Chapter 29
Chapter Twenty-Nine
O nce Mitch had finished bringing everything in from Kyle’s car, he took stock of what there was. Not much, frankly.
Joyce had fed and changed Ruthie, rocked her for a bit, then put her in the Pack ’n Play to sleep. The baby had drifted right off, no doubt happy to be in a calm environment.
“How’s she doing?” Mitch asked.
“She needs clothes and diapers and formula and all kinds of things, the little mite.”
Mitch nodded. “And a crib. There’s room in that other guest bedroom. We can turn that into a nursery and it can be her room when she’s old enough.”
Joyce’s smile went ear to ear. “Planning for the future, eh?”
“Doesn’t hurt.” Would Kyle be here that long? Mitch had no idea. But now that Kyle and Ruthie had arrived, Mitch never wanted them to leave. “Can you help me get a list together? Then I’ll go see what I can find. Walmart should have everything, right?”
Joyce nodded. “They should, yes. Would you rather I go?”
“No. I want to do this.”
“I understand.” Her brows knit. “Do you even know where the Walmart is?”
“ Yes .” He gave her a look.
“Valid question.” She got pen and paper from one of the kitchen drawers and started writing things down.
From the other bedroom, which had always been Kyle’s, Kyle’s soft snores could be heard.
Mitch walked over to the Pack ’n Play. Asleep, Ruthie looked more like an angel than ever. He watched her, fascinated by the tiny perfection of her. His grandchild.
Joyce came over, paper in hand. “Here you go. I wrote down the brand of formula Kyle had in the diaper bag so you can get the exact same thing. Also, judging from the look of her, I’d say get the three-to-six-month size if you buy her any clothes.”
“I should, don’t you think? I didn’t see a whole lot in what he brought.”
Joyce shook her head. “No. But there is a bag of laundry. Oh, that reminds me. I have some gentle detergent I can use for her things, but we’ll need more of that.” She took the list out of his hand and went back to the counter to add detergent to the list. “Make sure it’s good detergent. Meant for babies. They have sensitive skin, you know.”
“I’ll get the best they have.”
Smiling, she returned the list to his hand. “I know you will.”
“Anything else I should get?” He scanned the items she’d jotted down. “What size diapers?”
“For a three-month-old. Call me if you aren’t sure. I can text you pictures if need be.” She cut her eyes at him. “You’re sure you don’t want me to go?”
“I can handle it. Unless you don’t want to be left alone with her?”
“Pfft. I’m happy to look after the little angel. You go on now. Get her some supplies. Diapers and formula go fast. I’ll start a load of wash for her.”
“Okay. Thank you.” He exhaled. “This is going to be a big change. I wish Jeanie was here. She would have adored this child.”
Joyce nodded. “She does. I know she’s looking down at this baby and smiling. At you, too, for taking Ruthie and Kyle in.”
“She’s probably laughing at me. Mitch Ripley, helping take care of an infant.”
“Not just any infant, now” Joyce said. “This is your grandbaby.”
He nodded, emotions too intense for him to speak for a moment. Amazing how fast he’d fallen in love with that baby. He cleared his throat. “I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
“We’ll be here,” Joyce said.
Mitch hadn’t been to Walmart since…actually, he wasn’t sure when the last time was. Maybe once with Jeanie, right after they’d bought the boat? Or was that the boating supply place? Didn’t matter. He knew where the Walmart was.
He parked and went inside. Had it always been this big? He pushed his cart aimlessly, not knowing where to go.
He found an employee. “Excuse me. Where’s the baby section? Clothes, diapers, formula, all of that.”
“Keep going the way you’re going, then turn left and look for the signs.”
“Thanks.” Mitch soon found what he was looking for. There was so much stuff for babies he just stood looking at it all for a few minutes. They needed way more than he realized. A crib was great, but what about a highchair? What about toys? Books? More bottles? Wipes? Shampoo? A baby thermometer? Bibs? Spoons? Pacifiers?
He took a breath, overwhelmed. Had it been this complicated when Kyle had been an infant? He honestly didn’t remember, because Jeanie had handled it all.
