Page 17 of Christmas with the Baby Daddy

“I think it’s in your best interest to shut up,” I warned him.

Brent looked me up and down with a haughtiness that was only learned. “Who are you?”

I slanted closer, already sick of his attitude. I didn’t know a single thing about how to handle children. It was my biggest reservation I struggled with to even call Cole last night. I had no experience with kids. But I had faced my share of bullies.

“I’m someone who doesn’t have time for bullies,” I explained in a level tone while trying not to frighten him.

He swallowed and lowered his head.

“What’s all this about?” I asked, directing the question to George.

He tipped his chin up, unafraid, but in the depths of his blue eyes, I noticed the nervousness.Heseemed like one of those naturally flustered individuals, shy and nervous, but he could be tough when he had to be. “Brent was making fun of Savannah because she has a lisp.”

“She sounds like a?—”

I held my hand up at Brent, not in a threatening manner. But the cool gaze I looked upon him with suggested I didn’t care to hear the end of that opinion.

“So I stood up for her.”

I tilted my head to the side. “I thought you said your mom told you to ignore bullies.”

He nodded. “Yeah. Except for when I can stand up for someone else.”

I smiled. “I bet she would want you to stand up for yourself too.”

He almost grinned in reply. “Yeah. Mama does tell me that.”

“Like I said… She sounds like a smart lady.”

7

BLAKE

Sara:George is up here at the front office again.

I groaned at the text.

Tiffany chuckled lightly as she stirred in more ingredients for Jenny’s “famous” salad dressing. “What is it now?”

“What do you think?” I mumbled, tired of this habit. I loved my son. I was damned proud of him. Everyone in town knew that too, but my coworkers were more informed than others of how exhausted I was of this school drama.

“One of these days…” Tiffany shook her head as she worked. We were prepping most of the food for a wake that Jenny had been hired to cater. A death at this time of the year had to be extra tough. Then again, if I were to relive the hell of my brother being killed in combat, it would suck no matter the month or season. That was life. But this school drama and bullying? It wasn’t life. It was nonsense.

“One of these days, what?” I slid more seasoning jars to her as I got another bowl out for something else. Leo was working on prepping dough in the other room of the kitchen.

“One of these days,” Tiffany said, “George is gonna get a growth spurt and be so big and tall and mighty, and no one will mess with him or bully him.”

“I don’t want him to get huge and be another tough guy,” I argued lightly. I loved how sweet and mild-mannered he was. In a world of too much toxic masculinity, I felt like I was doing the right thing to let him be who he was, even if that veered more toward quiet timidness.

Sara:Another case of Brent bullying.

I sighed and set the jars down to reply.

Blake:I’m not surprised. Thanks for the heads up.

A glance at the clock showed that Tiffany and I were almost done here, as we’d planned. If I had to take off to get George earlier than dismissal, it would be manageable. Whatever I didn’t get to, Leo and Tiff could. But I hated not to get to everything I set my mind to. Some days were just harder than others in this work-and-mom balance.

Blake:This is another reason I should move out of town.

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