4. Maizie #2
Steven: I’m working my way up to it.
“Okay, Mommy. All done.” Colby holds up his painting, and I put my phone down to give him my full attention.
I’m pretty sure he used all of the blue paint he had for the sky, and he added another figure.
“Who’s that, buddy?”
“It’s Cash. Sometimes he comes to the park with me and Cece.”
Interesting. I wonder how Lucy feels about the MC treasurer hanging out with her sister.
“Let’s put this on the front porch so it dries faster, yeah?
” I grab the painting by the corner and walk out to the porch, laying it on the small table that sits between two rocking chairs.
I’ve always loved this porch. It’s where my grandmother and I would sit in the evenings when the weather was nice and enjoy the golden hour together.
When I was little, I remember her out here knitting while she rocked and listened to me babble on about whatever was on my mind.
Sitting in one of the chairs, I close my eyes and take in a deep breath, remembering how simple I thought life was.
I think about the day she and I sat in these chairs when I was seven months pregnant and we were talking about whether or not to decorate Colby’s room with bears or trains.
It was so simple then, yet it wasn’t. I was having a baby by myself, which in and of itself was completely daunting.
But I had my grandmother at my side, and she made sure I knew just how much I was loved and how excited she was to have a great-grandson.
Then she left us, and I was alone and heartbroken, and the club stepped up.
Ozzy made sure I was paid while on leave, and Tanya—Linc and Knox’s mom—would come over and help out with Colby while Elaine Dawson and I planned my grandma’s funeral.
Tanya helped me find babysitters when I went back to work, and the brothers made sure to keep my tip jar full.
During a time when I thought for sure I was going to drown, they held me up.
“What are you doing out here?” Colby asks as he comes and sits in the other chair. He starts rocking, but his feet don’t touch the ground, so he’s swaying his body back and forth to make the chair move.
“Just thinking about Grandma,” I reply and watch this little person I created in the same chair I used to sit in when I was his age.
“What song did she used to sing to me?” he asks.
Colby doesn’t remember her, but I do my best to tell him about her, and he loves it when I sing the songs that she used to.
“Come here,” I say, patting my lap. He hops off the chair, and I set him on my legs, wrapping his little body in my arms. I start singing the same song my grandmother used to rock him to sleep with, and he rests his head on my shoulder.
I’m not going to have many more years like this with my son, so I revel in these moments with him while I still can.
“How much longer till Cece gets here?” he asks.
“She should be here any minute, actually,” I reply. “Let me go check the time.” I pat his leg and he stands from my lap. “Can you go wash the paint off your hands and face, please?”
I walk to the kitchen, where I left my phone, as Colby trudges to the bathroom. I swear, what do kids have against soap and water?
The time on my phone reads 3:40 p.m., which is about ten minutes after Cece was supposed to be here. I dial her number, and it goes to voicemail. Maybe she’s on her way.
I begin cleaning up the paints that Colby had out.
Usually this would be his job, but if Cece’s late, then I’m going to have to run out of the house as soon as she gets here, and I don’t want to leave her with a mess.
I take care of the few dishes that are in the sink and still haven’t heard anything from her.
I try to call her again, and again, there’s no answer, so I call Lucy.
“Hey,” I say when she answers her phone. “Are you at home?”
“No, Linc and Jude surprised me and Charlie with a trip to the beach. You okay?”
“Yeah, but I tried to call Cece, and she isn’t answering her phone. She was supposed to be here ten minutes ago.”
“Hmm. I’ll give her a call,” Lucy says with a slightly worried tone to her voice.
I’m a bit concerned with her not being here as well. Cece has been going through a hard time lately, but she’s always been on top of it when it comes to watching Colby for me. Lucy has said the only time she’s really her old self is when she spends time with my kid.
“Okay. I think I’m going to call Mia, though. I’m supposed to be at the bar in a few minutes, so I kind of need someone here right away.”
“That’s probably a safe bet. I know Cece was up late again last night, so she might be sleeping.” Lucy doesn’t sound so much worried as she sounds irritated that her sister would be blowing me off.
“Okay, have fun.” I hang up the phone and dial Mia’s number.
“Hi, friend,” she answers.
