bath in the corner of the room and wheeled it over to the sink. “You get him ready and I’ll fill it.”
“Stop it, Charli,” mumbled Alex. “There’s no problem here. Stop looking for one.”
All of my breath escaped me in a frustrated huff. “Fine,” I replied stubbornly. “I’ll bathe him myself.”
Alex stepped aside and motioned toward the baby with his hand.
It occurred to me that no one ever perfected the craft. There were just too many variables, and the past few days were case in point.
“Don’t give up, Flynn,” I encouraged. “One day we might all get the hang of it.”
26. OH, MICKY
A good night’s sleep had done Alex the world of good. His mood was infinitely brighter when I arrived at the house to pick him up. He was also less jittery and more relaxed – so relaxed that he took the time to walk around his car and survey for damage.
“I didn’t hit anything,” I said dryly.
He leaned down and brushed his hand against the front bumper. “Are you sure?” he teased.
“Positive.” I dangled his bunch of keys at him. “It handles like a tank, though. The Ute was a much prettier drive.”
He snatched the keys from me. “There was nothing pretty about my Ute. It was manly and loud.”
It must’ve nearly killed him to give up his beloved Ute in favour of a more family friendly car. It didn’t stop me teasing him though. “Unlike this girly thing,” I mocked. “Before you know it, you’ll be trading it in for a minivan.”
He threw open the driver’s door. “Get in the girly car, Charlotte,” he ordered. “And put your seatbelt on.”
We were well out of town before I braved the subject of Gabrielle and Jack. Unlike the day before, Alex wasn’t snappy at the mention of their names. If anything, he was optimistic. “Hopefully, she’ll be much better today,” he told me. I glanced across at him and smiled. “Today will definitely be better.”
As far as I was concerned, it already was.
***
There was a lot going on when we stepped out of the elevator on the maternity floor. Yesterday it was quiet and orderly like a hospital should be. Today it resembled a busy hotel lobby. A big pile of luggage was stacked up near the desk at the nurse’s station and Wade Davis stood at the counter. I was hopeful that meant that Jasmine and her new baby were checking out.
I muttered to Alex from the corner of my mouth as we walked toward the nursery. “Be nice.”
Wade’s whole beefy body went rigid at the sight of him. “Alex,” he muttered, greeting him with a stiff nod.
Alex surprised both of us by replying. “How are you Wade?”
I couldn’t blame him for the look of terror on his face. From what little I knew, my father had threatened to knock him out the day before.
“I’m okay,” he replied. “We’re going home today.”
“Nice.” Alex almost managed to sound sincere. “Good luck with everything.”
Wade’s mouth fell open as if he was going to return the sentiment, but thought better of it. Alex wouldn’t have heard him if he had. He’d already disappeared into the nursery.
“I’m very sorry about yesterday. Alex is too,” I embellished.
“No worries, Charli,” he replied, relaxing in an instant. “I understand.”
I wasn’t sure that he did, but I smiled and thanked him anyway. I then excused myself and followed Alex into the nursery before he had a chance to speak again.
My heart dropped a little bit at the sight of Alex standing over the cot, peering down at the baby. I’d been hopeful that he was over admiring him from a distance.
“Pick him up,” I ordered.
Alex glanced up at me. “No. He’s sleeping. He’s fine.”
My eyes darted around the room; looking for any excuse I could find to make him lift his son out of the crib. “He needs a bath.” I walked over to the baby bath in the corner of the room and wheeled it over to the sink. “You get him ready and I’ll fill it.”
“Stop it, Charli,” mumbled Alex. “There’s no problem here. Stop looking for one.”
All of my breath escaped me in a frustrated huff. “Fine,” I replied stubbornly. “I’ll bathe him myself.”
Alex stepped aside and motioned toward the baby with his hand.
Similar Books
