Welcome Home, Daddy

by Carrie Weaver

“We were just having a little fun. He was safe, I had a good grip on him.”

  “Just having a little fun.” Her eyes blazed. Annie seemed to have instantly switched from panic to lioness protecting her cub. “Do you know how easily he could have fallen and broken his neck? You could have killed him. I will not allow you to endanger my son. Until you can prove to me that you take the responsibility seriously, don’t even ask for unsupervised time.”

  Drew shook his head. “You’re blowing things out of proportion.”

  “Micah’s safety is my top priority. I know what’s safe and what isn’t. You definitely are not.”

  CHAPTER FIVE

  FIFTEEN MINUTES AFTER sinking to the park bench, Annie’s knees had stopped shaking, but she still felt trembly inside.

  “Down,” Micah said, pushing against her chest with his hands.

  She forced herself to loosen her grip and set him on his feet.

  That made him happy for a few short minutes. Then he was back again, whining, and it took every ounce of willpower she had not to scoop him up once more.

  But Drew obviously thought overstimulating him was a good idea. It would serve him right to see the consequences of his actions.

  “Swing,” Micah demanded.

  “Sorry, buddy, your mom says no.” Drew handed him a shovel. “Here, let’s dig in the sand.”

  “Swing.”

  Annie folded her arms. “It’s not fair to make me the bad guy.”

  “But you are the bad guy.”

  “I’m the voice of reason. Someone has to be mature here and you’re obviously not the one.”

  “I happen to be a responsible guy. What’s this really about, Annie?”

  “Why does it have to be something to do with me? Why can’t you admit you were wrong?”

  “Because I didn’t do anything wrong.”

  She ignored that, knowing her response at the moment would be “Did, too,” which would shoot down her argument for being the mature one. So she opted for silence, grateful when two mothers with several children in tow converged on the playground, saving her from responding.

  Micah eyed the children for a moment, then returned to playing with Drew.

  As for Annie, she watched his patience with Micah and refused to be swayed. He took a second shovel and helped Micah fill the bucket. Something about seeing his strong, tanned hand cradle the plastic implement made her get all misty.

  Wasn’t this what she’d always wanted for her son? A strong, intelligent guy to bond with?

  Shaking her head at the unwanted thought, she pretended to watch the other children play, while keeping track of Micah out of the corner of her eye.

  Once he was engrossed in building his version of a sand castle, Drew stood and brushed the sand off his jeans. He walked to the bench and sat down. “Hey, I understand you’ve been his only parent up till now, and it’s hard to let someone else step in. But you’ve got to work with me here.”

  “I am working with you. But I can’t stand by and watch you endanger my son.”

  He grasped her hand. “You don’t trust me much, do you?”

  “I don’t even know you. And all of a sudden I’m supposed to turn over the most important person in my life. He’s just a baby. He might not even be able to tell me if you did something…wrong.”

  Drew released her hand. “I’m no child molester.”

  Annie ignored a twinge of guilt. Keeping Micah safe was more important than tiptoeing around Drew’s feelings.

  “How can I be sure?”

  “By getting to know me.” He sighed. “I understand your protectiveness. Being a parent is scary for me, too. I want to do things right and I guess there’s a learning curve.”

  His admission touched her. It was hard to believe such a big guy could be afraid of a small boy. But she remembered her first few days caring for Micah.

  “You should have seen me the first night I had him all by myself. My mom had gone home to Payson. I panicked because I was sure I wasn’t ready. But Micah needed me. And you know what? I didn’t do things perfectly. I did some dumb stuff. But it still worked out okay because I loved him and wanted what was best for him. Before I knew it, he was six months old and the healthiest, happiest baby around. I’d somehow managed, mistakes and all.”

  “Are you going to allow me to make mistakes?”

  She hesitated. “I can’t say I won’t freak out if I see danger. But I’ll try to cut you some slack. I didn’t stop to think how hard it must be for you, having all this thrown at you. It’s not like you had eight months to get accustomed to the idea like I did.”

