“Is she teething?”
“Teething?” The color drains from his face. “Will she cry this way while she teethes?”
“The entire time.”
He swallows. “Maybe she’ll be back with her mom before then.”
I blink. “You’re not keeping her?”
“I’m not cut out to be a dad.”
What a bunch of seal blubber. He is a dad whether he wants to be one or not. He can step up and be an adult about the situation. Or he can run away. I guess I know which direction he’s leaning toward.
“Is she sick?”
“How would I know?”
“Does she have a fever? Is she having difficulty breathing? Is her skin pale or blue or blotchy?”
His mouth drops open. “How do you know all this?”
“I worked at a daycare when I was in high school.”
I don’t bother to add I had to work because otherwise I couldn’t be sure my mom would remember to feed me. He doesn’t need to know my pathetic story. Besides, he wouldn’t care.
“She doesn’t feel warm.”
“Do you have a thermometer?”
He shrugs. “Maybe in one of the million bags Dakota and my mom gave me.”
His mom and sister-in-law gave him all the supplies he needs for his surprise baby? Wow. Must be nice knowing you can rely on your siblings and mom.
“May I?” I reach for the baby but wait for his nod before touching her. I place her against my shoulder and rub her back. “Sometimes rubbing a baby’s back helps.”
I feel Adele’s tummy rumble before she burps.
“Good girl. She just needed to release some trapped air.”
“Damn.” Zane runs his hand through his hair. “I forgot to burp her after her last feeding. I suck worse at being a parent than I thought I would.”
“There’s no need to become a drama queen. Any parent can be forgetful. Ask me about the time my mother left me at the gas station in Florida some day.”
Please don’t ask. I don’t want to explain how my mother forgot I was in the bathroom and drove off without me. I waited at the gas station for twelve hours before she returned.
Twelve hours. It took her six hours to remember she has a daughter.
“Here.” I offer him the baby. “I need to change my shirt.”
“Crap. I’m sorry.”
“It’s no big deal. But you do need to curb your swearing around Adele.”
“It’s fine. She doesn’t understand.”
“But she will some day.”
“Some day. Right.”
