Chapter 20
Chapter Twenty
brADY
I 'd spent the last two nights dealing with the fallout when Oakley realized Dalton was serious about getting his own place.
As soon as Hazel walked out of my parents' house, Dalton called, asking if he could come over and talk about the situation.
As much as I wanted to go after Hazel, I felt like I had to be there for Dalton.
I ended up staying over with him at Coop's. I couldn't help but feel like I was avoiding the situation with Hazel, and I had a feeling it wasn't going to work out well for me.
Hazel was irritated that Dalton showed up at our house the one time. I didn't think she'd be pleased about me dropping everything to support him. But it had the added benefit of giving me time to think about what happened.
I'd gotten the family-friendly designation from the streaming platform that I'd wanted. But it hadn't made me feel good. It meant the end of our little arrangement. And I wasn't sure we were in a good place for me to ask for more.
Hazel was really upset about my dad's reaction to the Kingtons' financial backing of her after-school program. I wasn't happy with him either. I didn't appreciate that he'd brought it up over the guise of dinner.
After Hazel left, I didn't even have time to address it with my dad because then we were focused on Dalton's problems. I didn't mind helping Dalton, but maybe, for once, my issues should come before his. Were my parents so used to his drama that they didn't think I needed them too?
Today, we were going with Cooper to see a house that might be the one for Dalton.
He was conflicted about buying a place because Oakley had thrown a fit about it, making all kinds of threats.
She said she wouldn't let him see the baby if he lived somewhere else, yet at the same time, she kept kicking him out.
She wanted the leverage to play that game with him, and I was pleased to see that Dalton was staying firm on his decision. He was scared about the ramifications, but he had us supporting him and an attorney to guide him. He was making the right moves. I just hoped he held strong.
When we pulled up to the house, I said, "You're doing the right thing.
You need to create a stable environment for this baby.
And I think in time, the courts will see that it's best for you and Oakley to share time with the baby.
" I didn't want to say it out loud, but I almost thought Dalton was the more reliable and emotionally mature adult in the situation.
But it was early, and there was still time for things to change.
Hopefully, Oakley would grow up a bit once the baby was here.
We got out of my truck, joining Cooper on the porch. Cooper was the one who vetted houses for us. He was an expert at evaluating them.
Cooper leveled us with his gaze. "I did some research on this place. The owners were only here for six years. Doesn't look like they did many upgrades."
"I'm not afraid of a little work. It will help me fill the time when I can't see the baby."
I was impressed that Dalton was so eager to spend time with this baby.
Ivy pulled up in her SUV, and we waited for her to get out. She wore a pencil skirt, silk shirt, and heels. She played the part of a realtor well. I think she'd mentioned once or twice she had to be more professional to get respect from some of her clients.
She approached us with a smile and paperwork with the details of the house. Cooper took it but didn't look at it. He'd probably already memorized the details. He was smart, not that he'd ever admit that.
I wondered if he'd lived in the shadow of Shep all his life. So much so that none of us could tell him apart from his twin.
"Are you ready to see this place?" Ivy asked Dalton, and at his nod, she unlocked the lockbox. "I think you're going to like this one. It has everything you asked for."
"Looks like it needs some work," Cooper said tersely.
Ivy flashed him a smile as she pushed open the door and waited for us to precede her inside. "I would think you boys wouldn't be afraid of a little hard work."
"Of course not," Cooper said, a muscle in his jaw ticking.
"It has a study." She gestured to the right at the office space which was separated from the foyer with two glass-paned doors, and then we walked through the formal living room which had a couch and a piano.
Ivy continued the tour in the family room with its stone fireplace and large windows showcasing the palm trees outside.
We were drawn to the windows where the deck was visible.
"There's a small pool and hot tub on the ground floor with an outdoor shower."
Ivy walked through the place at a quick clip. She knew we were experienced and would spend time afterward going through at a slower pace.
The kitchen was dated with worn linoleum, white Formica counters, oak cabinets without any hardware, and a mixture of appliances, white and black. "You'll need to do some work in here."
"It needs to be gutted," Cooper said, his lip curled in disgust.
