Page 6 of Christmas with the Baby Daddy

Of course she was. Grandma Jenny converted the old family restaurant into solely a catering headquarters, and she loved her job.

What the hell am I going to do?Even if I didn’t commit to staying here after the holidays, I’d need something to do. I couldn’t be idle at home on the big West property with Amanda and Grandma Jenny being so busy. Somehow, that would worsen this lost mood of listlessness.

If I even know where to go after this.Vernford seemed like the wisest pit stop after I was cleared from surgeries and rehab, but I still had no clue where to go afterward.

“A job would help,” I muttered.

“I agree. You’ve seemed… blah in our video calls since the crash.” She kept glancing at me as she drove, like needing to see that I was closer to “okay” than she’d imagined. “It’s the holiday season, but there’s always people wanting a helping hand.”

“Like what?” I asked, eager to shed this funk of not being needed or wanted in the career I thought I’d retire from. Almost twenty years in the service left me a significant piece of change to walk away with, but it wasn’t enough to live on for the rest of my life.

“I don’t know.” She furrowed her brow and tapped her finger on the steering wheel, pensive. “I’m guessing your shoulder wouldn’t work with helping Grandma Jenny with catering.”

I shook my head. “Depending on the weight to carry, no.”

“What about delivering things for the bakery? They’re slammed.”

I cringed. “Too many people to deal with.” This antisocial habit was really kicking in deep.

“Okay. What about walking dogs for the breeder and the humane society on Main Street?”

“My shoulder.” I winced at the image of a huge Great Dane pulling me along on a leash.

“How about… putting books away at the library? I think Mrs. Homeson just retired and they’re busy with programs.”

I raised my brows. “Putting books away?”

She sighed, pulling up at the huge home she shared with Grandma Jenny. Itlookedlike where I grew up, but I didn’t experience a sensation of fitting back in.

“We’ll think of something,” she said a few minutes later as she walked me inside. “But I gotta go!” She leaned in for a hasty side-hug and bolted off.

Alone again, I scanned the large foyer and waited for an idea of what to do. Heading up to the apartment over the attached garage would make sense, but I wondered if being solo would be smart.

I picked up my duffel bag and pulled my phone out. Scrolling on the social media apps I lurked on without ever posting anything, I tried to see if anything was happening in town. My mood was too shitty to stay in and mope all night.

A party was going on for Coach Parker’s retirement from coaching football for what seemed like the last hundred years.Eh.

A karaoke night would be held at the bar on Main Street,The Grinchedition.I feel like a grinch, but I am not singing about it.

I slumped into an armchair and sighed. Rubbing my head, I knew I couldn’t stay in all night and let this mood fester and rot within me.

As far as homecomings went, this one sucked. I hadn’t told anyone I was coming back, not even my sister and grandma until this morning, but I had to assume there wasn’t a soul in Vernford who’d give a damn that I was here now.

The smart radio in the kitchen kicked on to another Christmas song. Grandma Jenny always left it on, enjoying the ease of asking Alexa for the weather, a measurement conversion, or, more frequently, having music in the background.

I didn’t know who else would plan to be home for Christmas like the old classic crooned. I hadn’t counted on being here, but I’d have to figure it out now.

“Oh, shut up,” I grumbled to the voice of Frank Sinatra singing away like all was right in the world.

Nothing was right in mine anymore.

3

BLAKE

Fortunately, George lasted all day at school today. Their teacher, Ms. Erin, usually split up the kids in smaller groups, so that probably helped keep George away from Brent. If I had been called to come get my son early again, I would’ve lost my mind. Jenny and I had cooked all morning and into the afternoon for the retirement party for Coach Parker. A couple of part-timers were hustling in the kitchen with us too. It was a blessing that Amanda could pick up George from school, babysit him until that little birthday party for a classmate, and then collect him after it was over too.

I would’ve been lost without that teenager babysitting all the time, and today, I felt swamped with gratitude. It had been go, go, go from the moment I woke up.

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