Page 133 of Bump and Run

Thirty-Two

Junior

I stay behindon the porch, watching closely as Eliza walks her dad to his car.

She holds our daughter in her arms, swaying confidently with her as if she always knew how. I can’t say it came that easy for me. Holding something so fragile has quite the learning curve but luckily, I had just the tutor to guide me through it.

She lets out a laugh and says goodbye to him and I breathe a thankful sigh. Cary Pierce showing up like this could easily have gone the other way but I’d say it went as well as it could. I’m sure Eliza will spend the next several hours replaying the encounter over and over again in her head but I don’t want that.

I’m not about to let Cary Pierce ruin tonight.

Eliza walks up the driveway, speaking softly into the baby’s ear to keep her calm but Courtney is far more interested in looking up at the dimming sky.

She climbs the porch and inhales deeply. “Well, that was strange and slightly traumatizing...”

“Which part?” I smirk. “Your dad showing up out of the blue or watching my dad trying to have a conversation with him?”

“Both,” she laughs.

“Think he’ll really be sticking around?”

“I’m…” she tilts her head, “cautiously optimistic.”

I gesture for the baby and Eliza slowly slides her into my arms. “Hey, baby…” I kiss above her ear and she looks up at me with those tiny, brown eyes. I breathe in that perfect, clean scent of her head and Eliza smiles. “Okay… time to go.”

“Yes, please,” Eliza says. “I’m so tired.”

“Oh, I’m not talking to you.”

She stares at me. “What?”

I turn towards the door. “Grandma, she’s all yours.”

My mother grins wide and lunges out onto the porch. “I have been waiting all day for this…”

I hand Courtney over to her and turn back to Eliza’s horrified face. “I have a surprise for you.”

“No, Junior…” Her eyes constantly watch the baby over my shoulder. “I really can’t handle another surprise today.”

I smile. “Just one more.”

“No.”

“Ellie, get in the van.”

She furrows her brow. “The van?”

I look at my parents. “Mom, Dad… We’ll come pick the baby up in the morning.”

Her face turns a pale white. “Wait… In the morning—?”

“Ty…” I hold out my hand as Ty and Grant step out onto the porch. “Keys, please.” Ty takes his keys out of his pocket and tosses them at me. I hand mine off to Grant. “Try not to scratch it, okay?”

“Try not to get the van dirty,” Grant smiles. “I just replaced the sheets.”

Eliza’s eyes shift wildly in her skull as Grant and Ty walk straight towards our car. “Okay, hold on—”

“Maggie…” I shake my head at her in the house. “You don’t get a job. You’re too drunk.”

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