Page 41 of Cash

Moving to the next aisle, I add several blankets to my cart. I see this cool infant seat that sits on a table and rocks itself. That’s immediately added to the other items. I make my way down the aisle adding stuff indiscriminately to my heaping cart. When there’s no room left and Liam’s nearly disappeared from view, I make my way to the checkout.

After loading everything into the truck, I head straight for the clubhouse. Walking in, I’m loaded down with all things baby. Chubs drops his fork and hustles over to help. I watch him set Liam, in his carrier, carefully on a table before pulling the light blanket that was covering him away. Instantly, Liam grins a toothless smile at Chubs. Chubs has that effect on everyone, including babies, it seems.

“Hey, Cash!” Mac, Ava’s Macaw, screeches while giving me a wing-wave.

“Hey, Mac.”

“What’s that?” he asks while strutting up and down the bar top.

“Liam.”

“What’s a Liam?” Mac asks with a head tilt.

“My son.”

That stops Mac in his tracks and brings him fluttering over to land on the table next to Liam.

“Mac! Get the fuck away from the baby!” Axel shouts as he enters the room.

Mac ignores Axel as he peers into the baby carrier.

“Mac!” Axel repeats.

“Hush your mush!” Mac barks back.

“Make me!” Axel says with a smirk.

“Stop, right the fuck now, you two jackasses,” Gunner orders as he stops next to me.

“Bird – 1. Man – 0.” Chubs says with a chuckle.

“He didn’t win that round,” Axel argues.

“You’re keeping score now?” I ask.

“Yeah. I like to point out to Axel how often he loses a game of wits to a bird,” Chubs answers.

“Fuck you, Chubs. You play favorites,” Axel responds with the beginnings of his pouty face.

“Jesus H. Christ! I spend too fucking much time refereeing arguments between these two asswipes. Tell me this isn’t my life now?” Gunner groans out while rubbing his face with both palms.

“He’s Ava’s pet. He should be at your house, not here, so we don’t have to put up with him,” Axel insists.

“Stick a dick in it!” Mac shouts.

“Bird – 2. Man – still at 0!” Chubs sputters out.

“Fuck me. Thisismy life,” Gunner says with disgust.

The reality show of Gunner’s life ends when the club doctor enters the clubhouse.

*~*~*~*

After getting back home, I put Liam in his new baby seat and set it to rock slowly. With him content and on the table where I can keep an eye on him, I get busy cleaning. With all the company I’ve had, I haven’t scrubbed the house down as thoroughly as usual. I’m finding that keeping a spotless house is a hell of a lot harder with a baby now. Between my need for clean and orderly and Liam’s sleep habits, I’m running on fumes. I know I can call anyone for help, and they’d be here instantly, but I hate to ask for it. There are thousands of single parents in the world, and they handle it so I know I can too. I just need to get a system and schedule for everything, and I’ll be fine. The trick to that is to get Liam on board with the orderly way I like things to be. Easier said than done I’m beginning to realize.

I get the kitchen put back together and have laundry going when the doorbell rings. Opening the door, I find Taja standing there with a big smile. I wave her inside and she makes a beeline straight to Liam. In seconds, she has him cuddled to her chest and she’s smiling so big it’s got to hurt.

“I hope you don’t mind, but—,” Taja says before I cut her off.

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