"I'm confident you can tackle this project. Maybe it would be a nice housewarming present," Ivy said to Dalton with a wink.
"I don't think he deserves a kitchen renovation for his first house," Cooper grumped.
"What about for my first baby?" Dalton came back.
I exchanged a look with Cooper, knowing we'd make that happen. We wanted him to have a nice house if it meant a safe space for a baby and if it would help him with the court. "We'll talk about it."
Dalton shook his head. "I was just messing with you. You guys don't have to do that for me."
"We'll want it to be completed before the baby comes," Cooper said.
"Let me show you the second floor. The washer and dryer are up here, which is perfect for a baby. I've heard they produce a lot of laundry." She led the way up the steps, her heels clicking on the hardwood surface.
She opened each door, showing us three smaller bedrooms, the laundry room, a guest bath, and then the master at the end of the hall. "You might want some new carpet, and the bathrooms are meh."
Cooper squatted down to check out the tile on the floor, touching it with his hand. "I don't think these would meet code. It's the same as the tile on the wall. They'll be slippery. You won't want a toddler on this when it's wet. They'll fall and hit their head."
Dalton's face was pale. "We'll need to gut the bathrooms then too. I don't want anything that is unsafe."
"You have a bit of time though because the baby won't be walking for a bit," Ivy said, probably wondering if she was going to lose the sale.
"What if you're walking around with the baby and you slip?" Cooper said.
"That's a good point," Dalton said.
"I like how you boys are taking Dalton and his baby's safety so seriously." Ivy led the way into the guest bedrooms. "So we're gutting bathrooms and the kitchen. What do you think about the space in the bedrooms?"
"It'll just be me and the baby, so it's fine," Dalton said.
"Perfect. Let me show you the pool, and then you can take a look around without me hovering." We followed her downstairs.
Outside, Ivy pointed at the house next door, which was fairly close. "I handled the sale of that house. You have a neighbor, but it's a vacation home for them. They're not here all the time, and they haven't been interested in renting it out to tourists."
"That's ideal," Cooper said.
Ivy nodded. "You get the advantage of the lower price tag, and a neighbor that isn't present. What do you think of the pool?"
Dalton wandered the permitter of the pool. "I've always wanted a pool, but I'll need to get a fence to put around it."
Ivy smiled. "You're already thinking like a dad."
Dalton was impressing all of us with the way he thought about his baby. It was his ex's behavior that was shocking.
"I'm going to wait out front for you while you take a closer look. Let me know if you have any questions."
"I'm going to take another look," Cooper said.
"Of course," Ivy said as they walked inside together, leaving me alone with Dalton.
I sat in one of the chairs surrounding the pool and gestured for Dalton to sit next to me. "What do you think?"
"Is it awful that I hope Cooper doesn't find anything wrong with it?"
"Even if he does, we can fix it or find someone who can. That's the beauty of us being in construction. There isn't a house that we can't renovate."
"I think this is the one. But am I doing the wrong thing by purchasing a house for myself? A part of me still thinks I should try and work things out with Oakley."
"She's making it impossible to have a mature relationship.
She's got you twisted up inside, not knowing whether you're coming or going.
It's not right. You have to create a stable environment for that baby.
" I leaned back in the chair, folding my hands behind my head.
"Think of it like this. You're the calm in the storm.
That baby will have stability and will know that he or she can trust you to be there for them.
With Oakley, you don't know where you stand, and neither will this baby. "
"That's a good point."
"You can't keep going on the way you were with Oakley."
Dalton nodded, relaxing slightly. "That's what I needed to hear."
"I'll always be here for you."
Dalton raised a brow. "What if you and Hazel have a baby?"
I shifted in my chair because I wasn't sure that we were going to be able to build anything from our fake engagement. "We talked about waiting for a few years. Enjoying our time as a couple."
Dalton shook his head. "I should have been more careful."
"Did you use protection?" I couldn't help but ask. I'd been curious about how this happened.
"She said she was on birth control, and the spermicide in the condoms irritated her. It made sense at the time, and I trusted her to take her pills."
I tensed. "You don't think she stopped taking them, do you?"