Page 127 of Stage Dive: Short Stories & Novellas
“Hello, Cash,” she said.“Is that your name?Do you like that one?”
My son’s little pink tongue made an appearance.
Anne frowned.“I’m not sure what that means.It could be yummy or it might be a rejection.”
“He’s going to have his name for the rest of his life,” I said.“I don’t want to get it wrong.”
“It’s a big decision.”She put the diaper on him before buttoning his onesie.“Nothing smells like a newborn.So soft and tiny.Aren’t you, precious one?”
“You miss having a baby?”
“It’s a big decision.”She sighed.“It feels like we’ve only just gotten things under control with Tommy.Like we’ve finally gotten a handle on the situation.Adding a child will be like throwing a hand grenade into the mix.They’re such hard work.But I do want another.”
I nodded.
“Though it does get easier, Ev.”
“I believe you.”
Lena left earlier to go to work, leaving Anne here to help.Lena had a photo shoot at a new bar in town.Which just went to show that life didn’t have to be all about being a mother.You could also have a career.Achieve things for yourself.Being a mom wouldn’t always be quite this demanding, which was good news.As much as I loved my son, I still wanted to be me and have my own interests and have time for my husband.Heck, there was a lot to think about.My brain had been scrambling to keep up since the baby appeared.Guess it was partly a result of nil preparation.
He stared up at Anne with his big blue eyes.Hopefully they’d stay blue like his father’s.I think our son was a pretty even mix of David and me, but it was hard to say who he really took after.Time would tell.His mouth worked like he had a lot to say but couldn’t quite get it out, so he’d settle for blowing bubbles.And my heart felt about two times too big for my chest.
“I can’t wait to see him smile,” I said with a grin.
“Oh, yeah,” gushed Anne.“And to hear his first word.”
“Yeah.Talking of people needing to bathe, which we weren’t really,” I said, “do you mind if I have a quick shower?”
“No.Go for it.We’re good here.”Anne smiled at the baby.“Aren’t we, Reed?Is your name Reed?What do you think of that one?”
My son just blinked and sucked on his little fist.
“I’m not sure he’s down with it.”I smoothed his little tuft of soft dark hair back.“We’ll figure out a name for you eventually, mystery boy.”
“Lizzy said Tommy and Gibson are passed out in front of the TV.So if there’s anything you want to get done, I can easily stay for another hour or two.”
“Thank you.”I smiled.“But David should be home soon.We have plans for trying to catch up with the laundry and maybe cook something for dinner.Though I daresay we’ll wind up getting pizza delivered again.Then maybe watch a movie, which we will probably both fall asleep in front of.I tell you, the glamorous rock ’n’ roll lifestyle never ends.”
Anne laughed.
And suddenly the front door opened and loud yelling filled the condo.Or maybe it was yodeling.It was meant to be some type of singing, I think.The death throes of an extraordinarily hot rock star otherwise known as my husband.He had one arm thrown over Mal’s shoulders and the other around Jimmy’s.Because he was just that inebriated, apparently.Holy shit.Dark hair hung around his face, and his eyes were tinged red.“Ev.”
“Hey,” I said, in a not so happy tone of voice.
Jimmy gave me a cautious smile.“They were wetting the baby’s head.”
“You did what to my child’s head?”
“It’s a British thing where you celebrate the new arrival with a couple of drinks.”Which explained why Jimmy was not under the influence, since he was a recovering alcoholic.
Mal, on the other hand, seemed less than sober.Though he was always sort of high on life, so it could be hard to tell.“It’s tradition.We had to!”
Anne closed her eyes tight for a moment.With the baby on her shoulder, she gently patted his back.“Did you happen to notice the part where none of us are in fact British?”
“Bollocks and blimey.What rubbish,” said Mal in a horrible attempt at a posh English accent.“Why, I’m as British as…something very British.”
“Is that so?”
