Page 41 of Spring UnVeiled
“Babies are completely helpless.They depend on you for everything.”She gave him a half-smile.“The good news is, they grow up slow.Every day, he’ll be more and more aware of his surroundings.You handle things a little bit at a time.”Her smile then split her face.“Then they become teenagers, and you want to fucking kill them.”
“Did my Vivi just say fucking?”Evan appeared from the family room to put his arm around her.“The longer you’re away from your fourth-grade class, the more you start to sound like a SEAL.”He held out his hand to Dylan.“Thank you for letting us care for your son.Take your time finding someplace to live.”He gave her a squeeze.“We love taking care of our grandson.”
The sound of shuffling sheets came from the baby monitor.
“That’s your two-minute warning,” Evan announced.
Dylan clapped his hands together.“Where do I begin?”
Genevieve walked him through the process of making a bottle, then they all headed upstairs.As they reached the top, Ian let out a scream.“I’ll show you how to change the diaper this time.Next time you’re on your own.”She removed his sleeper and tossed it into the laundry basket.Since he’d soaked his diaper, it had seeped through.
As soon as she removed the wet diaper, she laid a new one on top of him.She learned that little trick for baby boys from the nurses in the NICU.Even as a newborn, the baby had a powerful bladder—and uncannily good aim.She then wiped him clean with the wet wipe while still keeping him covered, then sprinkled on a little baby powder.She slid the diaper underneath his butt and fastened the tabs.Evan handed her a clean sleeper, and with practiced hands, she had the baby swaddled and ready in seconds.
“Dylan, sit in the chair and I’ll hand you the baby.”She was pleased to see he remembered how to hold him.Evan handed the young father the bottle.Ian immediately latched onto the nipple and started drinking.Close to the end of the formula, the baby started to nod off.
“He hasn’t finished it.Do I just let him go to sleep?”Dylan’s question was a good one.
“Stroke your finger down his cheek and see if you can get him to take a little more.”The trick worked and Ian finished the bottle.
“Now it’s time for the burping.”Genevieve put a burp towel on his shoulder then repositioned the baby.“Pat his back.”In a minute, Dylan was rewarded with a little burp.Dylan looked so pleased with himself as he stood.
“Keep patting,” Evan ordered.“He’s got more.”
The next burp made both men smile.
“Is there more where that came from?”Dylan asked.
“Maybe, maybe not.”Genevieve could barely help herself from grabbing her grandson back.The way the baby laid his head down on Dylan’s shoulder and let out a heavy sigh, she knew Ian was down for at least an hour.
After instructing him on how to place the baby in the crib and covering him in a light blanket, the adults left the room.
“We were outside pulling weeds and planting annuals.Want to join us?”Evan handed Dylan the baby monitor.
“Yes, sir.”
The next hour, the three of them talked little as they worked side-by-side.
“Seems like you’ve done this before,” Evan noted.
“Yes, sir.My mom works for my grandfather’s landscape company.I think I’ve been digging holes in the dirt all my life.During the summers, Popa would take me on the jobs with him.He made me learn the genus and species of everything we planted.I think he was disappointed when I decided to take up history, but his proudest moment was when I got accepted to the Naval Academy.”
Both Genevieve and Evan stopped and stared at the young man.
“You don’t wear your ring,” Evan said.
Dylan wiggled his fingers.“I like these right where they are.I’ve been back to a couple football games, and I’ll wear it then.I went to the Blue and Gold Dinner in San Diego two years ago and of course I wore it then.”
“We met at the Naval Academy.My best friend’s brother was in the same company as Evan.”Warmth filled Genevieve as she remembered those days and young love.Evan seemed to warm to Dylan as they talked about Navy football, bullshit Academy requirements, and the local Blue and Gold Club.She hoped they were getting over their vast difference in rank.
When Ian’s movements sounded through the baby monitor, Dylan jumped up.
“I’ve got this.”He looked at his hands.“May I wash up in your kitchen sink?”
“Certainly.”Genevieve started to stand but Evan touched her arm.
“Let him do it.”They sat on the ground side-by-side and watched through the monitor.
“Hey, little man.Daddy’s here to take care of you.”Dylan said as he picked up the baby.
