Once on the floor, Maverick had the truck next to him racing it around the living room, pushing it with both his hands on it.
“I’ve found he likes toys he can move with,” he said.
“Just like you. You never sat still much.”
“Not to sound like a broken record, but I don’t remember any of it.”
“You wouldn’t,” his grandmother said. “But you never sat still. You were always running as fast as you could.”
“He wasn’t like that in school,” Jocelyn said. “Unless he was in his car. Then he was going fast.”
“I won’t be driving fast with my son in the car.”
His grandmother laughed. “That’s what it’s taking for you to finally slow down?”
“Seems it,” he said.
“Would you like some coffee?” Jocelyn asked. “Maverick just got up about thirty minutes ago and hasn’t eaten yet. He drank a cup of milk and I was making pancakes, if you’d like some.”
“I’d love a cup. And it’s good he slept in late. Not so good if he does that normally when you’ve got to work.”
“No clue,” he said. “He didn’t fall asleep until after eleven. I think we put him to bed too late because he was playing. I feel as if he hasn’t had much to be happy about or play with.”
They didn’t bring a lot of toys with him and his son was more entertained with the new things. He was happy just to see his son not crying the entire time he was awake. Only when he was tired, hungry, or ready for bed.
With any luck tonight would be better.
“It’s a big transition for him,” his grandmother said. “Don’t be surprised if he misses his grandmother or calls out for her.”
“I thought of it. She said she needs a break for at least a week.”
“Piece of shit,” his grandmother mumbled.
He sighed. He didn’t want judgment cast, but he might have felt similar.
As if his son meant nothing to the people he’d spent two years of his life with.
“Grandma. Don’t swear in front of Maverick.”
His grandmother snorted and looked at Jocelyn. “Really? I think Chance is the most guilty of that.”
“I got yelled at too and didn’t even say a big word.”
“Good for you, Chance.”
“How do you take your coffee?” Jocelyn asked.
“I’ve got it,” he said and got up. Chance knew how his grandmother drank and ate everything. Or most things.
It would give his grandmother a few minutes alone to watch Maverick.
He put the teaspoon of sugar in his grandmother’s coffee. He only had sugar in his apartment for that. It’s not as if he baked anything.
“We can see if Maverick wants to eat now,” Jocelyn said. “The pancakes are done and he might be starving.”
“I’m sure he is,” he said. “I don’t know how many to give him.”
“We’ll start with one. They aren’t that big. If he eats two, then he does.”
