His face was blank for a moment as he cradled her in his arms. The Cthulhu blanket I had bought her wrapped around her, keeping her warm. I looked down to see her staring at my dad with curious eyes. It was as if they were both trying to decide how to feel about each other.
“Cara Daisy Whitlock, why, aren’t you the cutest little thing,” he coo’d at her. Instantly, my entire body relaxed. I watched as he reached a finger up to play with her tiny lips. She let him and then when he pulled his hand away, she began to whine. It was then I remembered that she was probably hungry. I hurried to prepare her a bottle. When I returned to the pair, I handed him the bottle to feed her. He took it and promptly popped it into her mouth.
I sat back down on the other side of the couch to watch them. He didn’t look up from her small face as she ate. She too was entranced, watching him with wide eyes.
“She is beautiful,” he agreed with me after a moment. “I need to decide on the right name for her to call me. What are Tate’s parents going by?” He looked up at me, with all the seriousness in the world.
“What do you mean?”
“I’m her grandpa right? So do I get to be Poppa, Pop Pop, Gramps? Or whatever else there is. And your mom, I wonder what she’ll be called.” His eyes took on a far-off look as he began to think. I laughed.
“I guess you can pick whatever you want. It’s hard to think of you as a grandfather.”
“I know right? I always thought it’d be Dallas to make us grandparents, and that he’d do it when you were teens. But you know, I think it’s time. Forty-nine is a good age to start the whole grandparent thing. We’ll have to set up a room for her at our house.”
I laughed, shaking my head at how fast he had gotten on board. I had been overthinking all of this for nothing. Why did I continue to do this to myself?
“You two just met, and you’re already planning on moving her in with you?”
“Maybe in person, but I’ve been following everyone’s socials. You, Tate, Dallas. I think your brother posts more than either of you. I never thought he’d meet someone he loved more than himself,” he laughed. I had to smile myself. He got that right.
“I wanted to let you reach out to me in your own time. I didn’t want to sway any decision you needed to make. I was enough of an ass when you first married the man. I don’t want to go back to that. You’re my best girl, Jimmy. I don’t want to stay mad at you longer than I have to. So, if you’re her mother, than I’m Pop Pop.”
“Oh wow, Pop Pop? That’s what you’re going with?”
He grimaced.
“I’ll work on it. When I come home from the tour, I’ll have something picked out for sure.”
“She’s going to love you,” I sighed. Memories of my childhood flashed quickly through my mind. Even though he was on the road often, he made the time he was home count. Cara would get to experience that too, and I couldn’t wait.
“Your mom’s going to kill me when I get back. I didn’t tell her I was leaving.” He shifted Cara’s position slightly as she continued eating.
My eyes bulged out at his reveal. That was very unlike him.
“How did you get past her?”
“She was shopping. Which, by the way, good God. She has bought so much stuff for her.” He nodded down at the baby in his arms. “So much. She acts like we’re made of money,” he teased. “Last time I saw the trio, they were talking about decorating a nursery when they got home. I can only imagine what your Aunt Renee is going to come up with.”
“I can’t wait for everyone to meet her. Do you think Mom will like her?” I asked, instantly hating myself and feeling stupid for asking. I knew the answer, but I still felt like I needed to hear it come from his mouth.
“You know she will. She talks about her all the time, as if the two are best friends. She’s going to be so jealous that I got to meet her first. Actually, can you get some pictures of us? I really want to gloat.” I rolled my eyes, but still went to grab my tablet. When I returned Cara had finished her bottle and was puckering her lips in search for something else to suck. She was a hungry baby.
“Look up,” I said. He did so, smiling wide, like the proud Pop Pop he was. After a few photos he shifted her to his chest so he could burp her. I took some good photos in that position too.
“Make sure to send those straight to your mom,” he whispered, and winked.
“You’re terrible,” I laughed, but I had to admit, it felt good to do as he asked. I could hear her freak out already.
Finally, the baby in his arms let out a loud belch and he moved her back into a rocking position. He stayed there, rocking her to sleep, and then another hour or so watching her. The look in his eyes as he stared at his granddaughter was all the approval I needed. If he could accept my decision, then screw everyone else.
When he had to go, he kissed her forehead and handed her back with a frown. I walked him to the door and hugged him tightly. I didn’t want him to go, but I knew he had to.
“Thank you, Dad. I didn’t realize how much I needed you tonight.”
“Anytime, Jimmy. Even if I’m halfway around the world, I’ll come when you need me. Now go get some sleep. I’ll call you when I get back to London and tell you how your mom reacts. I have a feeling you might hear her all the way here in L.A.”