  He draped his arm behind her, over the wooden back of the park bench, his red Cardinals T-shirt stretched across his broad chest. “All I ask is for a chance. Because I really want this, Annie. I really want to be the best possible dad for Micah.”

  “Just be more cautious. Babies’ heads account for more of their body weight proportionally than an adult’s. They fall headfirst. A tumble from any height could be disastrous.”

  Understanding glimmered in his eyes. He nodded. “I promise I’ll be more careful about heights.”

  Annie released a breath. “Good.”

  “Maybe we can do something together on Saturday, the three of us? It’ll give you a chance to fill me in on the dos and don’ts where Micah’s concerned.”

  “This Saturday?” Annie stalled for a moment. Supervising his time with their son was a good thing. And so was bringing him up to speed on how to keep Micah safe. But she hadn’t really anticipated what it would mean to have him in their lives on a regular basis. Of course he would want to see his son more than just on holidays.

  “Yeah. It’ll give all of us a chance to adjust to me being in the picture.”

  “I have to work the football game.”

  “During the afternoon? I thought high schools had their games at night.”

  “They do. But I need to be there by five.”

  “I’ll have you back in plenty of time.”

  Annie racked her mind for any other plausible excuse and couldn’t find one. “In that case, okay.”

  What really disturbed her was the small spark of anticipation she felt. This was all about Micah, wasn’t it?

  WHEN DREW ARRIVED at Annie’s apartment Saturday morning, he was surprised to see a bunch of toys and baby items outside her door.

  He eyed the pile as he rang the bell.

  Annie opened the door, fresh-faced, her hair drawn back in a ponytail. She looked all of about sixteen. “Come on in. I’m changing Micah one more time before we leave.”

  Micah dashed out of his room, completely naked.

  He waved, giggled and ran back to his room.

  Annie sighed. “We’ll be just a minute. There are days I can’t seem to keep clothes on that child.”

  “He’s a free spirit, huh?”

  “Apparently. My mom says I was the same way when I was his age. But back in those days, it was okay for kids to run around in only a diaper, weather permitting.”

  Drew chuckled. “So you weren’t always this…careful.”

  “Apparently not.”

  “Anything I can help with?”

  “No. More attention will only encourage him. He thinks it’s a game.” She scooped up Micah as he dashed out of his room. “No, you don’t, mister. We need to get some clothes on you if you want to go on a picnic.”

  “Picnic.” Micah clapped his hands.

  “He’s excited. He was up extra early this morning,” she said over her shoulder.

  “What time is extra early for him?”

  “Five-thirty. Usually he doesn’t wake up till about six. Six-fifteen if I’m really lucky.”

  “Wow, that shoots the heck out of sleeping in on the weekend.”

  Annie placed Micah on the changing table along the wall by the door and swiftly diapered him. Then she started wrestling him into his clothes, a maneuver that resembled dressing a greased pig.

  “I gave up on sleeping in a
long time ago. I’m just grateful he sleeps through the night and usually allows me close to eight hours. He had colic when he was an infant, and it was pretty rough.”

  Drew wandered around the room, taking in the Winnie-the-Pooh theme, the large mural of Pooh, Rabbit and Eeyore on the opposite wall. He wondered if Micah took comfort in it as he drifted off to sleep, or if he was scared of monsters. There was so much Drew needed to learn about his son.

  He picked a stuffed dog off the floor, where it appeared to have fallen from the white, wooden crib. He set it inside, where Micah could cuddle it tonight.

  Turning, he watched Annie pull on Micah’s jeans before tugging a T-shirt over his head. There was some cartoon guy wearing a hard hat on the front.

  “He had colic?” he asked, making note of another precious detail. “I’ve heard it can be bad.”

  Annie nodded. “It was.”

  “He doesn’t have it anymore?”

  “Nope. He turned three months old and it disappeared. Poof. Just as the pediatrician promised. A good thing, because I don’t think I could have taken too many more sleepless nights.”

