Chapter 31 He Could Do This
HE COULD DO THIS
Chance didn’t think he was going to be fine hours later when Maverick’s tears and wails wouldn’t stop.
He’d never been around kids before and not one that wasn’t just screaming in frustration, but actually sobbing in pain.
“What’s wrong with him?” he asked.
“He might have a bellyache,” she said. Jocelyn was holding his son on her lap on the couch, Maverick’s head on her shoulder as she rubbed his back. “Maybe he ate too much. Nettie said he hadn’t eaten lunch so we tried a bunch of foods to see what he liked.”
“He looked hungry,” he said. Jesus, the kid was eyeing everything they put down and reaching for it as if he hadn’t eaten in weeks. “I’m not going to let him starve. I should have asked how much he was used to eating though.”
“I’m not sure she would have told you.” Maverick let out a roaring fart to rival any frat boy who’d gone through a monstrous can of beans on a dare, then followed it up with a second that not only sounded wet, but made a splat sound.
Chance actually shivered and then involuntarily gagged.
“You should see your face. Your first nasty diaper.”
“I can watch you do it,” he said, shrinking back from the two of them.
“Nope. Got to learn by doing, not watching,” she said, letting Maverick stay in that position.
It seemed to work with him squatting on her lap.
“Maybe that is the problem. Let’s see what he does and whether he’s finished.
Then we can try to put him down for a nap.
Nettie said he goes down with a pacifier.
We can give him that and put him in the other room. ”
“I don’t want him using that at his age. He’s too old for a pacifier.”
“Chance, too many changes at once aren’t good. Get over yourself. Whatever calms him is what you’re going to do. Do you hear me?”
Her voice was firm and full of the clarity he needed. “Yeah. I know. I want to bathe him too.”
“Before bed we can. He’s not that dirty.”
They knew because the minute they got to his apartment, Jocelyn changed his son into a new outfit she’d bought him, then found out his shoe size and ordered him a pair.
Chance would have done it if she hadn’t because the clothing Maverick was wearing was all but falling apart. They obviously weren’t given to his son new and the sneakers they found in a bag were in worse condition.
He might not have had much when he was a kid, but he was positive he was in a much better situation than his son had been in.
“After this diaper he’s going to be,” he said. That sounded like seepage and he was glad the child was on his girlfriend’s lap.
At least Maverick’s sobs had quieted down, his son looking as if he was almost asleep after that strenuous effort.
“I think he’s done,” she said. “Or I hope so because it’s getting hard to breathe in here.”
He stood up and went to the diapers sitting on the counter. “How long before we can get him out of these things and on a toilet? You bought a little seat for him.”
“Chance,” she said. “That’s far down on the list right now.”
He sighed. “I know. I’m out of my element here and am not used to feeling this way.”
It’d be different if he hadn’t just had a two-year-old dropped in his lap and had been there from the first day.
Jocelyn stood and he reached for his son. They could change the diaper together because he was sure this was going to be a two-person job.
She got the changing pad he’d left on the counter next to the diapers, then spread it on the couch. Thank God because the thought of what was in his son’s pants ending up on his couch was enough for him to burn it after.
“This isn’t like a doll,” she said.
He watched as she pulled his son’s jeans all the way off. “Why did you do that?”
“If it were just pee, then you could leave them on, but this is going to be such a mess, I want everything out of the way.”
“He’s sitting still for it,” he said. Or he hoped Maverick didn’t start moving.
“He’s exhausted. He wore himself out crying first. I feel horrible because it was probably a bellyache.”
“I’m not trying to be a dick, but maybe it’s a good thing and he’ll crash into a nap.”
“Good point. Are you ready for this?” She turned to look at him, her hands on the tape holding the diaper in place. “Consider this a learning date of sorts. I’m teaching you about babies.”
He forced out a laugh. He hoped that wasn’t a shot at him for not having time to give her now.
But her smile said that she was enjoying their time together regardless of what they did.
“As ready as I’m going to be.” He’d smelled burnt flesh before and it had nothing on what was filled in his son’s diaper.
“Here we go.” She undid the tape on both sides and lifted the top of the diaper. The minute she did, his son peed in the air and she flopped the material back down.
