Chapter Six
Tania pulled the sweats Smokey had left for her on, then ducked into the restroom for a moment, marveling for a second at being able to pee alone.
Carter was only eight months old but she’d been so afraid to leave him alone when he was a newborn that she’d even taken his bouncy seat into the bathroom while she’d showered.
She’d learned quickly not to ask Rod for help.
He’d seemed happy and excited when she’d told him she was pregnant, and he’d shown them off, both before and after Carter had been born, to his friends and coworkers, but he’d never helped.
He’d never fed her son, never changed him, and rarely held him or even acknowledged him if there wasn’t someone to see it.
She glanced around, looking for something she could wear in the way of shoes.
Pulling her boots on was more work than she wanted to do, especially with sweats and with Smokey waiting on her.
She spotted a pair of flip flops near the door and stepped into them.
They were bigger than she normally wore but she’d grown up wearing Daddy’s when he wasn’t looking, so it wouldn’t be a big deal.
As long as Smokey didn’t throw a fit. She didn’t think so.
If he was willing to give her his shirt and sweats, why would he care if she wore his flip-flops?
Not seeing any reason to delay, she opened the door and stepped out, keeping her eyes on the floor. She didn’t want to trip in the oversized shoes, so she would watch where she was going until she got used to them.
“There’s Mommy. I told you she’d be out soon.
Now, let’s go downstairs and make sure Mommy eats something.
” Smokey talked to Carter, but reached down and took her hand.
He didn’t pull her along behind him but walked with her, at least until they reached the stairs.
They weren’t wide enough for them to remain side by side.
“Go ahead. We’ll be right behind you.” He released her hand and motioned for her to step in front of him. ”
Tania watched her feet as she started down the stairs but by the time she got half way down, she felt she had a good feel for the oversized shoes and scanned the room.
There were fifteen or twenty men. She also spotted two women.
One was Taylynn, but the other she didn’t recognize.
She continued to the bottom of the stairs then stepped to the side to wait for Smokey and the baby.
When he reached the bottom, he hooked an arm around her waist and led her to a table near one wall.
He pulled out a chair for Tania then waved at Rene and took the seat next to her.
It took him a moment to situate Carter, but soon he sat at the table with his woman beside him and their son in his arms. He couldn’t think of anywhere he’d rather be.
Well, in her bed would be nice but this wasn’t the time or place for that. He would get there, he had no doubt. The chubby little cherub in his arms was evidence of that.
“What can I get for you?” Rene asked, appearing next to the table.
“Hey Rene,” Smokey said, then turned to Tania and made introductions, “Treat her like Taylynn or Andy, and we’ll be good. Got it?”
Rene nodded.
“Good, now we need something to eat, what do we have back there?”
“I’m not sure. Delilah’s been in there all morning, Andy’s helped some too, but I don’t know what they’re making or what might be ready. Let me go take a look and I’ll let you know. Want me to bring you back something to drink?”
“Yes, please. I want a water, what about you?” He turned to Tania.
“Water please, and can we get an extra?”
“Sure. Give me a couple and I’ll be right back."
“What’s the extra water for?”
“Carter. I didn’t realize what time it is. He’ll be getting fussy soon, it’s time for him to eat in the next hour or so.”
“Is he eating any real food or just formula?”
“He’ll eat some, but he's mostly smashing it into his hair and clothes.”
Smokey gave an exaggerated nod. Maybe he’d stay away from that, or at least for now. “I assume he’s still taking a bottle? Or is he using cups?”
“Bottles, I have a couple in the diaper bag upstairs, but the rest are going on the list of things to get from the house.”
“Speaking of. Here. Use this.” He unlocked the screen on his phone and handed it to her. “Open an email and type out your list there.”
She stared at him with wide eyes for a moment then took the device and started typing. A couple minutes later, Rene returned with their drinks and a list of what the old ladies had been working on in the kitchen.
“They’re still working on a few things to go in the freezer for later, but they said they’ve got lasagna, enchiladas, and something they called cheesy beef and rice supreme. I’m not sure what that is other than the name,” Rene said with a shrug.
They each gave him their requests, and Tania went back to typing as Rene walked away.