Page 66 of Rumor Has It

Monty threw our luggage back into the trunk on New Year’s morning. I packed the bare necessities for a baby. Some clothes. What I thought were enough diapers because they fit in a diaper bag. A can of formula that won’t last many more feedings.

I keep trying to tell myself that if I think of taking care of Aria as a role, like when a director tells me how to act for a music video, it will come naturally. But the God’s honest truth is I’m out of my element and it shows.

Bellamy asked how it was going, and when I told the truth she suggested Gatlin bring over a hodgepodge of items Chesney outgrew.

I’m glad I can now put Aria down somewhere, so she’s not lying on her back. Overnight I watched her with an eagle eye, freaked out that she’d choke. She spit up again after her morning bottle, which proves men can chug a beer and their outrageous burp is just a burp, but you best be prepared when someone pint-sized belches that loud. The liner to the infant carrier is in the wash with another outfit. So Aria’s down to her skivvies.

I cover the baby’s skinny legs with a hand towel. Her blanket? That’s on the spin cycle, too. Aria squeals as the seat rocks up and down, shooting a toothless grin at Chesney—who is jumping on the bed—and kicks the towel off.

“I appreciate you lending us everything.” I thank Gatlin, pulling the makeshift blanket back up to make sure Aria’s warm enough. Three seconds later, it is on the floor at her feet next to her socks.

I give up. What do babies have against socks?

Was I supposed to buy her shoes? Chesney wears shoes, but she can walk.

No sooner do I think it does the toddler land on her butt and start ripping at the velcro closure on her sneakers

“Hot!” Chesney exclaims, gifting everything on her feet to her dad.

Gatlin shoves the socks into his back pocket and loops his fingers inside the shoes. Then he taps the thermostat on the wall, nudging the temperature from sauna to spring day.

“Belle stuffed a few extra footed sleepers in a bag if you’re worried about Aria’s toes getting cold,” he says.

I use my arm to wipe sweat from my brow, and thank him for taking pity on me for everything I don’t know.

It’s a lot. When I ordered a case of diapers to be delivered, I chastised myself for not understanding how much they cost. All I’ve been doing for this kid is blindly paying the bills.

“So, are you all set?” Gatlin grabs his daughter under the pits, hefting her onto his hip.

Nope, don’t leave.The thought hits me like a ton of bricks. I actually have someone in the room with experience. “Uh, yeah.” I brush my sweaty palms against my thighs. “Yeah.”

“Sweet. Our hiatus is ending. Bellamy was recording promos while we were out. But it’s close to n-a-p time and if we’re lucky—”

Chesney squishes his cheeks into a duckface. “No naps.”

Gatlin denies saying anything of the sort to her, but holds up a few fingers to me and whispers, “three minutes in the car. She’ll be out like a light before I brake for the first stoplight.”

I nod, tucking the useful info into my back pocket for later. “I heard you guys were in the running for that live morning talk show that’s been on the air for decades.”

“Don’t believe it. Belle’s and my agent say we’re not real contenders unless we’re willing to move to New York City. The timing isn’t great. Belle’s settled in here. We built the new house. She’s forging a relationship with her father. I’d have her pregnant tomorrow, and she feels like just moving the radio show to Nashville is too far away from our family for that. I can’t imagine moving to New York.”

“There’s something about this place, isn’t there?” I remark in a “why didn’t anyone tell me?” tone.

“It’s home… You know, I didn’t see becoming a father as anything in my future. I dunno, my distant future, maybe?” Gatlin shrugs. “Tennessee. New York. Perhaps that’s what the future holds. But where Ches is so loved by everyone, I couldn’t imagine taking her away from her grandparents or for another baby of ours not getting to experience what she has.”

Well shit, doesn’t that resonate?Giving a piece of what Chesney has to Aria is why I brought her back to Kingsbrier with me. Because deep down, I need those connections, too. And we definitely weren’t getting them holed up in my house.

Gatlin hedges his way around the bags he brought over. In the hallway, he looks at his cousin’s closed door.

I prop the door of the suite open using my foot. I need to keep one eye on Aria. At the rate she’s wiggling, I’m afraid the bouncer will flip over.

“You staying in this room alone?” Gatlin’s brow lifts.

“With her.” I point back inside at the baby.

“Probably for the best.”

I’m certain Gatlin’s heard Cassidy isn’t my biggest fan right now. Though, other than the new-dad support, he hasn’t treated me any differently than he has since the mid-December interview.

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