Page 11 of A Very Merry Matchup
Would’ve filled up before leaving Des Moines, but when little Hades instantly fell asleep in her crate, I wasn’t stopping for anything. Plus with the way the snow kept falling, I didn’t want to delay more than necessary. Which is why I wrapped Miss Pinky Collar in a makeshift diaper of paper towels and duct tape.
Hey, a man’s gotta do what a man’s gotta do. Andsometimes a man’s just gotta put his adorable little she-devil in a diaper.
“Oh, are you awake now, sleepyhead? Hang in there, baby. We’re almost there. Another twenty minutes or so. Just gotta get some gas.”
When I settle back into my seat after filling the tank, I see a text message from Mom.
She’s here! She’s here! Meant to text you earlier, but we’ve been busy at the church.
“Who’s here?”
Pinky Collar yaps in response.
“Calm down,” I mutter to her, still trying to figure out—Oh, wait. Mom must be talking about my cousin Janey’s baby. She’s due with her third. But I didn’t think the baby was supposed to arrive until sometime early February.
Is she okay? Seems early.
My mom responds immediately.Worn out, but fine. Just needs a little rest. Hamish is an absolute cutie!
“Hamish?” I mutter. “Janey named her baby Hamish?” For some reason I had it in my mind that she was having another girl.
How much does Hamish weigh?
Not sure. Why?
I shrug at Pinky Collar inside her carrier. “Isn’t that the type of question you’re supposed to ask whenever someonehas a baby? Guess not when it’s baby number three,” I mumble, texting my mom back.Just curious. Got any pictures?
She just arrived when I had to run back to the church. But I’m planning on taking lots of pictures later. Can’t wait to see you two together!
Me and Hamish? Sure. I guess. I mean, Janey’s always been more like a sister to me, so of course I’m going to love on little Hamish. Not really sure why Mom wants lots of photos of us though. Whatever. When it comes to my mom, sometimes it’s better to just go with it.Should be there in about twenty minutes. Maybe thirty with the snow.
Great! Dad and I should be getting home from the church about that time. Hope you’re hungry. Got a big pot of vegetable soup waiting on the stove. Drive safe! Can’t wait to see you!
“Can’t wait to get there,” I say, starting my car up again.
Pinky Collar obviously feels the same way. Her high-pitched barks pierce my ears. “Keep your diaper on, we’re just about there.”
As I start up the car and Dean Martin’s voice sings about a marshmallow world, I realize in all the excitement over my cousin’s baby, my mom must’ve forgotten about the “special girl” I was bringing.
Just as well. Carson was right. Never should have gottenMom’s hopes up like that, especially at Christmas. Good thing baby Hamish arrived at just the right time.
CHAPTER SEVEN
It’s the yap-yappiest season of all
Ivy
Something is tickling my toes. When I open my eyes, there’s enough glow shining from the streetlight outside the bedroom window for me to see that Hamish has his teeth on the very edge of my right sock, which is still very much attached to my right foot.
“What are you doing?” I whisper. He holds my gaze as he inches the sock away from my toes. “Are you stealing my sock?”
He is. Soon as the sock is free, he shakes his head back and forth to apparently kill whatever life may be left in that sock as he settles down on the floor to devour his feast.
Guess that’s my cue to get up.
“Drop it, Hamish.” Since there’s nowhere for him to escape with his spoils, my sock is only slightly drooly by the time I wrestle it out of his mouth. I switch on the lamp next to the bed so I can see well enough to exchange it for another pair.
What time is it? I pick up my phone. Five thirty? Feels later. I double check the date on my phone just to make sure it’s still December twenty-first. Yep. Still the twenty-first.