  “I’m sorry I wasn’t here to help.” What he wouldn’t have given to assist with some of those late-night sessions.

  Annie shrugged, stretching to grab a tiny pair of socks from the top dresser drawer while still keeping a steadying hand on Micah. “We got through it.”

  “But it would have been easier with two of us.”

  “Drew, it’s not like we would have been living together as a family.” She propped her hands on her hips. “And it would have been nearly impossible, handing off the baby every other weekend.”

  He shrugged. “I guess you’re right.”

  Still, he wondered.

  Annie deftly pulled one sock, then the other, over the boy’s ever-moving feet. “There you go, sweetie. Some shoes and you’ll be ready to leave. Drew, would you get the green blanket from the crib?”

  “Sure.” He grabbed the soft, fuzzy blanket, resisting the urge to bury his nose in it. Already, he loved the kid more than he could have imagined.

  What if he isn’t yours?

  Shaking his head, he wondered if he’d already gone too far down this road to turn back. It felt right to be Micah’s dad.

  “Come on, let’s go before he needs to be changed again.” Annie tucked a lock of hair back in her ponytail and straightened her glasses. Then she grabbed Micah and headed for the door.

  “Sure thing.”

  “I’ve got most of the stuff out front. Let me get some juice and snacks from the fridge.”

  “All that stuff is going? It looks like enough for a couple weeks at least.”

  Annie’s laugh was infectious. “Spoken like a true amateur. There’s a portable playpen in case he wants to take a nap when we get there. Enough diapers to make sure we don’t run out under any circumstances. Been there, done that and it wasn’t pleasant. Toys. Several changes of clothes and shoes, just in case he encounters water. Which reminds me, are we picnicking near a stream or pond?”

  “I’ve never been to this spot before. My boss recommended it.”

  “If there’s water, we’ll have to be extra careful not to let Micah out of sight for even a second. There was another child drowning reported on the news last night.”

  Drew winced. “I’ll watch him like a hawk.”

  “Good.”

  Annie stowed a few more items in a soft-sided cooler and slung it over her shoulder. “The diaper bag’s out front, too.”

  “You must really trust your neighbors.”

  “Ha. Mrs. Washington lives next door. She’s better than any security system. And a real sweetheart, too. She’s like Micah’s second grandma. My mom’s in Payson and she doesn’t get to see him nearly as often as she’d like.” Annie held out her hand to Micah. “Come on, honey, let’s go.”

  He dodged around her and tried to open the front door. Fortunately, the round knob was too much of a challenge for his present dexterity. Drew could tell it wouldn’t be long, though….

  “Remind me to bring some tools next time and I’ll install some child safety stuff.”

  “Already installed.” Annie reached up and flipped a small lock at nearly the six-foot level.

  “Ah. So Micah can’t open the door.”

  “Right. The little monkey is into everything these days. And to think I couldn’t wait for him to walk.” She rolled her eyes, but her smile told Drew she loved every minute.

  He scooped up the boy. “How about a piggyback ride, buddy?”

  Micah crowed, “Piggyback!”

  Drew settled him on his shoulders, then grabbed the portable playpen and what seemed like a thousand bags.

  Annie picked up the remaining three or four. “All set.”

  “All this for one afternoon,” he said, shaking his head.

  Her laughter warmed him.

  For a minute, it almost felt as if they were a family.

  ANNIE LEANED BACK IN her seat and relaxed. It was sheer heaven not to be driving, to simply allow Drew to take over. And that disturbed her. She barely knew the man and here she was, turning over her responsibility to him.

  Still, sharing a bit of the work was a heady relief.

  Micah, secure in his child safety seat in the back, pointed out the window and chattered away. His commentary soon slowed to a sleepy word here and there. And the next time she glanced back, he was asleep, his dark lashes dusting his chubby cheeks. In moments like these, she loved him so much it literally hurt.

  “He’s asleep,” she murmured.