Okay, he could do this. One aisle at a time.
The cart was filled before he reached the end of aisle two. He rearranged a few things and made extra space, shifting some of the bigger things to the bottom rack of the cart. He hadn’t even bought clothes, diapers, or formula yet.
He chose the best of everything, going with the best, most natural choice when it was available. When he finally felt done, the cart was heaped so high he almost couldn’t see over it.
Had he gone overboard? Definitely. Did he care? Not one iota.
He checked his phone to make sure Joyce hadn’t texted with a last-minute item. She hadn’t.
With some effort, he pushed the cart to the front of the store and found an open register. There weren’t many. The store seemed to be funneling people to the self-checkout. He wasn’t about to attempt that with all of this.
He waited until he was next up, then started loading items onto the conveyor belt.
The cashier, a young woman, smiled. “New baby in the house?”
Mitch nodded. “That’s exactly right. My first grandchild.”
“Someone’s gonna be spoiled.”
He grinned. “Yes.”
“Good for you.”
He got to work repacking the cart with the bags. Somehow, it all fit back in. He ran his card through the machine, having spent more money than he thought possible in a Walmart, but pleased with himself. Would Kyle be all right that he’d bought so much?
Mitch hoped so. If he’d gotten something he shouldn’t have or that Kyle didn’t approve of, it could always be returned.
As quickly as he could with the rain drizzling down, he loaded the car, returned his cart, and headed for home. Once he was there, he used the elevator to take everything up. It still required three trips.
Joyce stared open-mouthed at the growing pile of bags and boxes on the couch and living room floor. “Did you leave anything for anyone else?”
“I just got the necessities.”
She snorted. “Did you, now?” She shook her head. “Bless you. You’ve certainly taken to the role of granddad, haven’t you?”
“I guess I have.” He stood back to survey the abundance. The crib would need to be put together. He’d start there.
Joyce came to stand beside him. “Don’t you need to write today?”
“I do, but—”
“Then go write. I can organize all of this. The clothing will all have to be washed. You got the detergent?”
“I did. Organic. Best they had. I should at least put the crib together.”
She smiled. “When Kyle gets up, the two of you can do that together. Better that way.”
“You think?”
She nodded.
“All right. I feel bad leaving this all on you.”
“Go. I’ve got it. I need something to keep me occupied until Beryl gets here. The waiting’ll just make me barmy.”
“How long before she gets here?”
Joyce looked at her watch. “Six more hours.”
“Okay. Thanks.” He kissed her cheek then, smiling, went off to his office.
Concentrating on the story wasn’t easy. All he wanted to do was sit next to the Pack ’n Play and watch Ruthie sleep. This was the perfect opportunity to write, though, and he needed to take it.
He tried to let the gentle rain block everything out so he could focus on the action unfolding on the page.
With great effort, he managed to put down two thousand words before he heard crying. He was out of his chair without a second thought. When he came into the living room, Joyce was bouncing Ruthie in one arm while warming up a bottle in the new bottle warmer Mitch had purchased.
“Can I help?” he asked, fully expecting Joyce to say no.
“You want to feed her?”
He nodded. “Sure.”
“Take her and go sit. I’ll be right over with the bottle.”
He did as she asked, lifting the infant from her embrace.
Ruthie’s little face was screwed up like she was getting ready to wail. Mitch talked softly to her. “Hey, now, sweetness, it’s all right. Are you hungry? Your bottle’s coming.”
He sat with her, rocking her in his arms. The couch was completely devoid of bags and other items, although the crib box had been leaned against the table. Joyce was amazing.
She brought him the bottle. “Hold her up a little. You don’t want her to take in a lot of air.”
He adjusted Ruthie, then gave her the bottle. She took to it right away, her little scowl disappearing. He watched, fascinated by her every move.
“Call if you need me,” Joyce said. “I have another load of laundry to deal with. I’m putting all her clothes in the dresser in the other guest room, by the way. Pretty much most of her things are in there.
“Thank you.” Mitch nodded without taking his eyes off of Ruthie. “That’s perfect.”
He sighed contentedly. Just as perfect as the child in his arms.