Chapter 26 Dean
DEAN
Dad Company (But Sometimes Good Advice)
Dean Briggs: How do you deal with people you hate asking a ton of questions about your kid?
Comments:
James Marson: In theory, you can tell them nothing. But that never works for me . . .
Dean Briggs: It won’t work here either. I have to tell them SOMETHING.
Robert Colt: Keep it simple, but they don’t need to know the details.
Robert Colt: I’ll let you in on a secret—a lot of parenting is just dealing with people you hate. Sometimes it’s teachers. Sometimes it’s other parents. Learn it now.
Dean Briggs: Got it. I’ll see it as practice. It’ll keep these people off the baby’s mom, and I’ll do anything for that.
Ryan Kim: Isn’t this the girl you said you didn’t wanna get attached to? Got some updates for us, buddy?
“You got a lotta nerve, you know that, right?”
I had barely gotten out of my truck when I heard her voice. I sighed and turned to Tammy.
“No one said I didn’t.”
“You better treat that girl right, you hear me? None of this playboy shit.”
If only she knew I hadn’t been interested in any woman other than Grace since I met her. “Grace and I have already talked about that. And I’m not the kind of person who would leave my child. Or her.”
Tammy watched me with narrowed eyes, and I waited for her to argue more. I doubted she would let it go.
“You got any pictures?”
I paused. “Of what?”
“The kid, dummy. I wanna see little Grace.”
“You’re supposed to yell at me.”
“Don’t tell me what to do. I wanna know stuff now. And close your mouth. You’ll catch flies.”
I did so, remembering that she only wanted information. She probably still didn’t like me.
After getting my phone out, I showed her the picture of Grace’s first sonogram. It was the only one she’d gotten, and I was eager to get more.
“That’s a whole baby!”
“Did you think we were having half of one?”
She shook her head. “I mean, she’s far along. Eighteen weeks is a lot, huh? I guess I owe you a congratulations.”
“Uh, thanks.”
Tammy gave me a smile and then handed my phone back to me. After, she turned and walked away.
“Wait a second. Is that seriously it? Don’t you have more for me?”
“You’ll be getting plenty throughout the day. Don’t you worry. I got to see the baby, and that’s all I wanted.”
“Still . . .”
“You have it in your head that you seem to know who we are.” She paused and turned back. “Now we just need to prove you wrong.”
I only had a moment to take in what she’d said before someone else found me.
“There you are. I finally found ya!”
“Hey, Dale.” I gave him a wave. “I’m assuming you have questions for me?”
“A few. You know, this is a big adjustment for all of us. We see Grace one way and now . . . you know.”
“People change.”
“Yes, they do. You taking good care of her?”
“I’m trying to.”
“And this whole playboy thing you got goin’ on?”
I had to take a breath before answering. This was standard. I knew it was coming. “That’s not an issue.” I said it tightly.
“Just don’t go sleeping around, yeah? We don’t need that kind of drama.”
He was gone and I rolled my eyes when I was alone. This would be a long day. Hopefully, I’d get a break when I started work.
But I didn’t. Kerry ran for me the second I was alone.
“Oh, thank the Lord I found you!” She was bouncing on the balls of her feet as she pulled out her phone. “I have a few things I didn’t get to ask last night . . .”
I scrubbed a hand over my face, but answered everything the best I could. She wanted to know Grace’s due date, how she was feeling, and if I was moving into town. The woman didn’t stop, and I was acutely aware that if she knew something, everyone would know.
Still, I was glad to take it for Grace.
I hadn’t gotten to see her this morning, and I hoped Brooke had actually apologized and she was feeling better.
The thought of doing this for her got me through everything that Kerry asked. And when she was appeased, someone else now blocked my way into the apartment I was working on.
“Annoying, aren’t they?” Hugh muttered.
“Always. Maybe one day I’ll turn into you.”
“You’ve probably got more going for you than I do. Speaking of which . . .” He trailed off.
“You got something to ask?”
His nose scrunched. “Nah. I just wanna know if they scared you off from the bar. I’m owed a poker rematch.”
Despite everything, I laughed. “The only thing that scared me off was you in my hotel room.”
“Eh.” He shrugged. “You have the same parts.”
They did not look like his. “I’m . . . I’m not sure that—”
“Get over seeing my balls and play poker with me again. Can you do that, Cowboy?”
I struggled for words for a moment, but Hugh’s eyes slowly narrowed. I was sure he was planning my death.
“I’ll get over it.”
“Good,” he said before hobbling away.
I was almost an hour late, and I knew it was only the beginning.
And it was still so fucking worth it.