Chapter 13 Now
I had never baby sat before. The closest I'd ever come was taking care of Zoe, but she was sixteen, and potty trained. Sure her temper tantrums matched Gabriel's, but other than that, I had absolutely no idea what I was doing. I decided to watch him at Wes, and Zoe's place, because they had Rocko. He was their golden retriever, and I was dog sitting while they were away. I thought, if all else failed, Gabriel would enjoy playing catch with Rocko. What kid didn't love animals?
Mine. That's right, one look at Rocko, and Gabriel screamed bloody murder. After ten minutes, of non stop crying, I decided to put the dog in the garage. I felt bad for Rocko, I really did, but Evie didn't leave me with a car seat, so we were stuck here. Luckily, he had enough toys in his bag to keep him occupied for days, and once the dog was removed our day went a bit smoother.
I managed breakfast easily enough, and we sailed through snack time like pros. Lunch, was a horse of a different color. Everything I showed him he wanted nothing to do with. I was starting to wonder if “no” was his first word, when my cell rang. It was Evie, probably calling to check in. “Hello.” I said, handing Gabriel his sippy cup.
“How's it going over there?” She asked, and I could hear the worry in her voice.
“Other than Gabriel despising Rocko, not too bad.” I joked. “But, while I have you on the phone.. what exactly will he eat for lunch. He's turned down everything I've offered.” I admitted, baffled.
Evie laughed. “He's a picky eater, but he'll eat chicken nuggets any time of the day. Why don't I pick some up on the way over?”
“You're done already?” I asked sadly.
“Don't sound so sad Jake.” She teased. “We can hang around for a while.”
“Alright.” I smiled, even though I knew she couldn't see me. I couldn't help it. The thought of spending more time with Gabriel made me feel something I'd never felt before. I never knew you could love someone that you just met, it was an overwhelming feeling, but in the best kind of way.
I changed Gabriel's diaper, and laid down on the large rug beside him. He laughed, when he turned to face me, and I couldn't help but join him. “Do you want to play airplane?” I asked, remembering a game my father used to play with me. “Yes!” He said, so I motioned him towards me. Grabbing a hold of his small hands, I put my feet on his belly, and lifted him high into the sky. He laughed with delight, and together we made engine sounds, as I swayed him back and forth.
The doorbell rang, catching both of our attentions. “I bet that's your Mama.” I said, with a big smile. “Should we go see?”
“Mama!” He smiled back, as he struggled to get down.
“Hold on buddy, easy does it.” I laughed, gently setting him to his feet. He beelined to the door, banging on it from the inside. “Mama!” He called out, and I could hear Evie laughing on the other side.
Scooping him up in my arms, I pulled the door open to see her smiling face. Gabriel reached his arms out for her, and she gladly took him from mine. “Come on in.” I said, stepping aside, and closing the door behind them.
“Wow.” She said, when she entered the large living room. “Wes, and Zoe really have a beautiful home. I still can't believe they're married. How in the hell did you let that happen?” She teased, setting Gabriel down on the rug with his toys.
“It's a long story.” I said, taking a seat on the couch, and patting the cushion beside me. “How'd your interview go? You never told me what the job was for, you know.”
“I didn't want to say anything until I was sure.” She said, turning to face me. “The interview wasn't for a job for me. I was interviewing other people.”
“Okay...” I said, with question.
“The reason I came back, the real reason, is because I'm opening my own practice.”
“You're moving back to San Francisco?” I asked, with disbelief. “When did you decide this?”
“Six months ago. I knew that once I told you the truth about Gabriel, things would be different for him, and I. As much as you're away, I knew you'd want to see him when you were home.”
“So you planned on moving back, before telling me?”
“The truth is. When I got back into town, I reached out to Zoe. She invited me to the reception, and I had only planned on staying long enough to congratulate her, but then I saw you. Granted, you were pretty drunk, but you were just like I remembered. I knew then, that I was doing the right thing. Even if it hurt.”
Gabriel came rushing over then, holding two hot wheel cars in his hands. “VROOM daddy!” He said, rolling the cars over my legs. “VROOM, VROOM!”
“We should probably give him those chicken nuggets you brought.” I said, ruffling his curly hair. “You ready for lunch buddy?”
“Yes!”
Standing, I grabbed the bag that Evie still held in her hands, and took it into the kitchen. Zoe didn't have much for kids eatery, considering she didn't have any, but I found a plastic plate, and that was good enough. I added more milk to his sippy cup, and placed his nuggets, and fries on the plate before returning to the living room. The coffee table was just the right height, so I set his plate and cup down there. “Here ya go buddy.” I said, and his response was a toothy grin.
When I was sure he was more interested in his food, than in Evie or I; I decided to finish our earlier conversation. “Where were you? These past two years. Where did you go?” I asked her calmly, and quietly, but my voice still cracked with pain.
“I wanted a smaller, quieter setting. I was 23, single, pregnant, and trying to get my MD, it just seemed easier. I had two more years of medical recidancy, so I found a tiny hospital in Ely, Nevada. The population was something like four thousand, and the people.. were amazing. My patients, became my friends, and I just felt alive, like what I was doing there actually mattered. I got to see the reults every day, and it was rewarding.”
“Then why come back?” I asked. “If you were so happy there, why not open your practice there?”
“I watched a news clip about Wes, and Zoe's foundation, Harper's House. You remember what my home life was like when I was a child.” She said without question. “Their cause, really resignated with me, and I thought.. I can help. I sent your sister an email, and the rest was history. She wanted to tell you by the way, but I told her I wanted to do it myself.”
“Did.. did my sister know about Gabriel?” I half whispered, feeling the anger inside of me begin to rise back to the surface.
“No!” She rushed out, reaching for my hand. “Of course not. No one knew, other than Antonio. He let us stay with him while I figured things out, and then once I did, he continued to help with Gabriel when I needed.”
“What does that mean for me? I mean with Gabriel.”
“What do you want it to mean?” She asked, rubbing her thumb over my hand.
The action reminded me of better days. When she actually trusted me enough to let me in. For a minute, I mourned those days, but Gabriel's voice quickly brought me back to the present, and I knew exactly what I wanted. “I want joint custody.” I said, and before she could object, I stopped her. “Please, let me finish. I know I'm deployed a lot, but all I'm asking, is that when I do come home, he gets to stay with me. I want to be put on his birth certificate too, and I'll cover his insurance, and pay child support, whatever you need. I'm still mad as hell that you've kept him away from me, but now that I know about him, I won't lose him.”
Tears began to fall from her eyes, and I instinctively reached for face, intending to wipe them away. I stopped myself though, placing my hands in my lap instead, looking at her with hopeful eyes.
“I think we can figure something out.” She said, with a smile.