Page 62 of The B!tch List

Okay, so my mom had twenty-six years, or something experience as a mom, but I wanted a professional opinion. Ellie was a pediatric nurse so who better than to come over and ease my new father nerves.

“I’m telling you, honey, it’s her teeth coming through.” Mom crooked her pinky finger and put the knuckle into Tia’s mouth. “Yep, she’s biting down and sucking on it.”

“It’s not like I don’t believe you, Mom, but I just want her checked out.” I ran a hand through my hair and watched as Mom pulled her finger from Tia’s mouth.

“I hear you. You’re being cautious, I get that.” She ran a hand down Tia’s face and gave a soft smile. “She’s quiet now let’s leave her and see if she’ll take a nap.”

I nodded and checked that her baby monitor was on before following Mom out of the room.

“I guess we need to paint that room,” Mom said as we walked down the hallway.

“It’s Rett’s room though.”

“But now it’s Tia’s too.” When we walked into the living room Dad was there, in his chair reading some papers. “Hey, Jim, I was just saying to Shaw we should paint the baby’s room. Now that it’s Tia’s room.”

Dad put his papers down on the floor and looked up at Mom. “When you say we, I guess you mean me.”

“Dad, I’ll paint it, if necessary, but we don’t have to.”

“You live here, honey,” Mom said. “Rett doesn’t so the room should be more suitable for Tia than Rett.”

“We could do it half and half,” I suggested. “Put two toddler beds in there. I mean I’ll buy one for Tia.”

“It should be pink though,” Mom pouted. “All little girls want a pink room.”

“We might not be here for long though, Mom.” I’d been thinking that maybe we needed to leave and get our own place. It was just a scary thought. Mom obviously thought so too.

“No. You can’t leave.” She pulled me into a tight hug. “I don’t want you to go yet. We only just got her.”

I laughed and pulled away from my mom’s arms. “It’s not me you want to stay then. It’s Tia. Thanks for that, Mom.”

“Shaw, son, you should know by now that your mom stopped any interest in you kids the minute you came out of diapers.”

Dad grinned at Mom who backhanded him in the stomach. I laughed because that was so off the mark it was untrue, and Dad knew it.

“I appreciate it, Mom,” I replied, patting her hair which barely moved—my mom liked big hair.

“Hey everyone,” it was Bronte.

She, Carter, Rett, Ellie and Hunter all trooped into the room.

“I didn’t ask them to come too,” I said pointing at Carter and Hunter.

“Hey douche canoe,” my brother-in-law greeted me as he put Rett down so he could run to my mom.

“Hello, my little soldier,” Mom gushed and landed kisses all over his face which he proffered up to her.

When she’d finished Rett held his arms out to Dad. “Orweo Ganpa.”

Dad stood and took Rett from Mom. “Come on then, let’s go get you a cookie.” That was their thing; Rett came over and Dad gave him an Oreo from his ‘special box of cookies just for Rett’.

As they walked off Mom followed. “I’ll go and put coffee on and, Ellie, please put Shaw’s mind at rest.”

Ellie turned to me and smiled brightly. “Where is she?” she asked, clapping her hands. “I need to get my hands on her squishy little legs.”

“Baby,” Hunter groaned. “Do you have to get mushy over every kid you see?” Hunter’s usual easy smile wasn’t there. Instead, he looked concerned and flat out tired. It appeared that the baby making effort was getting to him.

Ellie snapped him a glare. “If I want to get mushy over a baby I will. You didn’t have to come with me.”

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