Chapter 13
Knox
“Hello, my little angel! You are absolutely precious. Do you know that? Do you?” My mom holds the smiling baby in her arms, shaking her head and rubbing their noses together in a way that elicits adorable little chuckles from my…
I can’t say the word.
Nope.
I’m not owning this yet.
I don’t even know how it happened.
I had just played the best game of my entire career. We dominated Texas… except for that one sack at the half, but it was a calculated move. Nothing lost.
My family was all in town, watching from my box, and I ducked out of the sideline interviews as fast as I could to join them. I didn’t even bother to shower before I ran up to see Mav and Dove and Edward. It was the best night in a long string of near-disappointments.
The boys and I were all ready to head out for a night of celebration. I was mentally calculating how I might peel off and find Melody, when something out of Lemony Snicket’s occurred.
A creepy nun-like woman and a hunkering hobbit of a man thrust a squirming pile of blankets into my arms. Then, like a process server, he slapped me with an envelope, saying it was all her legal papers, and they high-tailed it out of the stadium so fast…
I was too shocked to chase them.
“I don’t know what this is all about, Mom.” My voice strains, and I watch her playing with what I’ve since learned is a nine-month-old baby girl supposedly belonging to me. “I don’t even remember anyone named Jules Allen.”
“Knox Bradford.” Mom’s tone is still sweet, but her eyes leveled on me through her glasses let me know I’m in trouble. “I taught you to have more respect for women.”
“Mom. I have loads of respect for women. Trust me.” I think about eating Melody’s pussy until her legs shake… again and again. “I honestly don’t remember her.”
Mom stands, holding the baby. “I’m sure if you think about it, you’ll remember her. This precious miracle has your blue eyes.”
Standing beside her, I look down at the baby, who takes that moment to blink up at me. Her eyes are definitely big blue sapphires, but what does that prove?
“Don’t all babies have blue eyes?” I ask hopefully.
“No.” Mom puts her into my arms, and I bend my knees, struggling to get my hands on her correctly so I don’t drop her. “Austin’s eyes were light brown when he was that age. Kimmie’s were too. You’re holding her like a football.”
“That’s a good thing, right? I’m a pro at holding footballs.”
“Hold her like this.” Mom positions the little girl upright closer to me, so her little stomach is pressed against my chest.
Then she puts one of my hands under her pampered butt, and the other on her tiny back. Her little face is close to mine, and she makes a high-pitched noise almost like she’s trying to talk.
“See?” Mom smiles up at me. “You’ve got this.”
“No… I don’t.” It only seems to be going well… then she starts to move. “She’s so fucking squirmy…” My knees bend, and the panic hits. “I’m going to drop her!”
Her little mouth pulls down so fast, and her bottom lip pops out. Her blue eyes crease, and she hiccups three times before starting to cry.
“Ohhh… Oh, no.” I hug her close again, patting her back. “There, there… Don’t cry, little baby.”
It doesn’t work. She keeps on yelling like her little heart is broken, doing these tiny hiccups just like in a movie. I make a desperate, help me face at my mom.
Her eyes narrow, and she shakes her head, taking the baby again. “Knox Bradford, you can’t shout at an infant.”
“I wasn’t trying to shout at her! She scared me.”
Mom cups her hand gently on the back of the baby’s neck and does a little bouncy move, rolling her eyes while kissing the baby’s forehead and working her magic.
In no time, Christine is soothed again.
Christine. The paperwork said the baby’s name is Christine.
It’s not the name I would’ve chosen, but I’m still not convinced that’s any of my business.
“See how good you are at this?” I lower my voice, crossing my arms over my chest worriedly. “You have to stay here with me, Mom. You can’t leave me alone with her. I’ll totally fuck this up.”
“No more F-bombs.” Mom levels her eyes on me. “Starting now.”
“She doesn’t understand a word I say,” I argue as gently as possible. “And I am freaking the fuck out right now. Some lawyer shows up with a baby and says it’s mine? A woman I don’t even know said she had my kid, then she died, and now I have to figure it out?”
The baby sucks on her chubby fingers, blinking up at me, and a perfectly formed tear hangs on her thick lashes. She’s seriously a cute little kid, but still.
“Have you ever seen the movie Three Men and a Baby?” Mom has that tone in her voice like she’s addressing the students in her library.
“Nope.” I shake my head. “Never even heard of it.”
“Don’t tell your aunt Raven. She’ll have a fit and make you sit down and watch it immediately.” Mom shakes her head before continuing. “I’m going to tell you the same thing Ted Dansen’s mother told him when he discovered he had a baby girl he’d never seen before.”
