Hayden glances down at it. Jemmy is sitting up in his crib, flipping through a book as he babbles, as if he’s reading to himself.
I pick up a few words, like moon and brush.
“I’ll grab him.” Hayden spins on his heels and stalks down the hallway.
I catch up to him, almost having to jog, and reach him as he’s about to head up the stairs, taking the monitor from him. “I can take care of it, then make breakfast for him and Presley.”
“I don’t mind. I?—”
“I’m here to lighten your load. So go get ready for your day.”
He hesitates. “He’s still in diapers.”
“I noticed.”
“Do you know how to change a diaper? I guess I should have asked last night, but I was a bit…frazzled.”
“It’s been a few years since I’ve had to, but unless they’ve changed the design in that time, I’m all set.”
“Are you sure? I?—”
“Go. Shower. Otherwise, you’ll be late and take it out on yet another unsuspecting dog walker.”
He exhales, half-laughing. “I’m sorry about?—”
“Go,” I repeat, pushing past him and moving toward Jemmy’s room, opening the door before he can stop me.
The instant I appear, Jemmy beams.
“Dino!” he exclaims as he stands in his crib.
“Is that today’s agenda?” I lift him and carry him toward the changing table, setting him on the pad. “Dinosaurs all day?”
He roars.
“Excellent,” I say solemnly. “I accept these terms.”
I open the top drawer and find rows of perfectly arranged diapers. The sections are even labeled “day” and “night”.
I grab one and put it to the side before unzipping Jemmy’s pajamas. As I remove the diaper and wipe his bottom, I notice Hayden lingering in the doorway.
“I’ve got this,” I tell him.
He nods, watching for another second, then finally leaves.
“I’m guessing Daddy has control issues,” I whisper to Jemmy.
He roars again.
“Exactly.”
By the time Hayden comes back downstairs, now dressed in a suit, both kids are eating, Jemmy some oatmeal and Presley pancakes with a side of fruit.
“Wow,” he says, stopping short in the doorway.
“What? Didn’t think I could handle breakfast?”
“They can be a lot.”
