Unexpected Gift(28)
“You’re thinking about it.”
“No, I’m just thinking about all the stuff we have to move, and we don’t even have a house yet.”
“Mhmm. I’ve known you a long time, Molls. You’ll talk to me when you’re ready though.”
And that is the thing; I don’t want to talk about it anymore. I want to bury it so deep that even in eighteen years, it takes another eighteen to dig up.
Chapter Thirteen
Caden
I have one of those slings on as I carry Posie. I look like a single father, but I don’t give a shit. My arms and back are starting to hurt. Carrying a kid around all the time is exhausting. I don’t know how people do it with more than one. I think I’m already losing my hair and it has only been a few days.
But it’s worth it.
“You ready to see Aunt Molly? You miss her? Soon you won’t have to be away from her, you know. We are going house shopping today. What do you want? A pool? A jacuzzi? You know, we are going to have to have rules.” She stares at me with her big, brown eyes that look too big for her small face. Posie puts her fist in her mouth and gurgles. “Hey, don’t argue with me. Rules are rules. And the first one? No boys. Until you are… forty. That’s okay, right?”
She gurgles again, spraying spit all over her fist.
“Jeez. A back-talker, already? We are going to work on that, Miss Posie,” I say, as if she can understand me. I place the wipes and diapers I just bought into the trunk.
She squeals, placing her wet, spit-filled fists against my cheeks.
“Squirt, I love you, but how do you have so much spit?” I shut the trunk and open the car door to put her in the car seat, which is a permanent fixture. Like hell I am taking that thing in and out. I have one in here and the stroller. I’m not going to make more work for myself.
She yawns, blinking those long lashes at me, reminding me of Amelia. I lean my arm against the backseat, staring at her precious face. “You look just like them, you know. Sometimes, I think you look like your daddy, but then you get all relaxed and tired, and you look like your mommy after a long days work. Which, you did have a very long day of eating and pooping a lot, by the way.” I lean in and whisper, “We need to work on that.”
Posie giggles before yawning again. I gently brush the blonde baby hair off her forehead, wishing she could have known her parents. “You would have really liked them. Your dad was such a funny guy. He loved driving people crazy. For instance, he made it to where me and your aunt had to live together, he knew we didn’t get along, but he thought it would be funny to see us try.” I bop her nose with my finger. “I’ll have to tell you stories sometime. I don’t want you to grow up not knowing your parents. You deserve to know who they were, but for now, know they were really good people, okay?” I rub my thumb over her cheek, watching her eyes struggle to stay open.
I kiss her forehead and make sure to close the door as softly as I can, so I don’t wake her. I had no idea how much babies don’t like to sleep at night. I can’t remember the last time I had a full night’s rest. I yawn and stretch, letting the sun warm my face before I get into the car.
Checking my phone before I head out on my way to meet Molly, I see a text saying she is ten minutes away from the first house we are about to see. “Time to go.” I pull out of the parking lot and head toward the destination. She is coming from Billings, but I already came to Glendive this morning to get a head start on things.
Little snores come from the backseat, and I grin. It never fails. Every time we walk around the grocery store, Posie sleeps afterward. It is great. I just wish she slept during the night, too, when I need the shut-eye.
I never thought I’d like small town living, but this place? I can see why Brandon loved it. The fields and open space? Wow. A man can get lost in the peacefulness that it brings. I almost miss the turn to the driveway because my eyes are locked on the mountains in the distance. I turn, thankful that the driveway is paved and not gravel or dirt.
When the house comes into view, no other cars are in the driveway, so I must have still beat Molly here. “Wow.” I mean, seeing this place in person is so different compared to seeing it online. The beautiful mountain home stands tall, nestled in the woods, right off of a lake. It has an A-frame style, the roof nearly touching the porch. The windows were long in the front, and I bet on the inside, it has a killer view of the lake and distant mountains.
The sound of a car coming up the driveway pulls me from the beauty of the house. It’s Molly, and behind her, is the real estate agent. Once everyone gets out of their cars, I put my finger to my lips. “She is asleep.”
“Is that a baby sling around you?” Molly whispers, staring at my chest as I place Posie in it.
“Yeah, I’m freaking tired of carrying her around all the time. I mean, I love it, but damn, I can only do it for so long.” I settle her in the fabric and make sure she is safe and sound before we turn to the agent.
“I need one,” Molly mutters. “I can’t believe I didn’t think of that.”
“One step ahead of you. I got you one. It’s in the trunk.” I nod my chin to the trunk.
She stares at me in disbelief. “Thank you.”
“Hi. I’m Florence. I’ll be your realtor. Are you ready to see this place? It just came up on the market. I have a feeling it won’t be there long, either.” The brunette eyes me up and down, but I’m not interested—at all. It shocks me. I’m always a man that is interested. She doesn’t make me look twice, though.