“Good reflexes,” he said.
“That’s going to happen a lot. Be prepared. Always keep the diaper down on top of him while you get another.”
“Got it.”
She lifted Maverick’s legs in one hand and then pushed the diaper down to catch everything and keep the top folded over. Thank God. The quick glimpse he got had him covering a cough.
The diaper was pushed to the side. “Wrap it up by having the tape I left open seal it shut.”
“Ah, I’ll let you do it. You know, so I can get it right and not make a mess.”
She snorted. “We’ll let you believe that.”
Five wipes out of the bag later, his son’s butt was clean and he was proud of himself putting a fresh diaper on. See, he participated.
He could do this. He’d rather not, but he could.
“Why aren’t you putting his pants back on?”
“Do you like to sleep in jeans?”
“No,” he said.
“There you go.” She picked Maverick up who had stayed still but now hugged Jocelyn’s shoulders and laid his head down back on her shoulder as if he was snuggling in. “I’m going to put him in the playpen because it’s all we’ve got until the bed is delivered.”
“I’m tracking it. Should be here in the next few hours,” he said.
“Then it takes a day or so for the mattress to lie out fully from the box. So Maverick can sleep in this tonight.”
He hoped it would be that easy.
“Why are you walking around and not putting him down?”
Jocelyn had given Maverick his pacifier, the sucking noises filling the room.
“I want him to be sleeping before he goes down. It’d be easier if he’s not used to this,” she whispered. “Stop talking.”
He kept his lips sealed, watched as his son fell asleep, then followed Jocelyn into the spare room where she laid the toddler down as if he weighed a feather, then put his favorite blanket over him.
She backed out and shut the door but didn’t click it.
“Phew,” he said. “How long do you think he’ll sleep?”
“No clue. Hopefully, at least an hour. How are you feeling?”
“Helpless,” he said.
Which was a sucky feeling he’d hoped never to have in his life again. Guess he didn’t get that wish.
“I believe most parents feel that way. You’re getting a crash course now though.”
“Tell me about it. My grandmother will be here in the morning.”
“I thought she’d stop over tonight,” she said.
“I asked her to give us until tomorrow. Is that wrong? I’m trying not to bombard him with too many people at once.”
She smiled softly at him, moved closer to him on the couch and curled into his side. “That was very considerate of you for Maverick, but I’m positive your grandmother is itching at the bit to see her great-grandson.”
“I don’t know. She never came across as a baby person to me.”
“Because you’ve never seen her with one, but I don’t know her like you.”
“We’ve already established I didn’t grow up the same way you did. There weren’t many tender nurturing moments. My grandmother was tired and worked hard. She didn’t sign on to raise me.”
“But she raised you and you’re trying to make it sound like you were a burden to her and I doubt that. Do you feel as if Maverick is going to be a burden to you?”
The tone of Jocelyn’s voice told him the answer to this could determine more than the relationship he had with his son in the future.
“No. I’m pissed. I need to get past being pissed and it won’t happen overnight.”
“Mad because you didn’t know about him or because of the way he was being raised?”
“Both.” He stood and paced. “I told you that Baylee and I had nothing long or special. It was sex more than anything, whether or not you want to hear that, but the person I was with didn’t seem as if she’d do this.”
“How so?”
“I don’t know. She liked to drink when we were out. She had a job, but I don’t remember what it was. I never saw where she lived, she came back here.”
One of the last women who did. Baylee said she didn’t live alone so he assumed it was with roommates. Why go somewhere with other people when his place was empty?
“Nettie said she got in with the wrong crowd. Could it be that?”
“I can’t guess. I’ll find out as soon as I can get in to see her.” Not something he was looking forward to but knew it had to be done. It was going to take a lot for him not to lose his shit.
“It doesn’t matter what is in the past,” she said. “That little boy in the other room is your future and that is what you need to put your full focus on.”
“I am. I took a leave from work. This tour and next unless I can get daycare set up before that.”
“I’ve got a list of places for you to call. All those things can be done tomorrow. I can help.”
“I should do it,” he said. “But if you want to go with me to check the places out, I’d appreciate that.”
She’d taken the week off with him. He wanted to tell her she didn’t need to, but he was positive he couldn’t do this without her.