“Hey. So remember when you said you were a little offended that Colby never asked for you and Knox to watch him?” I ask in a cheery voice. “Good news. He’d love his favorite auntie to spend the evening with him while I’m at work.”
Mia laughs. “I wish I could, but Knox is taking me to the beach. I guess Charlie and Lucy went down earlier today with Linc and Jude, and when I mentioned that I was jealous, Knox called and made a reservation so we could meet them there.”
“Shit,” I breathe out.
“What’s going on?” she asks.
“Honestly, Cece flaked on me, and I don’t have anyone to watch Colby for the night.”
“So he didn’t want to spend time with his favorite aunt?” she asks, humor lacing her tone.
“I’m sure he’d love to, but no, it was my idea. Thought if I buttered you up, you wouldn’t be able to resist saying yes.”
“First of all, you never have to butter me up to hang out with my favorite five-year-old. Second, I’ll be there.”
“No way,” I tell her, leaving no room for an argument. “You guys have plans, and there’s no way I’m going to be the one responsible for you being stuck here watching Colby instead of enjoying the ocean.”
“Knock it off. We’ll go down tomorrow. Besides, I made a new batch of chocolate chip cookies yesterday that will go to waste if I don’t bring them over.”
“That’s a flimsy reason for postponing your trip and doesn’t make me feel better about anything in the least,” I say, blowing out a long breath.
“Too bad. I’ll be there in ten minutes,” she says and hangs up the phone.
Laughing to myself, I make my way down the hallway filled with family pictures of me, my grandmother, and Colby, and find my son in his room changing out of his paint-splattered T-shirt.
“Hey, buddy. Mia is going to come hang out with you while I work tonight instead of Cece.”
Colby sticks out his bottom lip. “But what about the picture I painted for her?”
“You can give it to her when we see her next. Mia said she made some cookies that have your name on them, so she wanted to come over tonight.”
Obviously, I’m not going to tell him that his favorite babysitter is MIA.
He tilts his head back and forth, considering the change of plans. “What kind of cookies?”
A huff of laughter escapes me as I lean against the doorway of his room. “Chocolate chip.”
A wide grin stretches across his face. “My favorite!”
I shake my head and feel my phone vibrate in my pocket. When I pull it out, Wyatt’s name flashes on the screen.
“Hey,” I say, answering the call.
“Hey, Maiz. I heard you were short a babysitter tonight. Thought me and Pepper could come hang out with Colby.”
“Mia already said she was coming, and she promised cookies so…”
“Yeah, but Pepper misses his best friend, and I happen to be at Knox’s place where said cookies were baked, so I can bring them with me. This way, Knox and Mia don’t have to cancel their plans, Colby still gets his cookies, and Pepper gets to play with his favorite human.”
It would make more sense to have Wyatt come. I hate the idea of Mia having to cancel her plans. Lord knows we all need a little getaway every now and again.
“I’m sure Colby would love it.” It’s not as though beggars can be choosers at this point.
Hearing his name, Colby turns to me with curiosity in his gaze.
“How about if Wyatt and Pepper come over instead?” I ask my son.
“Yes!” he exclaims, throwing his little fist in the air.
Wyatt’s deep laugh comes through the phone. “I take it he’s okay with the plan?”
I watch Colby hop up and down before he runs out of the room. “I’m going to paint Wyatt a picture of me and Pepper!” he yells.
“No more paints. You can use crayons,” I call to him before answering Wyatt. “You could say that.”
“Okay. See you in a few minutes.”
Wyatt hangs up, and before I slide my phone back into my pocket, it dings with a text notification from Mia.
Mia: If you’re not okay with Wyatt watching Colby, I’ll still come over.
Me: It’s completely fine. Have fun on your trip.
It’s not that I don’t implicitly trust Wyatt with my son.
I do. Wyatt has been incredible with Colby, and he’s always here to lend a helping hand.
I haven’t seen much of him since the other week with the raccoons, which is a little strange.
Usually he’s at the bar a couple nights a week, but I know he’s been busy with club business.
Not that I know exactly what that entails, nor would I ever ask.
But it hits me that I’ve missed seeing him around.
And those are not feelings I should be having.
Especially when missing him proves my feelings are turning into more than friendship, and I’m not ready to look too closely at that. I can’t look closer.