Chapter 23
Chapter Twenty-Three
Baker
As I lean against the doorway from the kitchen to the living room, I glance around my home and smile. Sloane went wild ordering Christmas decorations, and the house looks like a scene from one of those Christmas movies she loves so much.
It’s more than just the decorations. It’s her. My girl has brought so much light and laughter into these walls, it’s as if it’s an entirely different house, but I know that’s not the case. It’s the same walls, but I’m a different man.
“Papa, no.” Camden laughs as my dad tickles him. He rushes out of my dad’s arms and straight into Sloane’s dad's arms, who catches him with ease, flipping him upside down and making my son laugh even harder.
Today is Thanksgiving, and we’ve blended our families.
We’re both only children, and there was no way I was spending the holiday without her, so we brought our parents here, to our home.
Sloane was nervous, but I knew it would all be fine.
We both have incredible parents, and they immediately hit it off like old friends.
And Camden, he’s in heaven, soaking up all of their attention.
He’s calling her parents "Mamaw" and "Papaw," and mine "Papa" and "Mammy. "
My dad catches my eye and comes walking toward me. “You’re smiling,” he says, leaning his shoulder into mine.
“I have lots to smile about,” I reply.
“That you do. She’s your perfect match, and Camden, he’s thriving, Baker. You’re doing an incredible job with him.”
“Thank you, but I can’t take all the credit. Sloane teaches him so much during their days together, and he loves her.”
I love her.
It’s time that I told her. I can’t keep biting my tongue and holding on to the words. I’ve been waiting for the perfect time, but I don’t think there is a perfect time, because if I’m being honest, every day, even the hard days, are perfect with Sloane in my life.
“She’s good for both of you.”
“I was just thinking the same thing, old man,” I tell him.
“I know it’s been a hard year, losing Natasha, but have you put any thought into doing something about it?”
“About what?” I pretend not to understand what he’s talking about.
“Keeping Sloane around, maybe a little something more permanent. You know your mom and I would love a few more grandkids. You’re our only hope,” he teases. He nods toward the living room. “I’m pretty sure Carl and Nancy would agree.”
“You know, I think Cam would make a great big brother,” I confess.
Dad slaps his hand on my shoulder. “Proud of you, son. You chased a dream and have a career that you love. You’re an incredible father, and that one in there, she complements you perfectly.”
“Thanks, Dad.”
“Daddy!” Camden comes running over and holds his arms up for me to pick him up. I do, and he grins, showing me one of the Christmas tree cookies he and Sloane made for our Friendsgiving yesterday, and we kept a few here for all of us to enjoy today. “Tree.”
“I see that.” Bending, I pretend to take a bite, and he laughs.
Sloane’s dad stands from the couch and walks our way. “Cam, come to Papa.” Dad holds his hands out for him, and my son goes to him easily, as they walk over to the Christmas tree. I’m sure my son is trying to tell him all about how he got to decorate it. I smile because that was a fun night.
Carl holds his hand out for me, and I shake it. “Thanks for inviting us,” he says. “It’s been a great day.”
“It has, but I’ll admit, every day with your daughter around is great,” I tell him. I won’t tell him that I’m in love with her—not before I say those three words to her, which is happening today. I’m tired of waiting.
He chuckles. “She’s special.”
“She is.”
“I won’t ask you if you’re in love with my daughter, because I can see that you are in the way that you look at her, and how she looks at you.”
“I want to marry her,” I blurt. “I’m not asking you yet, but be ready,” I tell him.
He laughs. “Noted. And to ease some of your worries, I’ll say yes. I’ve never seen her this happy. She’s so relaxed and carefree here. Settled, and that’s all we’ve ever wanted for her.”
“She made this house a home for us. I was drowning in loneliness and the pressure of coparenting with a woman who never wanted to see her son, and then my nanny quit, and Sloane offered to help, said I would be helping her… and from that day on, my life changed for the better. Sloane and Camden will forever be the greatest part of me.”
“And any future children, because we need more than one grandchild,” he tells me.
Instantly, there’s a lump in my throat. How easily they’ve accepted Camden as their grandson, insisting he call them Mamaw and Papaw. It’s humbling, and since today is a day of thanks, I tell him so.
“Thank you for that. You can never have too many grandparents, or aunts and uncles, apparently.” I laugh, then clear my throat, trying to break up the heavy.
“With your parents still in Philadelphia for the time being, call us anytime to babysit. The two of you need a kid-free night now and then, and well, we’ve got some spoiling to do with that one.
