Chapter 3 #2
“Is ordering out a treat?” He did not cook for himself, so ordering out was the name of the game.
He and Doordash were on very friendly terms. “Who usually cooked? I mean we won’t have to worry after Monday.
Will has arranged for two meals a day to be delivered, I think in weekly batches.
Anyway, my point is aside from breakfasts we aren’t going to have to worry about it. ”
“We all took turns—we enjoyed it. The three of us took cooking classes together.”
“Seriously? Even Tony?” He actually laughed at that, the thought of his brother in an apron, learning how to cook. It wasn’t something they’d ever been interested in growing up.
“Oh, god yes. He loved making stir fries and noodles.”
“Huh. So the kids eat stir fries and noodles? That’s pretty sophisticated for little ones, isn’t it?” He seemed to remember loving french fries and hot dogs and peanut butter sandwiches when he was little.
“They are all decent eaters, and Belle loves to experiment sometimes. Eric’s a tad pickier.”
“Good for them. Do they all like peanut butter sandwiches?” Like the burger, that felt like a comfort food for him.
“The two eldest do. Merida will just make a mess. The baby isn’t old enough.”
“I can make peanut butter and jam sandwiches.” Although that was about his limit in the kitchen, so maybe it wasn’t much of a boast.
“I love a nice PB&J for a snack in the afternoon.”
“On plain white bread. And with a glass of milk.” Like when he was a kid.
He’d had that for lunch for several years running.
The same thing over and over. Of course, he still had favorites that he could always eat, and when he was on his own, he’d get Korean BBQ ribs with rice or General Tso’s chicken night after night for supper.
He liked his food a little bit spicy, along with his men. Of course, he hadn’t been laid in far too long.
He finished the last of his whiskey, the booze taking the sharp edge off.
The doorbell rang, and he sighed softly. “Time for supper. I’ll get the food, and you get the kids,” he suggested. He got up and headed for the front door.
The food smelled good, and when he got back to the table, everyone but the baby was sitting there, waiting.
He hadn’t seen them altogether like this until now. It was amazing how much alike they all looked. “I’ve got supper right here. Deep fried tarantulas and boiled seaweed for everyone,” he teased.
The two oldest glanced to Pete, who winked dramatically. They grinned and laughed.
“No, a little birdie named Pete told me you guys might be pretty happy if I ordered chicken fingers and fries. So guess what? I did.” He opened the take-out bags and began handing out the boxes.
“Hooray!”
“Ray!” Merida cheered.
The kids did dig in, munching away, and he thought it was unfair that they were already starting to heal. No, not unfair, he didn’t want them hurting a single second longer than they had to. He just wished it was easy for him.
He gave Pete his burger platter, and grabbed his own, sitting at the empty seat at one end of the table. He’d bet this was where Tony would sit.
Pete stayed where he was, and he noticed Belle staring for a minute, watching him with worried eyes.
“How are your chicken fingers?” he asked her quietly. “They yummy?”
She nodded. “Are we going to have to move away?”
He shook his head. “No, honey. I think we’re going to stay right here. Would you like that?”
She nodded. “In case Momma and Daddy’s ghosts need to find us. We need to be here.”
“Okay. Then it’s settled, we’ll stay.” It didn’t matter why she wanted to, only that she did as that was what they were doing.
“Okay. I want to stay in my school.” She went back to eating.
“Yep, you can stay in your school.” He looked over to Pete. “I know she and Eric have been home this week. Is the plan to send them back on Monday?”
“I think that’s the best, don’t you? They don’t have long left.”
“I think getting things back to normal for them would be good.” But what did he know—he was basically agreeing with the expert.
“I don’t want to tell anyone about Mommy and Daddy,” Belle said, and Eric frowned.
“Me too!”
He looked over at Pete. Surely the teachers already knew.
“You don’t have to tell anyone. I spoke to the school, and they understand.”
“What did they say?” Belle asked.
“That they were so sorry, and that they understood, and if you two wanted to talk, you could talk to them.”
She thought about it for a minute and then nodded. “Okay.”
All right, that had been easy, almost reasonable.
He grabbed his burger, checking the condiment situation. It looked pretty even actually. He took a big bite, grease running down his chin. Oh yeah, this was exactly what he’d been needing.
“Smells good,” Pete murmured, then took a bite of his own. “Uhn.”
Oh yeah. Someone was loving that.
He just nodded and kept eating. This was the best he’d felt since that phone call. He stopped eating his burger long enough to taste his fries. Damn, they were amazing, too. It was kind of wild, how certain foods could just help a situation out.
“Can I try a bite, Petey?” Eric asked, and Pete blinked over at him, eyes wide.
He let one of his eyebrows go up. Was there a problem with Eric having a bite of hamburger?
