Page 55 of The B!tch List

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I’d had a terrible night. Barely any sleep because Tia had cried pretty much all night. Mom had offered to have her in her and dad’s room, in bed with them, but that wasn’t how it was going to be in the future. Mom wouldn’t always be there to help me out. One day it may be just me and Tia in the house, on our own, and I had to learn to deal.

“You look like shit,” Tate said as I opened the door to him.

“Thanks, boss.” I yawned and scrubbed a hand through my hair. “It was a bad night.”

He came into the house, and I led him to the kitchen where Mom had already put on a pot of coffee before she went off to see my grandma in the nursing home.

“Where’s Tia?” Tate asked, pulling out a chair at the table.

“She’s sleeping. I put her down about ten minutes ago for a nap. Thanks for the few days off by the way.” I took two mugs and filled them both with strong, black coffee. “She’s just not sleeping at night. I think it’s all too strange for her.”

“You should be sleeping while she does,” Tate said, taking the mug from me. “According to my mom anyway. I have no clue.”

“Yeah, mine said the same, but I’m too nervous about sleeping through and her needing me.” I sat opposite Tate and sipped at my second cup of the morning. “I’m scared she’ll get out of bed and somehow let herself out of the house.”

“I’m sure she won’t. And she’ll get used to you all soon.”

“I hope so because she keeps asking for her mama.”

Tate shook his head and looked genuinely sad. “She’s only been gone a couple of months. It’s sad but Tia will soon forget her, and you’ll become her world instead.”

“Her tired world,” I said through another yawn.

“Once I’ve gone lay down for a while.” Tate sat back in his chair and picked up his coffee. “So, the reason I called was to check that you know what you need to do next.”

I nodded. “I do. Social Services are going to call around sometime this week. Mrs. Devonshire has already been in touch and done what she needs to do to ensure that I have custody of Tia. I have to get her birth certificate changed as I’m not named on it but as it says unknown it shouldn’t be too much hassle.”

“I bet the grandmother couldn’t wait to sign the poor kid over.” Tate shook his head and curled his lip. “I can’t say I took to that woman when we visited her and the fact that she’s just abandoned Tia makes me realize how right I was about her.”

Tate’s relationship with his dad wasn’t great because he felt abandoned by him, so I wasn’t surprised at his dislike for Tia’s grandmother.

“You shouldn’t have any problems at least,” he continued. “So, I hope you’re ready for fatherhood, Shaw.”

Was I? I hoped so, but at almost twenty-three who would be? It was a scary thought that this was now my life—teething, sleepless nights and toilet training, but I’d do my very best to be a good dad. It was a challenge and I’d never been one to turn one of those down.

“I’ve got to be,” I answered.

“I have good vibes about it, Shaw,” Tate said, leaning forward and slapping my shoulder.

“I just hope I don’t let her down.”

“Believe me, as the son of a father who constantly let me down, I don’t see that from you.” He took a drink of his coffee and when he’d finished pushed his chair back. “Anyway, I’d better get going. I just wanted to stop by and check that you were okay.”

We both stood and I held my hand out to Tate.

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