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se, but didn't pay much attention and turned back to the television. He looked up again when I turned the TV off though.
He started to cry, his little lip trembling as I turned off his favorite show.
“We'll watch it later, bub,” I said. “I want you to meet someone right now.”
Reese just stood there and stared, almost like he was still in shock about the fact that this was his child. Eli was still upset about me turning off his favorite show, whining at me to turn it back on. I walked over and sat on the floor with him and looked up at Reese, inviting him to join us.
He did, after a few moments, but I could tell he wasn't comfortable. Not that I could blame him. It's not like he had time to really prepare for this. One day he was a bachelor, living on his own, and the next he was the father of a toddler. I was sure it had to be completely overwhelming.
“Hey there, Eli,” Reese said. “I'm Reese.”
Eli just stared blankly at him.
“I'm sorry. He's a little shy with –” I almost said strangers, but stopped myself in the nick of time, “new people.”
“I understand. I am too,” Reese said with a smile.
“No, you're not,” I said with a dry laugh. “You're the most social person I know.”
“Oh yeah? Says the girl who hardly knows me.”
He laughed, and it sounded sincere, but the plug about barely knowing him hurt. It reminded me yet again that I didn't know the father of my son, not very well, at least. And that hurt. Reese must have noticed the hurt on my face, because he followed it up by giving me a smile and a gentle squeeze on the shoulder.
“I'm sorry, Maya. I didn't mean to –”
“No, it's fine,” I said. I let out a deep sigh. “This is certainly going to take some getting used to, isn't it?”
“You can say that again,” he said. He smiled at me though, and I felt a smile touching my lips as well.
ooo000ooo
Reese stuck around until it was time to put Eli to bed, and he asked to help with that. Slowly, over the course of the day, Eli had started warming up to him.
“Read me a story, please?” Eli asked, putting a book into Reese's lap.
He stared up at his dad with those same dark eyes, and I could see Reese turning to putty right on the spot. It was funny to me – this big baller, this supposed hard man with a ton of street cred – turning to jelly in the face of one small child.
“Uhh yeah, sure thing, little guy,” he said, picking up the book.
I was standing in the doorway – keeping my distance to let them have their time together – and I couldn't help but smile. It was sweet seeing this former bad boy adjusting to life as a father. He was trying, I had to give him credit for that.
I walked over to tuck Eli into bed, and I turned on the night light while Reese read from the book. For a moment, I had to admit, this was nice. Up until that point, I was the one who did everything. I was the caretaker, the story reader, the nurse, the cook, everything. But for a brief moment, I could step back and let someone else take over for me.
Married couples had it good, I thought.
“Another story, please?” Eli asked as soon as the first one was finished.
Reese seemed perfectly happy to be doing what he was doing, but I almost stopped him. It was getting late, but I decided to let it go. A small smile touched Reese's lips as he read, so I decided to leave them alone and stepped out, just into the living room where I could still hear everything that was going on. My eyes were heavy with exhaustion though, and I fought to keep from falling asleep. It wasn't even nine yet, but after working all day and then being a mother to my son all evening, I was worn out.
I drifted off to sleep, and only woke up when I heard Eli's bedroom door close softly. My eyes opened wide, as I expected my son to be standing there looking at me, but it was just Reese.
“He finally fell asleep,” he said softly.
“That makes two of us,” I said with a laugh.
I expected Reese to hit the road, but he sat down in the chair across from me as if he wanted to talk. Or maybe he felt obligated, I didn't know. I didn't want him to think I expected anything from him. Honestly, I expected nothing from him, so anything I did get was a bonus at that point.
“Why didn't you tell me, Maya?”