  Drew glanced in the rearview mirror. “Yeah, that’s what I thought. It’ll be good for him to catch a catnap before we get there.”

  “Why down by Tucson?”

  “I figured a bit of a drive would give us a chance to talk. Let you get to know me better so you feel secure when I’m with Micah.”

  She was impressed with his thoughtfulness. He really was trying.

  “You said your boss told you about this picnic spot. What is it exactly that you do?”

  He seemed to hesitate for a moment. “Right now, home inspections. It allows me to get outside and not be tied to a desk all day. I paid my way through college by working in construction each summer.”

  “Did you graduate?”

  “Business administration. But quickly realized I wasn’t cut out for an office job. I’ve been thinking about going back for an advanced degree.”

  Annie was about to ask what kind of advanced degree was necessary for home inspections, when she noticed red-and-white flashing emergency lights up ahead.

  “I hope it’s not a bad accident,” she said as they approached.

  “Looks like a simple fender bender.”

  Drew signaled his lane change and they were around the accident in no time.

  Annie released a breath. Emergency vehicles still had the ability to set off alarm bells in her head.

  Drew grasped her hand and squeezed, the action surprisingly natural, as if this was just one of many trips they’d taken together. “It didn’t look like anyone was hurt.”

  The fact that he could read her so easily should have made her uncomfortable. But it was almost as reassuring as the warm pressure of his hand on hers.

  “Um, yes, thank goodness.”

  Drew squeezed her hand again, then released it.

  “We were talking about college. Is that where you learned sign language?”

  “I started out at Arizona State, but transferred over to Phoenix College once I decided I wanted to pursue sign language. They have a wonderful program.”

  “What made you decide on that?”

  She’d never confided in anyone about the scare that had caused her to rethink her priorities. She didn’t intend to start with Drew.

  Glancing out the window, she said, “I’m not really sure if there was one defining moment. I’d gotten tired of the party scene and wanted to focus more on helping people. There was a hearing-impaired girl in one o
f my classes who brought her own interpreter. It fascinated me from the start.”

  That much was the truth.

  “I imagine it took a lot of hard work.”

  Annie nodded. “It did. There were times I didn’t think I’d ever get the hang of it. It’s like learning a foreign language. Only one that requires fine motor skills to boot. Finally, it just seemed to click.”

  “I bet it’s satisfying, knowing you’re helping someone.”

  “It is.”

  Drew’s expression was thoughtful and he didn’t seem inclined to pursue more conversation.

  Annie took the opportunity to watch the desert unfold through the window and simply enjoy the quiet. It wasn’t often she had that luxury these days.

  The soft music playing on Drew’s radio lulled her. She felt…safe.

  Before she knew it, Drew was shaking her. “We’re here, Annie.”

  She sat up, dazed. “I must’ve dozed off.”

  “You and Micah both caught some z’s.”

  Self-consciously, she wiped her mouth, hoping she hadn’t drooled.

  “Where are we?”

  “Picacho Peak.”

  She got out of the truck and stretched. Then she went around to Micah’s door. Brushing the hair back from his forehead, she was amazed anew that she’d produced such a perfect child.

  “We’re here, sweetie.” Unbuckling his harness, she lifted him out of his seat.

  He murmured something and settled his face against her neck, his breath warm.

  “Do you want me to take him?” Drew asked.

  “Not until he wakes up completely. He might be startled with a stranger holding him.”

  She read the disappointment in Drew’s eyes. “How long will you consider me a stranger?”

  “I didn’t mean it like that. He’s already getting to know you. Today will help. You just need to be patient…with both of us.”

  “I hope so,” he murmured, grabbing the diaper bag, blanket and picnic basket from the backseat.

  Annie glanced around the parking area, which held only two other cars. “There’s a trail over there. Is that where we go?”

  “Yes. My boss said there’s a trail around the curve. Then there’s a clearing with a nice thicket of mesquite trees less than a quarter mile away. You’re sure you don’t want me to carry him? I bet he gets heavy.”