LoveHarley: Knot…
TeenDad2: Knot, don’t be so down. It’ll be okay. If you’re concerned about being forever alone, then we’ll just find more Single Dads to add to the group, like we were talking about before. Then you won’t need to worry about it, and everything will be fine, right?
KnotMyProblem: … thanks, TD.
TeenDad2: You’re welcome!
It hadn’t been Harlow’s intention to hurt Knot, but it had happened regardless. The truth was, their groupwaschanging, and as Knot’s friend, it was important that Harlow acknowledged it and do what he could in order to help Knot feel like he was valued. If that meant adding another Single Dad to the group, Harlow would do it.
After all, there was a single dad he knew of who seemed like he could use some help… and if he was anywhere near as fierce online as he was in real life, Harlow got the feeling he’d fit in just fine.
* * *
At five-thirty the next morning,a kettle whistled, rousing Harlow from his sleep. Startled, he sat up. His phone fell from his chest and hit the couch near his thigh. Someone was in the kitchen.
Who?
Harlow glanced at the air mattress to find Simon still asleep. Evie tended to rise earlier than most teenagers, but five-thirty in the morning was pushing it, even for her. Shep, Harlow assumed, would be asleep for another hour or two at most before he had to get up to go to school. That left Jayne.
Jayne?
Harlow rubbed the sleep from his eyes and lumbered across the room. He’d been meaning to talk to Jayne, anyway. What a golden opportunity.
On his way from the living room to the kitchen, Harlow made sure his steps were loud enough to be detectable. Hopefully this time, Jayne wouldn’t scream.
“Hey. Good morning.” Harlow entered the kitchen, but came to a stop after only a few steps. Jayne bustled to and fro, Parker on his chest, the counters loaded with appliances and containers. Instead of the edgy clothing that Jayne had worn that weekend, he’d dressed himself in slacks and a button-down shirt. The smoky eye he favored was gone, replaced with natural makeup so skillfully applied it looked like it wasn’t there. “Do, uh, do you need some help?”
Jayne looked over his shoulder and parted his lips to reply when the toaster popped. He turned his attention to it instead. “Sure. You know how to feed a five-month-old?”
“Yeah. Is he on solid food yet, or are you still doing formula?”
“Solids. We just started, so we’re aiming for an ounce, if he’ll eat it.” Jayne nudged a plate out of the way to reveal a small jar of baby food that had been laid out behind it. “He’s been pretty good so far, but some days he’s grumpier than others. Prunes this morning should be a shoo-in, though. The kid goes crazy for prunes.”
Jayne picked up the jar and the small spoon beside it, bringing it to the kitchen table. He set down both, then handed Parker to Harlow and brought over his high chair. As Harlow settled Parker in the chair, Parker started to babble.
“He’s excited for prunes,” Jayne revealed. “I swear, he understands what I’m saying when he talks. That kid is going to grow up to be smart.”
When Jayne spoke, Parker turned his head and watched. He laughed and smiled, then planted his small hands on the high chair table and pushed. If Parker wasn’t rolling over already, it looked like he’d be starting any time now. “You said he’s five months old?”
“Yeah.” Jayne tossed a towel at Harlow, which Harlow draped over his shoulder. “He hasn’t spit up since the three-month mark, but now that he’s on solids, I’m wary.”
“Thanks.”
“No problem.” Jayne tossed the toast onto the plate, left a rectangle of butter to melt atop each, then pulled four slices of bread from the loaf and wedged them onto the plate beside the toast. As he went about doing whatever he was doing, Harlow unscrewed the top from the baby food and prepared the first spoonful for Parker. Mashed prunes. Harlow wrinkled his nose. Evie, at one point in her life, had been a fan of them, too.
Parker looked up at him with big blue eyes and smiled. He kicked his legs, then brought his hands together. “Bah. Bah da bah bah bah.”
“I’m excited for breakfast, too,” Jayne replied from across the room. “Are you going to be a good boy and let Harlow feed it to you?”
“Da.”
“I see your Russian lessons are paying off. Good boy—I’m so proud of you.” Jayne butted a drawer closed with his hip. When he spoke again, he addressed Harlow. “I lucked out with him. He’s really a very easy baby, most of the time.”
“That’s great.” Harlow lifted the spoon and set it to Parker’s lips, expecting resistance. He received none. Parker looked at Jayne and opened his mouth wide enough that Harlow could fit the spoon inside. Once he had a taste, he closed his lips and smacked. “You are a good boy, aren’t you? Very kind and very smart.”
“He is.” Jayne sounded exceptionally proud. He continued to buzz around the kitchen, juggling at least three tasks at once. “He makes me so proud.”
Harlow took the spoon from Parker’s mouth and gave him time to eat what he’d been given. Some dribbled down his chin, which Harlow tended to promptly with the spit-up towel he’d been given.
