Chapter 1
Chapter One
Monty
Two Weeks Postpartum
The first two weeks were a whirlwind of sleepless nights, a crying baby, dirty diapers and an energetic five year old. I don’t even remember the last time I sat down and fully relaxed since we got home.
Josie has been healing up well, but with the c-section there are still so many restrictions she has.
So, me being the doting husband that I am, I make sure she doesn’t do anything.
All she needs to do is the absolute bare minimum.
I’ve got everything else covered. I am unstoppable.
The ultimate husband and dad. I am also so tired.
My wife is stubborn as fuck though. She’s the caretaker of this family, the glue that holds us all together. She’s been that way for as long as I remember. So getting her to take it easy and let me take the metaphorical reins has had its challenges.
When I met her at sixteen, I was a rowdy asshole. Titled the class clown, you could always tell when I came into the room. I made sure to make a grand entrance, no matter what.
And you can’t make a grand entrance by being on time, so I was always fashionably late for classes.
It was the second week of theatre class, I was on my way with probably the best entrance idea to date of my whole high school career.
Standing in front of the door, adjusting my make shift toga I put together with some sheets I took from home. Will my mom murder me for this? Probably not, but she won’t be impressed. I go over the scene I’ve put together in my head one more time. Ensuring I hit my best Julius Caesar voice.
My chest puffs with confidence and I feel ready to take on what will hands down be the best performance of the semester. Hand grasping the handle I pull the door open.
“Eh tu, Bru—”
Suddenly, something – or someone – collides with my back. Propelling my head into the opening door connecting with my nose. Blood gushes down my face and onto my wrinkled toga, sprinkling it with red.
“Oh my god! I’m so sorry! I was running late and I wasn’t paying att– oh my god is that blood?
!” my body turned toward the small and shaken voice coming from my right.
Quickly dropping her bag to the floor she follows it, fishing through the contents.
A moment later, she is back on her feet and coming toward me.
Backing up, I’m slightly terrified of the damage this small woman could do.
She steps up to me toe to toe as my back connects with the lockers.
I watch as the deepest forest green eyes flair with concern.
Her hand reaches forward, and it's then that I notice the tissue in her hand.
She begins to wipe the blood on my face.
“I'm sorry again. I really didn't see you there–” she pauses, and I watch as her eyes take me in. Like she's really just now noticing my toga. “Was today like, dress up as a historical figure day?”
A smile spreads across my face, “why it is I, Julius Caesar. Creator of the famous Caesar salad!” throwing my arms out, showing off my outfit.
The sweetest sound of a giggle leaves her lips, I knew right then that I wanted to hear it again.
“Earth to Monty.” Snapping of fingers bring me back to the present.
Looking over I realize that I zoned out while Xavier was talking.
He’s handing me a coffee, already fixed exactly the way I like.
Xavier is my best friend, besides my wife, he transferred in during our senior year.
It didn't take long before our duo of Josie and I turned into a trio.
Xavier and I went on the wildest adventures, unless Josie came. Then it simmered down. Caretaker, remember? She didn't dampen the party, she just made sure we didn't kill ourselves or get arrested.
“I'm sorry man,” sighing before running my hand down my face, “I'm just tired.”
The tip of one side of his mouth twitches.
“I know,” pausing as he takes a drink. We stand in silence for a minute, watching our women sit together in the living room.
Josie is feeding Hayes, while Harper is sitting at the coffee table with Shiloh building towers with blocks before knocking them down.
The contagious laughter pulls on the string at my heart.
“I was just asking what you were going to do now that you’re going back to work?” He asks.
Sighing, “that’s the million dollar question, my guy.
Josie is still under restrictions while she’s healing, and my parents can’t make it down after taking time off to help when Hayes was first born.
” My parents already had time off for the new year, and then stayed the first week after Hayes was born.
They’re still a bit away before they retire, so they had to get back home.
I’m forever thankful to my parents for helping out during that first week, adjusting from one kid to two was a lot, even despite the five year age difference with them.
“I was able to get the guys to hold down the fort for these two weeks only because it’s always dead the first couple weeks at the beginning of the year.
