Eight #2
An older man as my son’s primary caregiver never crossed my mind…
until now. I still wasn’t convinced about the idea, but that wasn’t because I doubted Ashley’s capability—he obviously had more skill and experience with children than me.
I snapped a photo of Ashley giving Felix his bottle while surrounded by the starry-eyed women, who leaned in and hung off his every word.
I’d have been envious of his hold over them if Naomi hadn’t sent me a smirk and a wink.
That woman. She understood me. When we arrived home, I sent a photo of Ashley and Felix to Owen, expressing my thanks.
As I rocked my son to sleep, enjoying his slight weight, I sent Owen another text, asking about Ashley’s history.
I tucked my phone away as I stared down into my baby’s relaxed face. Felix’s eyes drifted closed, and I kissed his forehead. Naomi moved around downstairs; I could hear her music and some dishes.
Contentment welled in my chest, expanding outward to tingle through my extremities. This was what I’d always wanted but never dreamed possible. This mix of emotion, the joy and gratitude, were thanks to Naomi.
Pursuing her all those years ago had been the best decision of my life. She’d given me so much more than I could have ever imagined. A devilish smile curved my lips as I sent a message to her boss, Clara.
Naomi deserved a big surprise, and I planned to deliver.
Owen didn’t text me back that evening or even the next morning. That irked me, but I was sure he had a good reason for the delay. I just hoped it wasn’t because there was something shady in Ashley’s past Owen wanted to gloss over.
I was an untrusting bastard. Still, I couldn’t shake the sense of concern, and my trepidation kicked up when Ashley knocked on our front door for the beginning of his two-week trial run. Both Naomi and I were bleary-eyed once more, thanks to Felix’s two am shenanigans.
I yawned, scratching my chest, as I opened the door, still in my pajama shirt and pants. I blinked, then did so again, mouth dropping open.
“Owen!” I lunged froward and pulled him into a big bear hug. He squeezed me back, pounding my back and laughing heartily. I liked this welcome much more than a handshake, and I decided we’d always hug from here on out.
Owen’s smile told me he felt the same way. “Good to see you, little bro.”
“What are you doing here? Great to see you! Oh, come in. Come on in.” I ushered him inside, only then noticing the petite, dark-haired woman behind him. Owen’s large frame had completely dwarfed her. She had a sunny smile, deep dimples, and shrewd gray eyes that were lit with mirth.
“Hey, Adam. I’m Sally. Owen has told me so much about you.”
“Good to meet you.” I shook her hand, feeling a little awkward about meeting my brother’s life partner for the first time, especially in my foyer where I’d set Felix’s car seat and diaper bag last night.
“Um, so we’re glad you’re here…” I trailed off.
Naomi was going to be mortified that we had guests in our messy house. Absolutely mortified. Thankfully, she and Owen got along well, so hopefully, she’d be glad to see my big brother.
Sally huffed. “I told Owen we needed to call first. Let you know.”
“What’s the fun in that?” Owen said. “Plus, I owe Adam about a million different obnoxious scenarios. Popping up unexpectedly gets us closer to even.”
I chuckled and shook my head. He wasn’t wrong.
Naomi rose from the couch where she’d been feeding Felix. She had a burp cloth on her shoulder and a pair of yoga pants paired with a loose, bright red shirt that bared her shoulder, showing the strap of her camisole underneath.
Yep, thanks to Naomi’s job, I knew all the names for various lingerie, and I had favorites: teddies, camisoles and thongs were high on my list.
Felix was a boneless handful of a baby against her chest. She was tired—no one could miss the puff of dark shadow beneath her eyes—but her smile was radiant as she greeted my brother.
“Owen!” she exclaimed. She came to his side and slid her free arm around his waist, resting her head on his shoulder. “So good to see you. I didn’t know you were coming.”
“I had to meet this little guy.” Owen peered down at Felix. “Can I hold him?”
“After you wash your hands,” Sally piped in.
Oh, I liked her. She was on top of everything, including Owen. He disengaged from Naomi, grumbling, but did as he was told.
Yep, I definitely liked Sally. I winked and smiled at her, which she reciprocated before trailing behind Owen to wash her hands, too.
“Ashley should be here any minute,” I said, following him to the kitchen.
“Yeah, that’s part of why I came down,” Owen said as he returned to the living room. He held out his clean, dried hands and Naomi placed Felix against his arm.
“Hell, Adam,” Owen whispered, his voice awed. “He’s tiny.”
“And almost too cute,” Sally said. She stood close to Owen’s arm, making that face ladies got when they looked at newborns. I didn’t know how to explain it other than melty maternal. I liked it a lot when Naomi looked at Felix like that.