“Sure, kiddo. You want a bite of mine?” Pete mimicked opening up wide.
“’kay!” Eric took a bite, and his eyes went wide.
“You like it?” Bay asked. He didn’t know the kid well enough to know if that was a good look of surprise or a bad one.
“Uh-huh. ’nother bite, please?”
“Sure.” Pete cut off a section of the burger and offered it over.
“Is it better than chicken fingers?” Bay asked. He needed to find out if they had a grill. He’d be surprised if there wasn’t. They’d cooked out in the backyard a lot when he and Tony were kids.
“Uh-huh.”
Belle seemed worried. “Are we supposed to eat that?”
“It’s okay, honey. You don’t have to.”
“You’ve got your chicken fingers and fries. A little bird told me that was your favorite. Right?” Bay didn’t care what the kids ate, as long as they did.
“Yeah. I like the crunchy.”
“Good deal. You need to eat, Merida. Have a fry.”
She grabbed the offered french fry in her chubby little hand and banged both hands on her high chair table. “Fie!”
“That’s right, baby girl! Your fry!” Pete cheered for her, and so did Eric and Belle.
Bay just watched, a little stunned at the show.
It was good she was eating, right? And talking?
So he guessed it was worth cheering for?
It was just so far removed from anything he knew.
He mentally cursed Tony for dying and leaving him in the middle of this family of kids and manny who all knew what the hell they were doing while he sat here, floundering.
The baby began to cry, and Pete stood.
“I’m going to get Flynn. Everyone keep eating. I’ll be right back after I change him.”
Oh fuck him. He watched Pete leave him there with the three other kids, trying not to let his panic show. He did not know how to do this, and that was not a comfortable feeling for him, nor a familiar one. He gave Belle his best smile and then shoved his burger back in his mouth.
Eric did the same thing, and Belle just nibbled. The little girl just mangled her fry and babbled. He sure hoped he wasn’t expected to know what she was saying because it sounded like gibberish to him.
He had a few bites of his burger and nothing exploded, the kids seemed happy to keep eating, so he did the same and hoped it stayed that way until Pete got back.
The baby was fussy but sat in his highchair and ate a fry while Pete grabbed some apple sauce and a little spoon, along with a sippy cup.
It was fascinating the way that Pete navigated all four children like it was easy. He guessed Pete was used to it, but he didn’t treat it as his job.
He acted like a parent.
Again, thank goodness, because he sure didn’t have any clue on how to be one.
“Thank you for the hamburger. It’s very tasty, and Eric there is a convert.”
“You’re welcome. Will’s got meals coming for us tomorrow. Hopefully, everyone will approve of his choices.” He just hoped it was all easy to reheat.
“Can I go take a bath? I miss Mommy.” Belle was crying again, and Pete nodded.
“Of course. I’ll save your nuggets in case you’re hungry after your bath.”
Once she’d left the room, he turned to Pete and asked quietly, “She’s okay to take a bath on her own?”
“She is. She’ll holler if she needs help, but she’s fine.”
“Okay. Cool. I hope she decides to eat after her bath, though.” He’d seen her eating precious little between yesterday and today. She needed to eat.
“I hope so. Maybe I’ll make her a milkshake…”
“A treat? For not eating her supper?” Was that a thing now? He certainly didn’t remember anything like that when he was a kid, that was for sure.
“No. I just… Of course not.” Pete fed the baby, and it was a messy, loud situation.
Why on earth did Tony make four children and then die? Inconsiderate asshole.
It was easier thinking that than focusing on the fact that he was gone. Gone for good. Bay blinked and shoved a couple fries in his mouth.
Eric frowned at him. “Who you?”
“I’m your Uncle Bay. Your father is—” He cut himself off and swallowed hard. “—was my brother.”
Eric looked to Pete, face confused.
“Uncle Bay, honey. That’s Uncle Bay.”
“Uncaby?” Merida tilted her head.
Pete nodded to her. “That’s right.”
He guessed that was close enough, and he gave her a smile. This was insane. This whole situation was insane and shouldn’t be happening. These kids needed their folks.
“All right. Eat eat eat! Let’s do this.” Pete clapped his hands, and the little ones cheered.
How did one person manage to remain so even keeled and cheerful in the face of this? Pete was a better man than him when it came to the kids, and Bay was thankful that Tony and Cindy had had the forethought to make sure the will included provisions for Pete to stay on.
He could only hope that things would get easier as he and the kids got to know each other.
Maybe he should just hire a bonus nanny. Was that a thing? Bonus nannies? He thought it would make things easier. Pete might have said he didn’t mind not taking his time off right now, but everyone needed a break.
And he thought that Pete might need a break more than anyone on earth.
He would consult with Will. His assistant would know what to do and who to call.