“Deal, no take backs.” Mel waved as she headed out the door, leaving Noah alone with his son for the first time.
“Okay, Connor, be nice to your old dad today. We have to stick together, buddy, you and me.”
Noah gently laid the baby down on the couch, and slowly stood up and stretched. He ran through a list of what he thought he might need to take the baby out for the day. As the list grew and grew, so did his sense of panic. What was he thinking, letting Mel leave him alone for the day already? He couldn’t do this alone, she kept him grounded and sane, she reminded him of all the things he had to do for Connor.And she won’t always be here, buddy. Not unless you can crack open the safe that holds her heart. Better get used to being a single parent for now.He sighed, knowing that was the truth. Even if he believed to the center of his soul that Melanie Haynes was meant to be with him, until she opened herself to that possibility, he was by himself. Time to man up, and figure this parenting gig out.
Half an hour later, Connor woke up as Noah was drying off from the fastest shower he had ever taken. He had turned the water off a dozen times, thinking he could hear the baby cry, and his nerves were shot. How did new parents ever get a moment to rest with the constant worry and preoccupation?
He quickly pulled on some sweatpants, skipping a shirt and underwear, and ran into the living room. Scooping up Connor who was just beginning to cry in earnest, Noah cradled him into his bare chest, enjoying the feel of the baby nuzzling in. He grabbed the bottle he had thought to prepare before his shower and sank down on one of the bar stools that lined the counter of Mel’s kitchen to feed the baby.
As he looked down at his son, who was contentedly sucking back his formula, Noah smiled.This is it.In that moment, he felt a sense of completeness fill him. This was what he had yearned for. His child, in his arms, a child who would never question his love and commitment. Noah would move mountains for this baby, fight any battle, slay any dragon. His child would always have a father who was dedicated to his happiness and well-being above all else.
A knock at the door interrupted his reverie. Carefully, so as not to disturb Connor who was still finishing his bottle, Noah stood up and walked over. Glancing through the peephole, he grinned to see his brother standing there, with Anna his petite fiancée at his side. He should have known they wouldn’t be able to stay away for long.
He opened the door and Ryan’s jaw dropped. “Dude. That’s a fucking baby in your arms.”
Anna smacked Ryan lightly on the arm and rolled her eyes. “Of course it is, dummy, what else would it be, a puppy?” She turned to Noah and her eyes lit up. “He’s beautiful, Noah. Oh my god, is that red hair I see?”
Noah smiled proudly. “Yup, he’s a Carlisle alright.”
“You mean he looks like me, right? He got the best genes from his uncle, clearly.” Ryan boasted. Noah just rolled his eyes, as he couldn’t argue that Connor favored Ryan. After all, Noah didn’t have the ginger hair that his brother, and apparently his son, had.
He let Ryan and Anna in, just as Connor finished his bottle. Noah deftly placed the bottle on the counter and lifted the baby up and over his shoulder to burp him.
Ryan stared in amazement. “Wow. I mean, I know we knew this was happening, but just, wow. Seeing him? Seeing you holding him? Shit just got real.”
Noah grinned wryly as he walked over to the couch and sat down. “Trust me, bro, I know.”
Anna followed him and sat down beside him, then reached out tentatively to stroke Connor’s soft fuzzy head. “Can I hold him?”
Noah obliged, handing Anna the baby who was beginning to squirm. “Here, if he starts to fuss just stick the pacifier in.”
Ryan sank down on the couch on the other side of Anna and stretched his arm behind her on the couch. “Don’t get any ideas, sweetheart, I’m not ready for this yet.”
She rolled her eyes in response. “I know you’re not and neither am I, so don’t worry. But it’s going to be fun having a baby to snuggle sometimes.” Anna bent her head down and pressed a gentle kiss to Connor’s brow.
“So, two questions, oh brother of mine,” Ryan said, turning a curious gaze to Noah. “Does the kid have a name, and have you told Mom?”
“Yes and no. Mel named him Connor. And I’ll be heading to Mom’s house in a while.”
“Good luck with that conversation,” Ryan said wryly.
Noah grimaced. Yeah, that wasn’t going to be fun. His mother was very open-minded, but he suspected even she would not be impressed with her son having a baby from a one-night stand. He had no clue if the fact that Gigi had abandoned the baby to Noah would make it better, or worse, in Molly Carlisle’s eyes.
“So, how exactly did you end up living at Mel’s place? Your text last night didn’t make much sense,” Anna asked.
Noah had forgotten that at some point the previous evening, he had sent a long-winded group text message to everyone. He thought it had been clear, but maybe the stress and exhaustion from the day had rattled his brain a bit. Pulling out his phone, he opened the chat history to see multiple messages from his friends, responding to his rambling message that said something about the baby, foster care, and Mel being an angel. Melanie had clearly responded to a few of the questions, clarifying that she had certification as an emergency foster parent, and that Noah was awaiting a paternity test, but he could see why his brother was curious. Out of everyone in their group, Ryan was the only one Noah had spoken to about his attraction to Mel, thanks to one night with a bottle of whiskey. At Anna’s question, Noah turned to Ryan suspiciously, but he just shrugged and shook his head. Apparently, he hadn’t said anything to Anna, which meant her question was an innocent one.
“It’s like Mel said. Until they prove with certainty that I’m Connor’s dad, I can’t have custody of him. Mel happens to be a registered foster parent, so she offered to take him.”
“And CPS is letting you be here with him? I would have thought the foster parent would be the only one allowed to look after him, no one else?” Came Anna’s all too innocent reply.
“Yeah, does the social worker know you’re here, man? You won’t get in trouble for being here, will you?” Ryan asked concerned.
Noah hesitated. He and Mel hadn’t discussed what they would tell their friends, but it was clear they would have to let them in on the lie. Hopefully they could keep it secret, and perhaps even help make it more believable.
“Well, about that…” he began, then stood up and began to pace in front of the couch, suddenly nervous about what he was going to say. Would his family and friends understand why he’d lied?
“So, Mel and I, we, ummm, sort of told the social worker that, you know, that we’re engaged,” he blurted out.
