19. Chapter 19
Chapter nineteen
“I didn’t realize that worked for women, too.”
Kai grew restless after a couple of hours in the stroller, so Abe took him out and carried him on his shoulders. Kai thought it was great fun, and they watched the barrel racers compete and part of the bronc riding competition for another hour.
But the excitement and fresh air finally caught up to him, and he started fading out. Abe put him back in the stroller, and he was asleep within five minutes.
“I think we wore the kid out.”
“He’s so cute.” Maggie tucked the cat under Kai’s arm. “We should get something to eat, then you should probably get this little guy home.”
“What are you hungry for?”
“Those street tacos smelled really good.”
“Let’s go get some.”
There was currently no line at the Rocco’s booth, so Abe and Maggie stopped to say hi. Abe went to the window. “Where are all your customers?”
Gentry leaned on the counter and looked through the glass at him. “The big events are starting. It’ll probably be slow the rest of the night. Do you want a slice?”
“We’re going to visit your competitors next door.”
“Ah…good choice. They’re really good.”
“Do you guys need a break or anything?”
“Nah. We spelled each other. We’re good until eight.”
“Okay. We’re going to grab some tacos and find somewhere quiet to eat.”
“Good luck with that.”
Luke came up beside Gentry. “Behind the first aid station. There are a couple of picnic tables back there that not many people know about.”
“Thanks. We’ll check it out.”
They left the booth and went to the street taco vendor. He had two people in line, which gave Abe and Maggie time to look at the menu.
When they got to the window, Abe let Maggie order first. “Can I get two chicken tacos with onions, lettuce, cheese, and just a few jalapenos, please?”
“Yes, ma’am. For you, sir?”
“Same here, but I want three with carne asada and a lot of jalapenos.”
Maggie raised a finger. “Can we get some chips and salsa too? With some guacamole.”
Their order was ready in a few minutes, and they took the containers along with two cups of water to the first aid station. They went behind it and found two unoccupied tables.
Abe set his food down. “Thank you, Luke.” He checked on Kai to make sure he didn’t wake up once they stopped moving, but he was fast asleep.
They sat down and started in on their meal. Maggie looked at Abe across the table. “Are you anxious about spending your first night back at your house?”
“No. I think my mom is more nervous about it.”
“Do you have the stuff you need there?”
“Yeah. She and Dad moved a bunch of it to my house today, and I bought a crib the other day.”
“So you’re ready.”
“I believe I am.” He took a bite of taco and nodded. “Mmm. Delicious.”
Kai didn’t wake up until they moved him from the stroller to the car seat. He was grumpy all the way home, even though Maggie tried to distract him. Once they got home and Abe set him loose in the living room, Kai’s mood lifted, and he spent some time exploring his new territory.
Maggie looked around. “You guys did good getting it ready for him.”
“It was all Lucia. I just followed her around and did what she told me to do.”
Abe watched Kai for a few moments. “I guess I should get some food in him, then a bath and bed.”
“Would you like some help with that?”
Abe sighed. “I should say no and tackle this first night alone with him by myself.”
“But…?”
“But, I’d love some help. Or at least company. Maybe someone watching over my shoulder to make sure I don’t screw something up.”
“I can be all three of those things. Food first?”
“Yeah. Can we leave him in here unsupervised?”
“We’ll keep an eye on him if he doesn’t follow us to the kitchen.”
They went to the kitchen and prepared a bowl for Kai with bite-sized pieces of green beans, some Rice-a-Roni, and some bites of sliced turkey.
“It’s not street tacos, but I think he’ll like it.” Kai had followed them into the room and was under the table playing with a ball. “Come on out of there, kid. Time for dinner.”
Kai climbed out, then held up his arms. Abe picked him up and put him in the highchair.
Kai held his arms out again. “Papa?”
“Yeah, kid?”
“Hug.”
Abe knelt in front of the highchair. “You want a hug from me?”
“Papa hug.”
Abe hugged him, then stood. “Okay. Time to eat.” He took the bowl from Maggie and set it on the tray, then looked at her. “What?”
She held out her arms. “Abe hug.”
He smiled. “I didn’t realize that worked for women, too.” He hugged her, and she held him tight for a moment.
“I’m so proud of you.”
He pulled back and looked at her. “Why?”
“He loves his papa. That means you’re doing something right.”
“You don’t think it’s a matter of love the one you're with?”
“No.” She let go and stepped back. “That works with women too, sometimes.”
Maggie sat at the table. “Will you tell me about his mother?”
“Hmm. Are you sure?”
“Yes. I’d like to hear about her.”
Abe took two beers from the refrigerator and handed her one.
“This is an over-a-beer conversation.” He opened his bottle and took a drink.
