Chapter Three
CHAPTER THREE
FRENCHIE
I settle Avalynn on the couch, ensuring she's safe and secure before scrambling to find my phone. My hands shake slightly as I dial Liam first—he’s always been the go-to guy in any crisis.
"Hey, Liam," I start, trying to keep my voice steady. "I need your help, man. It's urgent."
"What’s up? Everything okay?" Liam's voice is instantly alert.
"Not exactly. Angel...she left her baby at my doorstep. Turns out I'm a dad," I blurt out, still trying to process it myself.
There’s a pause on the other end, and Liam blows a long whistle. "Wow, Frenchie, that's...heavy. Okay, what do you need?"
"I don’t even know where to start," I admit, feeling overwhelmed. "Diapers? Food? A crash course in parenting?"
Liam chuckles softly. "All right, first things first. I will head over to the store and grab some baby supplies. Do you know how old she is?”
“She is three months old,” I reply, glancing at Avalynn, now quietly observing the ceiling. “Man, everything's so tiny. How can someone so small feel so...huge?”
“Hold tight, Frenchie. I’ll be there in twenty minutes. You’re not alone in this,” Liam reassures me before hanging up.
I look over at my daughter, who is moving her arms all around, and I look at her. The bright blue eyes that mirror my own, I remove the little beanie she has on, and my breath hitches at the sight of her red hair. The same red hair I have because Angel had dark hair and dark eyes. “Wow, kid, the Norman genetics are strong.” She smiles at me, and then she farts very loudly, but the smell that comes after is enough to make me gag.
I scramble to open a window, gasping for fresh air. "Oh boy, Avalynn, that's potent," I chuckle despite the stench. My phone buzzes again, and this time it’s Roll Tide.
"Frenchie! Heard the news from Liam. Need me to bring anything?" His voice booms with enthusiasm over the line.
"Maybe a gas mask," I joke, then sigh. "No, man, just come over. I could use the company."
"You got it, brother. See you in a few."
As I end the call, T-Bucket texts me.
T-Bucket:
I heard about your surprise package. I’m bringing food for you and formula for the little racer. Hang tight.
I pocket my phone and look down at Avalynn, who seems blissfully unaware of the chaos she’s stirred up. "Looks like it’s you and me against the world now," I whisper to her.
I grab the diaper bag her mother left and pluck her out of her car seat. “I worked on cars and used to handle them on the track with your Uncle Liam with seconds to spare. I can do this; I can change a diaper.”
As I lay Avalynn down on the changing pad, her little legs kick out, seemingly excited by the new activity. "Okay, kiddo, let's hope your old man's not too bad at this," I mutter. I try to remember back to the time when Peyton was a baby. I changed his diapers, and he was a shooter with that weapon of his.
The diaper change is a bit of a comedy show—wipes flying, the new diaper on backward at first, but eventually, I manage to get it right. Avalynn coos and seems amused by my lack of skills. "Looks like you're gonna be patient with me, huh?" I smile at her, feeling a strange mix of pride and terror.
The doorbell rings, and I scoop up Avalynn and head for the door. Liam stands there, his arms laden with bags of supplies that look like they could stock a small nursery.
"Dude, did you rob a baby store?" I joke, stepping aside to let him in.
"Pretty much feels like it," Liam laughs, dumping the bags onto the sofa. "Got everything from diapers to wipes, some formula, Pack n Play until we can get you a crib and oh—this thing." He pulls out a baby monitor. "So you can keep an eye on Avalynn even when you're not in the same room."
"Man, I can't thank you enough," I say, feeling a weight lift off my shoulders.
"Just doing what friends do." Liam smacks my back. "You're not doing this alone; remember that."
Just then, Crash and Roll Tide burst through the door, their faces splitting into wide grins when they see Avalynn.
"Look at this little speedster!" Crash exclaims, reaching out to gently tickle her feet. Avalynn responds with a gurgle and a wave of her tiny fists.
Roll Tide comes bearing a giant stuffed raccoon almost as big as he is. "Thought she might like this," he says, slightly bashful.
I shake my head, laughing at the oversized toy. "Thanks, guys. Seriously, this means a lot to me."
T-Bucket arrives last, swinging through the door with a grin and two large bags from the local diner. "Hope you're hungry, Frenchie," he says as he sets down the food on the kitchen counter. "Brought enough to feed an army."
"Perfect timing," I reply, balancing Avalynn on one arm while reaching to take the bag with the other. "I'm starving."
As we gather at the kitchen table, the guys start passing around burgers and fries, creating a casual, familial atmosphere. It's noisy, it's messy, but it's exactly what I need right now—a sense of normalcy amongst the chaos.
"So, have you thought about what you will do next?" Roll Tide asks between mouthfuls.
I pause, looking down at Avalynn, now sleeping peacefully in my arms. "Angel left these papers for me.” I slide them to Liam to take a look at. “Honestly, I've been trying to wrap my head around today. But I guess the next step is figuring out how to be a good dad to this little one,” I reply with determination and uncertainty.
Crash slaps his hand on the table, grinning widely. "Well, you've got us, man. We might not know much about girl babies, but we'll always be here to help you figure it out. Peyton is relatively normal." We all chuckle.
T-Bucket nods in agreement. "And hey, if you need a break or someone to babysit, just holler. Avalynn can hang out in the garage. Who knows, she might take after her old man and be the next big thing in racing."
I chuckle at the thought of my tiny daughter zooming around a racetrack. "That would be something," I say.
The conversation shifts as we eat, the guys sharing stories of their latest races and mechanical mishaps, but my mind keeps wandering back to Avalynn. It's strange how my life has completely changed in just a few hours. From revving engines and late-night poker games to baby bottles and diaper changes, everything's different now. But looking around at my friends, I know I'm not navigating this new track alone.
As the night winds down, each of my friends takes their leave with offers to return whenever I need them. Liam lingers a bit longer, helping me clear the table and setting up the baby monitor.
"You know, Frenchie, you're going to be great at this," Liam says, adjusting the monitor angle slightly. "You've always been the one to jump in and solve any problem that comes your way."
"I hope so, man. This is one problem I can't afford to mess up," I reply, glancing towards Avalynn, who's now quietly sleeping in her bassinet, which one of the guys brought over.
Liam claps my shoulder reassuringly. "You won't. And hey, if you ever need to vent or talk about non-baby stuff, I'm here for you, all right?”
“Thanks, Liam. Means a lot,” I say, feeling the exhaustion finally starting to creep in.
As Liam heads out, I turn off the lights and go to the couch, not wanting to be too far from Avalynn. The house is quiet now, the kind of silence that isn’t just about lack of noise but a peacefulness that comes with knowing you’re surrounded by people who care.
I sit there, watching the soft rise and fall of Avalynn’s chest on the baby monitor, my mind racing through every possible scenario of fatherhood. The responsibilities feel overwhelming, but every time I glance at her peaceful face, a wave of determination washes over me. I know I can do this because I must.
Just as I’m about to drift off to sleep, my phone lights up with a text from T-Bucket:
T-Bucket:
Tomorrow. Noon. Garage. Be there. We’re baby-proofing the place.
I can’t help but laugh, "Looks like the fatherhood boot camp starts tomorrow," I whisper to myself, setting the phone back down.
Closing my eyes, I let the day's events settle into my bones. From the shock of Angel dropping off Avalynn without a word to the rallying support of my friends—every moment is now woven into the new fabric of my life. And as sleep finally claims me, there's an unshakeable belief in the back of. my mind: whatever comes next, we’ll face it together, as a family.