Chapter Ten
Alyse
That went much better than I thought it would. I felt like I was in a dream watching K.C. snuggle up on Kaden. There was a physical bond that instantly formed that I saw happen right before my eyes. I’m still trying to get my emotions under control.
First obstacle completed, now onto the next. I have no idea how this is going to work. I’m hoping he has a few days off, though. I know Rigs wants to take him to Bryce’s wedding tomorrow. Which means he can come back with us. With me. I need to be careful. I don’t want to come on too strong and scare him away. One baby does not mean we are a couple.
K.C. picked a good time to soil his diaper. It will give him and Rigs a chance to talk. The look on Kaden’s face was priceless. Welcome to my world, buddy.
After getting him changed, I take a few minutes to clean up the mascara under my eyes and straighten my hair a little. I’m holding K.C. and feel his body relax into me. He can fall asleep in a second. This has been an exciting day for him.
I walk out to find both Rigs and Kaden standing and looking at me. It almost makes me look behind me to see if they are looking at something else. I’m not sure what to make of their faces.
“So, umm. He’s all clean, and asleep,” I say as I make it over to them.
“I was just telling Rigs that I’m starving and need some American food. If you don’t mind, there’s a little place up the road next to a park. I really just want a good burger and fries. We can get it to go and eat outside,” Kaden says really quickly.
“That works for me. Rigs? You on board?” I ask just as nervous.
“Yep. We can put K.C. in his stroller and I’ll walk around with him while he sleeps to give you two kiddos a chance to talk,” he says, giving me a wink.
I feel weird riding over with Rigs. I want to be with Kaden, but this is all just strange. I don’t know how to act or what I’m supposed to do. I feel like a teenager again with a school girl crush.
Once we order and receive our food to go, we walk across the street this little quaint park. Rigs eats with us and then excuses himself. K.C. should be waking up soon. I don’t know how long Kaden and I will have to talk.
“I’m sorry again to spring this on you like this. I didn’t know how to handle it, and I just thought that an email was too impersonal. It took me so long to even find you. I never thought I would. I imagined you walking into my deli years from now and discovering him. I went into labor when I discovered your emails. Then with everything baby related going on, I didn’t respond right away. I thought I lost my chance. It wasn’t until the second time that Rigs came in that we struck up a conversation and discovered there was a connection. He pulled some strings and was able to find out when you were coming back…” I trail off and wait to hear his response.
“At first I thought you were with Rigs. I was so confused and pissed…” he hesitates and looks around like he’s searching for the right words.
“I could tell,” I interrupt.
“I’m not really good with talking to people. There’s so many things going on in this big head of mine. Just know that I’m not upset. I’m surprised, of course, but I remember that we didn’t use protection,” he makes a face and shakes his head. “I’m sorry about that. I’m not usually that irresponsible. I’m more pissed that I left you to deal with all of this alone. He’s beautiful, Alyse.”
“He looks like his daddy,” I say with a smile.
“Poor kid,” he says with a chuckle. “So, I’m off for a week. I don’t want to assume anything, but I’m hoping that I can use that time to spend with K.C. I can get a hotel.”
“I’d love that. I don’t want to assume anything either, but you can stay with us. Listen, I don’t expect anything from you except to be a part of K.C.’s life. I don’t want to think you are trapped.” I jump a little when Kaden immediately stands.
Putting his hands on his hips, he bends over a little and looks directly into my eyes.
“I take responsibility of what’s mine,” he says with a little growl.
“I didn’t…” I stand up as well.
“Sorry,” he interrupts, clearing his throat. “That came out too harsh. I want you to know first and foremost that I will help and I will take care of him…you. I will be a part of his life at the least.
“I like you, Alyse. From the moment I met you, I felt a connection. We owe it to that little boy to try. Hell, we owe it to ourselves to take the chance, right?”
“So, we take it one day at a time?” I ask.
“One day at a time. It’s not like I want us to move in together right away. I can’t anyways, Alyse. I have six months left on my enlistment and I’ll be deployed for the last three of those months,” he says quickly.
“Wait, you have to go away again? When?” I ask, feeling a pull in my gut.
“Shit. See. I’m an idiot. I could have done that better,” he says, coming around the table and placing his hands on my shoulders. “I’ll drive up to see you and K.C. every weekend until I have to leave.”
