“You bet, Mama.”I say, like an absolute douche before I hightail it out of there.I can’t be in the room with her a second longer without giving in to how I feel.I might need to put a bit of distance between me and Daisy.Just until I can get myself under control.
The entire drive home, I’m on autopilot.So much so that when I pull up to my house, I have no recollection of how I got here.Ham is on the doorstep.Pissed at me again because I haven’t been there to tuck him in.Good thing I’m not really Waylon’s daddy, because I suck at it.Before I can close my car door, Ham is up and charging toward me as he bellows.He butts his head against my thigh, looking for pets.“I know, Daddy’s been gone too long.”
He moos again, just to show his displeasure.I kiss his big head, careful of his lopsided horn and scratch him behind the ears.“Come on.Let’s get you into bed.”
He bellows and looks longingly toward his giant ball.“Not tonight, buddy.”I head for the tiny barn I house him in.He tags along behind me.“Tomorrow,” I promise.
I grab some treats off the shelf placed too high for him to reach and lead him into the stall.I mucked it out this morning with fresh hay.I palm the treats and he takes them, creating a bridge of bull saliva between us as he chews.“’Night, Ham.”
I leave the barn and walk the darkened path to my house.Inside, I grab a bottle of whiskey off the kitchen counter and take it to my bedroom.I drink it as I shower the mess of blood, fluids, and grime from my body.When I get out, I shoot a text to the family group chat despite the late hour.
Me: Daisy had the baby.A perfect little boy.
Lemon: Oh my god!When?Why didn’t you tell us?
Me: He wasn’t waiting for me to activate the phone tree, Lemonade.
Lemon: Well, is she okay?What did she name him?What did he weigh?
Me: She’s over the moon.Waylon ...
I pause, not wanting to share with everyone that she gave him my name, but I suppose they’ll find out soon enough.There’s no hiding anything from this family.
Me: Waylon West Moore.And I don’t know what he weighed.
Lemon: Oh my god, West.She named him after you?
Me: I guess.
Lemon: And what do you mean you don’t know.Daddies are supposed to know these things.
Me: Then I guess it’s a good thing I’m not the daddy.
I turn my phone off, curl up in bed, and drink until I don’t remember a goddamn thing.
Chapter Seventeen