“He is. And perfect,” Owen added. He glanced up at me. “Looks like you, but better. Good job making such an adorable kid, Naomi.”
“Thanks, O. Now, if we could just get him to sleep.” She sighed.
“Ashley’s a whiz with that,” Owen said.
“It’s their decision,” Sally reminded him with gentle steel.
Oh, yeah. I definitely, definitely liked Sally.
Owen sat in the large armchair, and Sally settled on the arm. It was clear the two of them liked to stay close and were deeply connected. I was happy for my brother.
“Naomi and I have Ashley working with us on a trial basis. I think he’ll be great.” I shot Naomi a help me glance.
She pursed her lips and turned toward my brother. “Tell me about him,” she asked. Taking my hand, she led me to the couch. I settled next to her, pulling her under my arm.
“Ash’s a good guy. One of the best. He’s always loved kids—wanted a passel of his own.”
“He mentioned that. And that he had a medical issue that prevented it.”
Owen nodded. He offered Felix his forefinger, and the baby wrapped his tiny fist around it. I enjoyed the moment, watching my father figure with my son.
“Ashley would have been the best dad. There’s no doubt in my mind. So I suggested he go back to school, get his master’s in early childhood, do all the certifications. He worked for me while he did that. Grueling days on the job site and a full course load—that’s how dedicated he was.”
“But no one will hire him,” Sally said, her voice soft. “For the same reasons, I’m guessing you have hesitations. And Owen will not pressure you on this. Right, Owen?” Sally’s voice turned stern once more.
“No, I’m not. Because Ashley needs to earn his place. If I made things easier for Ashley beyond what I have already done, he’d get upset. Probably bust my balls, if not my lip. But I need to tell you that if you don’t hire him, he’ll likely quit trying in this field.” Owen heaved a pained sigh.
Owen and Sally exchanged a long look.
“What?” I asked.
Sally shrugged, so Owen said, “Ashley might quit trying, period, but that’s not your weight to carry.
I just think it’s a damn shame that his age, gender, and dumb tattoos he got in his twenties might cause him to lose out on his dream.
” Owen peered at me. “You remember all the dumb shit you did at twenty-one, right, Adam? Ashley did his fair share, too, just like I did. I don’t hold that against you. ”
“So I shouldn’t hold his youthful mistakes against him.” I sat forward, dropping my elbows to my knees. “But here’s the issue: it’s not just my choice. Or Naomi’s. There has to be a bond between Felix and Ashley. That may not happen.”
Owen grunted because he knew what I was saying: I’d lived for years with parents who hadn’t bonded with me. I wouldn’t put my son through a similar situation. Not if I could help it. No one deserved to live as if they weren’t important.
Sally leaned in closer and whispered in Owen’s ear. He looked up at her and nodded.
“I’ll table my lobbying campaign,” Owen said. “For now. So, are you guys going to put us up for a few days, or do we need to get a hotel room?”
“ Oh, pish. As if you need to ask,” Naomi said. “You’re staying here. I’ll text Mimi. She’ll want to see you too.”
Owen’s smiled broadened. “How’s the munchkin?”
“Grown up.” Naomi shook her head. “I guess it’s good I have this little guy to keep me busy.”
She rose from the couch. “Let me show you the guest room, Sally. It’s down the hall from Felix’s nursery, but he’s not sleeping there yet. He’s with us—”
“Oh, that’s part of why Owen and I wanted to come. To help with the night waking and feedings,” Sally said. “I’m not a mom myself, but I’m a fantastic babysitter—and I refuse all payments except smiles and hugs…once he gets big enough.”
Naomi shot me a look that I took to mean: I like this one.
We were so on the same page.
“Want some coffee?” I asked Owen as the women headed up the stairs.
“You bet. Especially if you still have the fancy machine that makes lattes.”
I chuckled. Owen typically drank his coffee strong and black, but he’d fallen in love with our Italian espresso machine that made a variety of milky coffee beverages.
“Still got it, and I prepped it just before you arrived.”
I rose and Owen followed me into the kitchen, cradling baby Felix on his arm like a wide receiver tucks a football close to his body. I noted his ease with my son, and warmth filled me. Owen used to hold me like that.
If I hadn’t lived it, I’d struggle to imagine the loud-mouthed teen version of Owen, skinny, and twitchy from too much energy, tenderly cuddling a small, helpless infant—me.
“How’d you manage?” I asked.
“With what?”
“Mom and Dad.”
Owen leaned against the opposite counter as I prepped the machine, its hiss and gurgle a homey, warm sound that relaxed me.
“Well, at first, they weren’t the hot, drunkard mess you lived with.” He looked over my shoulder and squinted. “That came after you were conceived.”