Chapter Six
Iowa must be beautiful this time of year. All that snow.
Beau
Mom wasn t kidding about those big snowflakes in the forecast. While Mr. Crosby croons about glistening treetops on the radio, I pull into a Casey s to fill up on gas before my car hits the big E.
Would ve filled up before leaving Des Moines, but when little Hades instantly fell asleep in her crate, I wasn t stopping for anything.
Plus with the way the snow kept falling, I didn t want to delay more than necessary.
Which is why I wrapped Miss Pinky Collar in a makeshift diaper of paper towels and duct tape.
Hey, a man s gotta do what a man s gotta do. And sometimes a man s just gotta put his adorable little she-devil in a diaper.
Oh, are you awake now, sleepyhead? Hang in there, baby. We re almost there. Another twenty minutes or so. Just gotta get some gas.
When I settle back into my seat after filling the tank, I see a text message from Mom.
She s here! She s here! Meant to text you earlier, but we ve been busy at the church.
Who s here?
Pinky Collar yaps in response.
Calm down, I mutter to her, still trying to figure out—Oh, wait. Mom must be talking about my cousin Janey s baby. She s due with her third. But I didn t think the baby was supposed to arrive until sometime early February.
Is she okay? Seems early.
My mom responds immediately. Worn out, but fine. Just needs a little rest. Hamish is an absolute cutie!
Hamish? I mutter. Janey named her baby Hamish? For some reason I had it in my mind that she was having another girl.
How much does Hamish weigh?
Not sure. Why?
I shrug at Pinky Collar inside her carrier. Isn t that the type of question you re supposed to ask whenever someone has a baby? Guess not when it s baby number three, I mumble, texting my mom back. Just curious. Got any pictures?
She just arrived when I had to run back to the church. But I m planning on taking lots of pictures later. Can t wait to see you two together!
Me and Hamish? Sure. I guess. I mean, Janey s always been more like a sister to me, so of course I m going to love on little Hamish.
Not really sure why Mom wants lots of photos of us though.
Whatever. When it comes to my mom, sometimes it s better to just go with it.
Should be there in about twenty minutes. Maybe thirty with the snow.
Great! Dad and I should be getting home from the church about that time. Hope you re hungry. Got a big pot of vegetable soup waiting on the stove. Drive safe! Can t wait to see you!
Can t wait to get there, I say, starting my car up again.
Pinky Collar obviously feels the same way. Her high-pitched barks pierce my ears. Keep your diaper on, we re just about there.
As I start up the car and Dean Martin s voice sings about a marshmallow world, I realize in all the excitement over my cousin s baby, my mom must ve forgotten about the special girl I was bringing.
Just as well. Carson was right. Never should have gotten Mom s hopes up like that, especially at Christmas. Good thing baby Hamish arrived at just the right time.