But things are picking up and I know those boneheads will struggle.
” Shaking my head, I think about my crew.
I’ve been running my renovation company for about ten years now.
It started off with me helping my dad with some renovations at home when I was in high school, a way for him to keep me focused.
Growing up with ADHD, I was always on the go, moving from one thing to the other.
I never stuck with sports for too long, nothing really kept my interest and I was always on to the next thing.
One day, my dad decided to finally give my mom the deep bathtub she always dreamed of having.
In turn he decided to do the whole bathroom.
We gutted everything. New paint, sink, toilet, and of course the deep porcelain tub.
Immediately I was enthralled with the process of it.
Everything about it kept me focused, because each job was different.
Once you were done with one part you moved on to the next.
My dad had just opened up his renovation company, so we did most of the things ourselves.
I think we did a pretty good job. Dad ended up hiring a plumber just to make sure everything was hooked up properly before we sealed everything up.
That one job rerouted my teenage life for the better.
I quickly found contractors who were looking for general laborers.
It was a lot of grunt work, but I slowly moved myself up into an apprentice role.
In the end, my specialty became cabinetry, but I was trained to be a true jack of all trades.
Once I was trained, my dad took me on and we worked hand in hand.
I’ve been working with him over the last couple years to take over so he can retire this summer.
“Anyway, I’ve honestly been thinking about hiring a nanny. You know, just to help her out until the doctor gives her the okay to resume normal activities.” Bringing my coffee up to my lips, I pause for a moment before taking a big gulp.
“Normal activities, eh?” That stupid smirk is back on Xavier’s face, then it dawns on me the implications of what I just said.
“Not like that asshole,” chuckling, I shove at his shoulders.
“While I can’t wait to get back to those activities, I mean the normal activities.
Like being able to pick up anything over ten pounds.
She’s really struggling with that restriction.
” Just then, like she thought I wasn’t paying attention, she tries to maneuver Hayes in a way that I know she’s going to try and get up with him in her arms. “One second,” I gruff before bee lining over to my wife.
“I don’t think so, wife.” Her eyes widen in surprise with a hint of frustration at being caught.
“Oh come on, he just needs to be put down for his nap. I can handle that.” She slumps back into the couch.
“I know you think you can babe, but you can’t.
You may be able to hold him standing up because he’s only eight pounds but you aren’t cleared for any bending motions with weight.
” I hate having to restrict her from doing something that she does so naturally.
I cautiously take Hayes from her arms, and I don’t miss the unshed tears shining in her eyes. Fuck, I hate seeing her cry.
“Come on, we can put him down together.” my voice low, as I try to sooth her with the next best option.
“Shiloh, are you good to hang out with Uncle Xavy and Auntie Harper while we put your little brother down for his nap?” I keep my eyes focused on my wife. Watching her forest green eyes shimmer with tears threatening to roll down her cheeks.
“You betcha daddy! Come on Uncle Xavy, let’s wrestle!” A bark of laughter comes from behind me followed by shuffled movements. I know Shiloh is good with them. I nod my head toward the hallway motioning to the nursery.
Josie, quickly wiping under her eyes with the sleeve of her crewneck sweater before she cautiously gets up and starts moving. Following her lead, my brain swims with ways that I can make this better. How I can try and make her smile, I hate when she cries. It kills me when she’s sad.
Entering the nursery, Josie makes her way to the rocking chair in the corner, behind her there is a silhouette of a mountain top painted across the main wall where his crib is against the wall.
The room is simple and cozy, allowing for quick changes as Hayes gets older.
A little bookshelf beside the rocking chair where Josie and I envision eventually reading stories to Hayes before bed.
Sometimes when Josie is breastfeeding, she will read to Shiloh who will lay on the carpet with his toy cars and play while she reads.
Josie watches me cross the room to the change table and begin changing Hayes diaper. I have his bottom half out of his sleeper and begin to undo his diaper.
I pull back the front of the diaper, as my other hand reaches forward for the wipes when it hits me.
“Ahhh!”