Page 76 of Hard Corps (Selected Sinners MC 7)

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

Late Winter 2015, Austin, Texas, USA

I had been blessed with an opportunity to babysit Casey while Shane and Kace went out to eat dinner and see a movie. For the first hour and a half, Casey slept and had absolutely no interest in waking, regardless of how much I wanted him to.

As he began to stir in his swing, I rushed to it and reached down to pick him up.

“Listen up, Little Man,” I said as I pulled him from the swing.

As I raised him even with my face, he smiled. Seeing him smile was one of the best rewards life had ever offered me. With an adult, it was always anyone’s guess whether the smile was genuine or not. With a baby, I knew it was always genuine. Babies don’t lie and tell a man what he wants to hear, and they’re always honest.

And a smiling baby is a happy baby.

“Your old man is a good fella.”

He gazed off in the distance, well beyond me and toward the wall.

I carried him to the changing table, lowered him onto it, and opened his dirty diaper.

‘Do you hear me?” I asked him as I changed his diaper.

His mouth curled into a slobber-covered smile as if he fully understood every word I said.

“He’s a good solid dude, and you need to be sure and make him proud of you as he teaches you about life. Is that understood?”

Again, he grinned and cooed, apparently understanding each and every word. I picked him up, cradled him in my arms, and began pacing the house as we spoke. Having Casey in my life allowed me to look at things not necessarily differently, but with a more open mind. He provided me what the Ferris wheel provided me, an entirely different perspective on life.

A view from an alternate vantage point.

My exposure to him allowed me to develop a better relationship with God, as I was now sure God was looking down on all of us with compassion and understanding, which was something I had always worried about in the past. In short, Casey was damned good for me.

His eyes followed mine as I admired his ability to maintain focus not only on me, but on what I said each time I spoke. I realized he didn’t understand me, but it was nice telling myself he did. One day, without a doubt, he would, and when that day came, I would be a very proud uncle.

“That’s what I thought,” I said with a nod. “I knew the minute you were born you’d be a good listener. You see, we grow up a product of our environment. Violence breeds violence, and a loving family teaches compassionate behavior. Your parents are as good as gold. They love you. And Ripp and I love you, Little Man. You need to know if you ever want someone to just kick it with you can always come to uncle A-Train. Remember that. I’ll keep telling you, just in case your little baby brain forgets. But I’ll be here for you, Little Man. Always.”

“You see, my old man was a pretty good dude, but he didn’t so much care for kids. Me? I’m different. I like little fellas like you. One of these days, I just might have to have one of my own. Maybe make a little brother for you. Some might call him a cousin, but that’s not the case.”

I shifted my eyes from the window down to his face. His eyes were drifting closed. “Are you paying attention to me, kid-o?”

The tone of my voice changing caused him to open his eyes and smile. As his gaze met mine, he giggled, opened his mouth, and released a little bit of baby slobber onto his cheek. I reached down to wipe off his mouth, and his eyes attempted to follow my finger, but he soon lost focus.

“We’ll need to work on that, wont we?”

I moved my finger back and forth in front of his face slowly. As I did, his eyes followed it for the entire time.

“That’s better. We’ll tell your old man when he gets home you’re going to be a good baseball player. He’ll be excited. You’ll just have to remember to always keep your eye on the ball, little man.”

He grinned, got excited, and spit up a little bit. After I wiped his face with a burp rag, we got back to our discussion.

“Brothers are brothers, and don’t ever let anyone tell you differently. Your aunt Katie and I might just make you a little brother or sister someday. If she’ll marry me, that is. I asked her father for permission, and he gave me the go ahead, so it’s all up to me now. I just need to make sure I’m ready for everything.”

I heard the garage door open as we finished talking about the possibility of a marriage proposal. From the sound of the voices, Dekk and Kace had returned from the movie.

“Keep that marriage stuff quiet little man. Got it?” I asked.

“Right here,” I said as I cradled him in one arm and held out my clenched fist with my free hand. “Pound it.”

Babies invariably have clenched fists. Further proof they’re always ready to make a promise and have every intention of keeping it. As I pounded my fist against his, he laughed.

“I know, the thought of it makes me giggle too,” I grinned.

As I carefully placed Casey into his swing, I wiped his mouth one last time and kissed him on the cheek.

“We don’t want your folks thinking I held you the entire time they were gone, so keep that quiet too.”

Filled with gratitude and appreciation for everything Casey provided me, I bowed my head and closed my eyes.

If you let me make Katie a part of my life, I’ll make you proud, Lord.

I certainly will.