Chapter 14 #2
Milo laughs, cradling the baby and pressing the nip of the bottle to his mouth. A happy suckling sound emits from the baby.
“Phew,” I breathe out. “The crying stopped. Thanks, Aunt Maddy.”
“It’s no problem. I’m guessing after his bottle, he’ll most likely need changing, and then sleep,” Aunt Maddy replies.
“How do I know if he’s done?” Milo asks.
Maddy bites her lip in a devilish way that Milo doesn’t catch. “Try taking the bottle away.”
Milo does and Gandalf lets out an ear-piercing scream.
“Geez,” Milo yelps, putting the bottle back.
Maddy holds her belly, laughing. “When he doesn’t do that, that’s when you know he’s done.”
“That was just mean,” Milo says.
Aunt Maddy pats his arm. “Sorry, kid. You’ll figure this out.”
Defeatedly, Milo lets out a chuckle, looking down at the baby in his arms. “Thanks.”
“Oh, I’m having a flashback,” Aunt Maddy says softly, cupping her mouth as she watches Milo with Gandalf.
“What do you mean?” I ask curiously.
Maddy shakes out of it. “Oh, no, nothing. It felt like déjà vu. Are you okay, Milo?”
He nods. “Yeah, I’ll call out if I need more help.”
Aunt Maddy beckons me to follow, and we head back to the prep area.
“Remember to burp him when he’s done,” I say, moving away from the table.
Milo raises an eyebrow as he watches me walk away. “Are you sure you don’t want to get involved?”
“No, you got this,” I say mischievously.
Milo shakes his head and returns his attention to Gandalf.
A while after I help Maddy finish the last pieces of the catering menu, Gandalf has been successfully fed and burped. Milo tried to put him back in his carrier, but Gandalf kept fussing. Aunt Maddy suggested Milo try his best to hold him close and soothe him to sleep.
It’s then that Kai walks through the front door.
“What happened to the skatepark?” I ask, walking up to him with folded arms.
“I wanted to make sure we’re cool,” Kai says in a low tone. His eyes have dulled and the corners of his mouth drag down.
I sigh, exhausted. “We’re cool. I’m just mad at my situation. I took it out on you, and I’m sorry.”
Kai pulls an arm around me, and I lift my chin onto his shoulder. “Don’t be sorry. I know I’ve got it a lot easier than you. You just always kid around about stuff. I didn’t realize you were struggling.”
I drop my chin, and Kai’s arm unravels. “I have to care about stuff that I never have before. It’s weird.”
“At least you’re staying with me for the next few days. We’ll play video games, go to the skatepark, and just be normal.”
“Just because it’s the weekend, and I won’t be with Aunt Maddy, doesn’t mean I can slack off. When I’m not at work, I have to do my homework assignments.”
Kai groans. “Boo.”
“This is what I’m talking about, Kai,” I complain. “This is make it or break it for me. Without my grades improving, I’m out of Ashworth Academy.”
“I know, I know,” he mutters. “But we can squeeze in a bit of fun time. Can’t we?”
I hold my thumb and index finger slightly apart. “A bit.”
Kai pats my back. “That’s my James.”
I turn back to the table and walk over to Milo and Gandalf. “I can take over,” I say. “Seeing as your ride is here.”
Milo stands up, cradling the baby. He carefully pulls Gandalf away from his body and hands him over like he’s glass. I bow my arms, ready as Milo places the baby down.
“Why are you two acting like it’s a real baby?” Kai asks. “You know it’s fake, don’t you?”
“Ha ha,” Milo says sarcastically. “He has sensors that pick up any mishandling. We have to treat him like he’s real. That’s the assignment.”
“He?” Kai jokes. “Dang. You do really think he’s real.”
I grin at Kai. “He is real. He’s our baby Gandalf.”
At that, Kai claps and throws his head back with laughter. When his head lowers, he wipes under his eye. “Oh gosh, James. What a name.”
Milo slings his backpack over his shoulder and moves toward his brother. “Thanks. I thought it sounded good, too.”
Kai’s smile disappears as he watches his brother move toward the front door.
“Bye, Jamie. Text me if you need help,” Milo says with a wave. “Bye, Maddy.”
Aunt Maddy waves from the counter. “Bye, Milo. See ya, Kai.”
Kai flicks his car keys around his finger and he looks me up and down with the baby. “Yeah, I’ll see ya.” He shakes his head as he turns around. “You holding that baby looks super weird.”
“Thanks,” I reply. “It feels weird. See you tomorrow.”
Kai waves with his back turned. “Can’t wait.”
Aunt Maddy walks over from the counter as the boys leave. “So, do you think you can work while looking after a baby?”
“Ah, no,” I say bluntly. “How the heck will I do my homework?”
“He’ll sleep,” Maddy says matter-of-factly.
I roll my eyes. “Why hasn’t he done that yet?”
Before Maddy can respond, a bad smell wafts up, causing our noses to crinkle.
“Eww. What the heck is that?” I ask.
Aunt Maddy giggles, cupping her nose. “That would be your baby.”
“Gross.”
Aunt Maddy grabs the baby bag and beckons me to follow. “Come on. We’ll take him into my office and change him.”
“Will you do it?” I ask, following.
“Pfft. I think those who think Gandalf is an appropriate baby name will do the changing.”
“Milo named him. Dang it. He would leave right before this happened.”
“You can get him back tomorrow,” Aunt Maddy says as we round the counter and move across to her office. “When you’re at his place, you do the feeding, and he can do the changing.”
“He can do the whole lot,” I say, placing Gandalf down on the table.
Thank goodness he doesn’t actually do anything in his diaper. I have no idea how Maddy remembers how to change diapers after so many years. She must’ve done so many for me while Mom was working three jobs to take care of us.
Once Gandalf is changed and settling into sleep, I text Milo. “You wouldn’t believe what Gandalf did when you left! He let out this disgusting smell, and I had to change his diaper.”
Milo texts back. “LOL. That’ll teach you for not getting involved sooner.”
“Nope. It should’ve been your diaper because you fed him.”
“Did you want to deal with the screaming?”
“Still. It was bad timing for you to leave.”
“LOL. I promise to do some diapers tomorrow.”
“Oh, don’t worry, you will be.”
“Make sure you text me if you need anything. I can always ask Mom to drive me over.”
There’s a tremor in my hands as I text back. “I have Aunt Maddy. Thanks though.”
“No problem.”
The tremor spreads up my arms and into the arteries, leading to my heart. If I were paired up with Kai, he’d make any excuse to ditch the baby. How is Milo so thoughtful?