“You should be more alert when you have my son,” I say.
My voice startles her and she jumps, causing Knox to open his eyes before closing them again just as quickly.
Stepping outside, I shut the patio door and walk toward them. Leaning down, I take him from her. She juts her lip out in protest, but I need to hold him.
“You weren’t gone long,” she comments.
“I was gone for four hours, sister.” I laugh.
She grins, holding up her Kindle. “It’s really good,” she defends.
I just shake my head. She’s always loved to read. “I stopped by the office, talked to Dad, answered a few e-mails then went to Walmart.”
“How was Dad?”
“Good. He’s going to talk to Mom. I just need some time with him, you know?”
“Yeah, we’re just a phone call away. You got this, brother.”
“Hey, I ran into Kendall.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, she was behind me in line. Speaking of, I have a ton of shit—” I look down at my son sleeping in my arms. “I mean stuff that I need to unpack for him. You feel like helping?”
“Sure, I love all the little baby stuff. I had a blast when Mom and I went shopping for him,” she admits.
I stand and lead the way into the living room, where I left the remaining bags.
“Holy shit, Ridge. Did you buy the entire store?” She laughs.
“No, but he needs stuff, and I’m his dad. It’s my job to provide for him. I just got him a little bit of everything—more clothes and blankets and towels and stuff.”
“I can see that.” She starts unloading bags and comes across the tiny sweatpants, holding them up. “Too damn adorable.”
“Tiny,” I reply.
“You did good. I’ll unpack these clothes and throw them in the washer.”
“Thank you. I need to put his pen thing together and the bouncing seat. Can you hang out for a while? I’d like to have that done before I brave my night alone.”
“You got it. It’s almost time for him to eat anyway.”
“I’ll do it. Then I’ll get started.” I need as much practice as I can get; that way, when it’s just me and him, I’ll feel more comfortable.
I strap Knox into his car seat, not taking any chances, and carry him to the kitchen. I quickly mix up a bottle, something I’ve mastered in just a few short days. Little man is snoozing away, so I set the bottle next to his seat on the table and make Reagan and me a sandwich. I inhale mine, just shoving in the last bite when he starts to fuss.
Perfect timing. I got this dad thing down.
Knox takes his bottle like a champ. I piss him off when I stop to burp him, but it’s for his own good. I hate to hear him cry, but I know this is important or he’ll get a bellyache later; the nurses at the hospital stressed it, as has my mom and Reagan. I’m still not sure how Reagan knows so much about kids. I think it’s just a woman thing. She played house growing up, feeding and taking care of her dolls while I played cowboys and Indians and pretended to have shoot-outs.
Four ounces, two burps, and a diaper change later, my little man is content and snoozing away. I fold up an old quilt and make a small square on the floor next to me, gently laying him there to nap.
Reagan comes into the room. “Hey, all the clothes and blankets and all that are in the washer. What’s next?”
“I’m going to start putting stuff together. You can just relax unless he needs something.”
“You don’t have to tell me twice.” She plops down on the couch and crosses her legs. “Carry on.” She waves her hand at me.
I chuckle at her. I love my sister. Surprisingly, the bouncing seat—or bouncer, as Reagan calls it—has very little assembly; I just snap the legs in and the toys bar, and we’re good to go. I add the four batteries as needed, and it roars to life. Reagan hops off the couch and picks Knox up from the floor. He stretches his little arms and legs and grunts; he was sleeping well.
“You won’t sleep tonight, you little stinker,” she tells him as she gently places him in the bouncer and straps him in. She turns it on and he falls right back to sleep. “He likes it.” She grins.
He does seem to like it. I open the Pack ‘n Play and to my surprise, it’s limited assembly as well. It comes in a carrying case for travel—that’s a plus. It folds open, and I lock it into place. There’s a table-type piece that fits on the top.
“That’s so you can change him. Say you’re at the office. You don’t have to lay him on the floor, or your desk, and you won’t have to lean over the side. That would be awkward,” Reagan explains.
“That’s so handy. At least, I think it will be.”
“Yep, it’ll be perfect for poker night with the guys. You’ll know he has a safe place to play and sleep.”
“I doubt there will be many poker nights in my future.”
“Why the hell not?”
“I have a baby, Reagan.”
“And? You’re a dad, Ridge, but you’re still you. You need to have a life too.”
“He’s my life.”
“I get that, I do, but you have to live for you too. You have to find the balance. There’s nothing wrong with poker night. You just take him with you, and bring this—” she points to the Pack ‘n Play “—pack a diaper bag and you’re all set. You know the guys are going to be onboard with it.”
“Yeah, it’s just going to take some time for me to get a routine. To feel comfortable taking him out like that on my own.”
“You have the guys,” she fires back.
I stare at her. “Really, Reagan? How many times have you seen them around babies?”
“Kent has a niece, and Mark’s sister is pregnant with twins,” she reminds me.
“I guess.”
“Listen, I know you need time to adjust, but don’t lose you in the process.”
“It’s different now, you know?”
“I get that, brother, I do. You have to find a balance. You can be his father and still have a life. One day, you’ll find a woman who will love both of you. How are you going to do that if you stay closed up? You’re a kick-ass dad, Ridge. Just look at all this.” She waves her hand around the room. “You will stop at nothing to give him what he needs. Just remember you have needs too.”
I smirk at her and she tosses a pillow at my head.
“You good here?” she asks.
“Yeah, the guys are stopping by later, bringing dinner. You can stay or come back, whatever.”
“I think I’m going to go home and catch up on laundry. Stop by the shop and pay a few bills then curl up with my Kindle and finish my book. You boys have fun.”
I stand and give her a hug. “Love you, sister,” I say, as I kiss the top of her head.
“Yeah, yeah.” She grins. “See you later.”
“Later.”
The house is quiet except for the soft hum of the bouncer seat that has kept my son in a deep slumber. I grab a few pillows off the couch and lie on the floor beside it. “Sleep when he does” Mom has said more times than I can count. I place my hand on his little leg and allow myself to drift off to sleep.
Chapter 14
Kendall
My phone rings, jolting me awake. Squinting to look at the clock, I see that it’s only eight in the morning. It’s Saturday, my day off, and I wanted to sleep in.
So much for that plan.
Reaching for the phone, I swipe at the screen and pull it to my ear. “Hello,” I mumble.
“Morning, sweetheart,” my dad’s chipper voice greets me.
“Hey, Dad, everything okay?”
“Yes, why wouldn’t it be?” he asks.
“It’s early, on Saturday. My day off. I was sleeping,” I grumble into the phone.
Dad chuckles. “You’re wasting a beautiful day, Kendall. I do have a favor to ask you, though.”
“Okay?”