” He nods to where Camden is now sitting on his wife’s lap, showing her the new toy truck he got today. The one that she brought him.
“We’ll do that. Thank you for offering.”
“Anytime. You’re family now, right? Or will be officially soon, I hope?”
“Soon,” I assure him.
“Life’s too short to let the good things pass you by.”
“You know what, Carl, you might be the smartest man I know.” I laugh.
“Tell my wife and daughter that, will you?” he says, his own laughter filling the room.
“What’s going on over there?” Sloane calls over to us.
“Baker just told me I was the smartest man he’s ever met.”
“Oh, brother,” Nancy says dramatically. “Thanks, Baker, now that’s all I’m going to hear for weeks,” she says, playfully rolling her eyes, but there’s a smile on her face.
“Anks, Baker,” Camden says, mocking her, and we all laugh.
“That’s Daddy to you, young man.” I walk over to him and bop him on the nose.
“We should head home,” Mom says. “I know this little guy will be napping soon, and you’ve got practice in the morning, right?”
“Yeah, we play Sunday.”
“I know. I wish we could stay and catch the game, but we’ve got a meeting with a realtor to put the house on the market.”
“It will be so nice to have you close,” Nancy says. Those two have become quick friends today.
“It’s time,” Mom says. “We should have done it before Cam was born, but Jared was still working at the time.”
“Stubborn,” I say, coughing the word into my hand, and everyone laughs. “I’ve been trying to get him to retire for years.”
“We don’t want your money, son,” Dad speaks up. “I made a good living.”
“I know, but I have enough for both of us.” He just shakes his head. This is a discussion we’ve had many times, and we never seem to agree.
“We’re going to go, too.” Nancy stands. “Camden, can I have a hug?”
My son rushes over and goes down the line, giving hugs to all four of them. Sloane lifts him onto her hip as we walk them to the door. “Thank you for coming.”
“Thank you for having us. We’ll see you soon,” Dad says, opening the door and motioning for the others to go ahead of him. With another wave to each of them, I close the door, and it’s back to the three of us.
Sloane peers up at me and smiles. “Thank you for this, Baker. Today was more than I ever could have imagined it would be. Our parents hit it off like old friends, and this little guy, he was so good all day.”
“Cam, good.” He grins, smacking his little hands against his chest.
“So good,” she praises, and kisses his cheek. He wiggles to get down, and she places him on his feet.
“Come on. Let’s go relax,” I tell her, placing my hand on the small of her back and leading her to the couch.
We both sit, and I’m about to pull her onto my lap and snuggle her, when my son runs over to the couch with his new truck in his hand, and when he’s about three feet from Sloane, he says, “Mommy, wook!” He keeps coming, crashing into her legs and climbing onto her lap to show her his truck while dropping a truth bomb neither of us is expecting.
I’m frozen in time as the moment settles in my heart.
His mother, his biological mother, gave him life.
She loved him enough to bring him into the world.
She was good to him when she was around, but now, she’s gone.
She died a tragic death that I wouldn’t wish on anyone, definitely not my son's mother.
“B-Baker, I—I.” Sloane tries to speak through her tears, but the words won’t come.
“Mommy, wook,” Camden says again, holding up the truck.
Sloane’s cheeks are wet from her tears, and she smiles through them. “I see, baby,” she whispers brokenly, then those sad brown eyes find mine.
No, sad is not the right word. She’s worried. I can see it plain as day, but she has no reason to be. He loves her, and to Camden, she is his mother. The only one he remembers. She’s in that role in his life, and I truly hope she’s willing to keep it for the rest of it.
“I never—” She swallows hard. “I didn’t tell him to call me that, Baker. I promise you. I wouldn’t. I’m sorry,” she says, her voice cracking.
“Mommy, Swoan sad?” Camden asks, picking up on her tears.
Sloane’s panicked eyes find mine, and I quickly distract my boy. “Hey, buddy, I bet you can’t build a super tall tower with those blocks.” I point to the tub of blocks in the corner. “Can you make a tower as tall as you?” I ask, holding out my arm to show him how tall he needs to build it.
Camden looks at Sloane, and she smiles, wiping at her cheeks. “I know you can do it,” she encourages.
“Cam can do it.” He moves off her lap, like all he needed was for her to tell him that he could, and rushes to the tub of blocks and starts mumbling to himself and building his tower.
“I’m so sorry,” Sloane says again, and I’m on the move. Standing, I pull the coffee table closer to her and sit on it so that we’re eye to eye. Reaching out, I take her hand in mine, lacing our fingers together.