“Lizzie was a modern day hippie in the best sense of the word. She called herself a free-range vegetarian, which meant she liked to forage for her food. For convenience, that included farmer’s markets and fruit stands.
She thought my family growing almonds was the coolest thing ever. ”
“She doesn’t sound like your type.” Maggie shrugged. “Not that I really know what that is.”
“By the time I’d met her, she’d hiked in almost every state, including Alaska and Hawaii.
She’d travel somewhere, get a job for a couple of weeks, then live off the grid as long as she could.
She came here to hike the river upstream into the mountains with some friends she’d recently met on another adventure. ”
“You liked her free spirit.”
“I did. I took a week off work and hiked with her up to Fallen Angel Lake, which is the origin of the Smith River.”
“Wow.”
“I’ve been wondering how getting pregnant changed her life.”
“I imagine it didn’t slow her down at all.”
“I hope you’re right.”
Maggie looked at Kai. “With Lizzie and you as parents, Kai is going to be crazy adventurous.”
“Is that stuff hereditary?”
“I don’t know. I’d like to think it is.” She shrugged. “Maybe he’ll turn out to be an accountant or a lawyer. Maybe a doctor.”
“He can grow up to be whatever the hell he wants to be.”
When Kai was done eating, Maggie offered to stay and help with his bath. As Kai splashed in the water, she sat on the edge of the tub while Abe leaned against the counter.
“This is surreal, man.”
“What is?”
“This… everything in my current life. A week ago, I was being a bastard to you to avoid the feelings I didn’t know how to handle. Now, here we are, giving my son a bath like it’s the most natural thing in the world.”
“It is strange, but it doesn’t feel weird.” Kai slapped the water with his hands and splashed Maggie. She laughed and leaned close to him. “Did you do that on purpose?”
Kai did it again, then giggled.
Abe smiled. “He’s my kid, all right.”
Maggie turned to Abe, then scooped up some water and splashed him with it. He jumped up and backed away. “Woman, you don’t want to start that.”
“Don’t call me woman.”
“Let’s keep the water in the tub. Both of you.”
Kai started laughing uncontrollably. “Papa wet.”
Abe shook his head. “I’m glad you find that so amusing. If you haven’t noticed, you’re wet too.” Kai splashed the water repeatedly with his hands, getting Maggie and the floor wet. “Maggie, look what you started. You’re cleaning this mess up.”
“Yes, sir.” She pulled the plug, then stood and grabbed a towel. “Come on, Kai. Papa says we can’t play anymore.” She lifted him out of the tub, wrapped a towel around him, and followed Abe to the bedroom.
She set him on the bed to dry him off, and he got away from her and ran across the bed. Maggie laughed, and Abe scowled. “If he pees on my bed…”
“He won’t. Come on, honey. Let’s get jammies on.”
Kai went to her and hugged her, then cooperated while she got him diapered and into his pajamas. She looked at Abe when Kai was ready for bed. “What now?”
“A book.”
Kai clapped his hands. “Book, book.”
He slid off the bed, then went to the bookshelf, which now held a dozen storybooks on the bottom shelf.
Kai sat down and began pulling books off the shelf.
He looked at each one, then set it aside.
When he’d looked at them all, he went back to the first one he’d picked up and got to his feet. “Book.”
Abe picked him up. “Let’s go read your book.”
Maggie followed them to the living room, and he looked at her. “Do you want to read the book to him?”
“No. I didn’t mean to take over. He’s just so darn cute. Go ahead, I’ll sit over here.” She sat in the chair while Abe sat on the couch with Kai on his lap and started to read the book out loud.
Kai looked at Maggie. “Book.”
“It’s a good one.”
He leaned over and patted the couch next to Abe. “Book.”
She stood and joined them on the couch.
After the book, Abe put Kai to bed, then joined Maggie, who had stayed in the living room. “Pretty good day.”
“It was great. I should go. I’ve already monopolized your first night with Kai.”
“I’m glad you were here. You’re right, though. You should go.”
She smiled. “Are you afraid to be alone with me, Abe?”
“A little bit, yeah. I don’t quite trust myself.”
She held out her arms. “Papa hug?”
“Oh my gosh, don’t even.”
Maggie laughed. “I will see you tomorrow at work.”
“Thank you for coming with us today.”
“Anytime.”
He stuck his hands in his pockets. “Um…yeah. You should…”
“I’m going.” She went to the door and opened it. “Have a good night with Kai.”
“As long as he sleeps, it will be.”
She turned to him. “Goodnight.”
“Goodnight, Maggie.”
She went out the door, and he waited until she was in the truck before closing it. He rubbed the back of his neck, then went to the couch and dropped onto it with a sigh. “It was a hell of a day.” He smiled. “Papa hug. The woman is crazy.”