My stomach cramps, and I have a feeling this isn’t going to be good for me. “You’re moving in?” I say hopefully.
“No.” Mom’s tone is flat. “You’ve always been the baby, Knox Bradford. Now you have to be the man. You have plenty of money to make this go away, but I hope you’ll use it to do the right thing. Your dad was able to do it. Your brother is doing it. It’s time to step up and be the father you are.”
“But Mom…” My voice starts to rise.
“No buts.” Mom hands the baby to me again, and this time she’s less squirmy.
She actually seems to have mellowed. She puts her chubby cheek on my shoulder, and I’m able to hold onto her better.
“Can’t you just stay with me for a month?” I plead.
Mom’s lips twist, and she shakes her head, sliding her fingers over the back of the baby’s head. “I have to get back to school, but I’ll ask Edward if he’ll come stay with you. The team is doing well, and I’m sure Austin can spare him for a few days. He’s actually very good with babies.”
I have no problem believing that. Edward is good at everything.
“Can he get here tonight?” I glance at the clock. “I’ve got to practice. We’re playing on Sunday.”
“Y’all don’t have a nursery at the Dome?” She picks up her purse, sliding the strap onto her shoulder. “Hendrix would take Haddy with him to the stadium when Raven had to work.”
My brow furrows, and I blink at her. “I have no idea.”
Mom tilts her head and smiles. “Looks like you have some homework to do.” Stepping forward, she reaches up, and I bend down for her to kiss my cheek. “You’ve got this, Knoxey. People have been doing it for centuries.”
“Usually with nine months to prepare.” I’m doing my best not to shout, because if Mom is leaving me, the last thing I want is for Christine to start screaming again. “I didn’t even get nine days.”
This baby and I barely made it through the morning after Maverick and Dove left. They extended their trip until Mom could get here, and Dove taught me how to make a bottle and how to make baby cereal.
We all went to the store, and she picked out bags of baby food and supplies for me to buy. Dove even showed me how to put a diaper on her, but holy shit, when this little girl craps her pants, it’s like regular ole adult poop—and it stinks like regular adult poop, too. I nearly barfed all over her.
I don’t know how we’re going to make it through the night.
“I happen to know there’s a website called CitySitter that will help you find a nanny, and your dad sent this for you.” She holds out what looks like Chapstick.
“Don’t know why I need that,” I mutter, taking it and shoving it into my pocket.
“The family is all so happy for you, and everyone can’t wait to meet her. You’re coming home in a few weeks?”
“Yeah, whatever. Thanks for coming.”
“I love you, honey.” She smiles, giving me a little wave as she abandons me in my time of greatest need.
I don’t say all the pissed-off things I’m thinking.
The door closes, and a lead weight presses against my chest. I walk back into the apartment, doing my best to breathe. Inhale… exhale…
I put the little girl in the bouncy chair Dove said babies like. She was right. Dove is going to be a great mom. Maverick would not let her stay with me, not even after I told him I only flirted with her to make him mad.
The peach orchard is all closed up for the winter, and that asshole just shook his head and patted me on the shoulder. He’s fucking loving this. Dove at least had the decency to seem worried about me. She held my hand and told me to text her if I got in a jam. I just said thanks.
Mom’s gone, they’re gone, then my phone lights up.
Kimmie
Mav sent me a picture of our new baby. Knoxey! She’s beautiful. Aunt DeeDee and I are dying to hold her.
Knox
You can hold her now! Y’all come stay with me.
Kimmie
You know we would, but we’ve got school. Testing starts in a few weeks, and the holidays are getting closer. It’s a crazy time.
Knox
You teach second grade. How crazy can it be?
Kimmie
I’ll let that slide, considering you’re just learning how much work one child can be. Try seventeen.
Knox
At least they can feed themselves. And they’re toilet trained. And they can tell you what they want.
Kimmie
You’ll get the hang of it. Don’t worry. Dove said she showed you the basics.
Knox
I can’t believe y’all don’t care more about the wellbeing of this child.
Kimmie
You sound like every parent who just brought a newborn home from the hospital, and you’re through the hardest part! We’ll see you soon.
With a soft growl, I shove my phone into my pocket. I’m pissed at everyone right now.
Standing in front of the baby, I cross my arms and look down at her. She stares right back at me, blinking those big blue eyes. At least she’s not crying anymore. Mom helped me feed her, and we changed her last diaper, but guess what? No poop.
So I’m sure she’ll be taking a dump before the night’s over, and Dove said I have to bathe her. For now, she’s sitting in that chair looking all innocent and cute.