I reach out and fist my hands into the sides of his shirt and place my forehead in the middle of his chest. My nose is instantly filled with his masculine scent. My body instantly reacts causing me to shudder.
“Okay. I have a feeling there will be a few obstacles to get around in the beginning. We’ll figure it out,” I whisper.
Kaden pulls me into an embrace and I instantly feel protected. His strong arms envelope me. I wrap my arms around his waist and let out a sigh.
“You feel good in my arms. I think I could get used to this,” he says as I feel his lips kiss the top of my head.
“I agree that I feel good in your arms.” I respond.
“Mamamama,” I hear K.C. calling.
I don’t want to let go of Kaden, so I twist a little to see Rigs coming towards us with a very awake K.C. waving to us. He always makes me smile and fills my heart with such love.
“Sorry, he was insistent on coming back to his Momma,” Rigs says.
“It’s okay. I figured he would be getting up soon,” I say, releasing Kaden.
I unbuckle K.C. from his stroller and grab his diaper bag. “Okay first Daddy lesson of the day. Diaper changing.”
“Um what? I don’t know anything about any of that,” Kaden says, backing away.
“He’s just wet. I’m not going to make you do it, just make you watch and teach you a few things,” I say, laughing.
I grab a changing pad from the bag and lay it down on the picnic table. Kaden steps over beside me and gives me his undivided attention. I gently lay K.C. down and place my hand on his belly.
“Always make sure you have a hold of him. He rolls and squirms a lot,” I say, pulling a diaper and wipes out with my loose hand.
I quickly loosen his clothes and start to take off the dirty diaper. “Now this next part is very important. There’s something magical about air and the penis. Once the open-air hits it, it wants to pee. Always have something to cover it or it will go off and you will not enjoy the outcome.”
K.C. giggles and claps his hands like he is cheering the few times I got hit unexpectedly. “You think that’s funny, don’t you, buddy?”
Another round of claps and giggles occur. Kaden holds out his hand and K.C. slaps it. “Hey! Don’t encourage him!”
“Sorry,” Kaden says, laughing. “Just couldn’t help it.”
“Getting ganged up on already,” I say with a smile.
I finish explaining how you need to wipe him clean and show Kaden how to put on a new diaper. I finish getting K.C. dressed and Kaden immediately reaches down and picks him up.
“That didn’t look too hard. The rough part looked to be all the little buttons. I’ve got big hands,” Kaden says, patting K.C. on the rear as he bounces him on his arm.
“Wait till you have to do number two. Your son is a healthy pooper. Those are not enjoyable,” I say, putting everything back in the diaper bag. I toss the dirty diaper in the trash can.
“I’ll leave that up to you,” Kaden say, wrinkling his nose. “I already got to smell it once. No thank you.”
“Oh no, you don’t get off that easy. Mom needs a break from poop duty,” I say, pulling out some baby food.
Kaden straddles the picnic table and turns K.C. around so he’s facing me. I mirror him and proceed to feed K.C. as if it’s the most natural thing in the world, like we’ve done this together a thousand times before. We talk as I scoop spoonful after spoonful until K.C. finishes the jar.
I don’t even notice that Rigs is sitting across from us until he clears his throat getting our attention.
“Sorry, Rigs,” I say, embarrassed that I’ve total ignored him.
“Oh, don’t mind me. I think we should get going, though. We have three hours of a drive, remember?” Rig says, smiling back and forth between us.
“Oh yeah. Umm,” I start to say.
“You and K.C. are riding with me. Rigs, you can go ahead if you want,” Kaden says, standing up and shifting K.C. around in his arms.
“Sir, yes, sir,” Rigs says teasingly. “I’ll be by to pick you up tomorrow around three o’clock.”
We switch out K.C.’s car seat from Rigs’ truck to Kaden’s and I give Rigs a hug goodbye.
“Thank you for being here for me today. I don’t think I would have been able to do it without your support,” I say to Rigs.
“Anytime, doll. Hey, I got to see my brother, so it was a win-win for me,” Rigs says, pulling Kaden in for a hug.
We stand and silently watch as Rigs pulls away. I show Kaden how to properly strap K.C. into his car seat and we head off to home. My home. Maybe one day our home? I don’t want to look too far ahead, but I really want this to work out. The initial nerves have melted away and all I feel now is pure contentment.