Page 17 of Brother to Brother

“You didn’t come here pregnant did you?” he demanded.

“What? No!” I cried.

“Good, I don’t mind takin’ care of Grind’s kid, but I ain’t springin’ for any other man’s child.”

I felt tears begin to mist my eyes and stood, “I’m just self-conscious is all, I’ll be right back; I’m going to grab my robe…”

“Sitdown, Mel. Eat something. You ain’t got nothin’ to worry about; leastways not from me.”

Perfect, just epically perfect,I thought and felt even worse when a tear snuck free. Noah’s little gaze was on me, his small face solemn.

“Mamma sad,” he said and I wiped at the tear before Archer turned around to look.

“Mamma’s fine, Baby,” I told Noah, “Eat your dinner.”

“Take your own advice, woman,” Archer said.

“Just not very hungry I guess,” I muttered but put some food on my plate anyways. I nibbled at it and spent more time pushing it around than actually eating it.

“That’s too bad, it’s good stuff,” he said chewing a bite of his own. He’d relinquished the spoon to Noah and was watching him eat like a hawk. I realized he was afraid Noah might choke, which was something I feared too, and watched my son with the same careful eye as a result.

“Thanks,” I murmured and that was pretty much it in the way of conversation.

I was clearing the table when Noah called “Momma! I stinky butt.”

Archer heaved himself off the couch and went for Noah at the same time I tried to round the table to go to him.

“Go on, I got it. Changing diapers is a hard one to forget, it’s like riding a bicycle…” he said and I nodded carefully.

“Uncle Archer’s gonna take care of your stinky butt, okay?” I asked Noah.

Noah looked at Archer with trepidation, but he was already laying Noah on the floor, pulling apart the snaps on the legs of his romper. I watched carefully while Noah fussed and cried a little while Archer wiped his bum.

“Does he have a rash again?” I asked.

“Looks like a little bit of one is starting,” he called back over his shoulder.

“The cream for it is in the pocket of the diaper bag there,” I pointed and Archer dug through a pocket. “Next one over,” I directed.

“Prescription shit?” he asked.

“Doctors seem to think he has some kind of allergy to his own poop or pee, he gets itreallybad sometimes, so they prescribed that. Am I almost out?”

“Naw, you got a ways to go.”

“Okay,” I closed my eyes and counted backwards from ten until the feeling of anxiety abated. I had no insurance, I had no way to refill the prescription without them finding out where we were… I didn’t want to have to go to a doctor, not yet.Damn it, why hadn’t I thought to grab the extra tubes?Because I’d been in a hurry, that’s why.

“Hey, you okay?”

I opened my eyes to realize Archer was asking me, not Noah.

“I’m fine. Just not sleeping well, new place I think.” I looked at my cheap watch but Archer was already ahead of me.

“Okay, Little Man,” he said, lifting Noah to his little feet, “All done, but if I’m not mistaken, it’s bedtime for you.”

He took Noah over to his crib and my little guywastired. He went into it with a minimum of fuss and was out inside ten minutes while Archer channel surfed for a few and I finished wiping down the kitchen. After a little while he switched off the TV and stretched.

“I’m going to work, lock up after me and I’ll see you in the morning.”

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