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They had to be mature about it.
But when five rolled around, Ren was nowhere to be found. The last parent left for the day and Max was sitting in the bouncy seat jumping away.
“Where do you think Daddy is?” she asked Max. He picked up a toy and tossed it at her and let out a laugh.
She grinned and pulled her phone out, got down next to Max on the floor and took a selfie of the two of them then typed:Just me and your boy chilling. I’m ready to get us each a bottle. Mine will taste better.
She hit send and five minutes later her phone went off.Shit, shit, shit. I’m on a call. I’m trying to get off. It’s my boss. Shit.
Now she felt bad.Relax. He’s in good hands. I’m going to bring him to my house. Take your time. I’ll have dinner for us if you want.
Immediately he replied,Thanks and yes to dinner.
She left Max in his seat, then went around the room checking everything, hitting the lights and locking up.
“Are you ready to go to my house and get some dinner?” she asked Max while she put his jacket on and grabbed his bag.
He had a bottle left in it, but she’d picked up some of his formula and the baby food he liked at the store. She figured at this point she might as well. She was sleeping with his daddy and hoping to spend more time with them.
She hoped Ren didn’t read that the wrong way though, but she’d find out. She wouldn’t hide it.
Thirty minutes later, Ren walked in the back door, his hand running through his hair. “I’m sorry. This is horrible. I can’t believe I’ve done this twice.”
“I told you to relax and I’ll say it again,” she said, going into his arms and kissing him. “Max was fine. I’m not going to say I’d allow everyone to do that, but it happens. I wouldn’t lock up and leave the kid there.”
“I know,” he said.
There had been some parents in the past that took advantage of things and she’d started to bill them more for being late and then they got there on time. She wouldn’t do that with Max though. Not when it was working in her favor.
“And we get to have dinner. It’s almost done.”
“It smells good,” he said. “What are you making?” He walked over and picked Max up to kiss him on the cheek and settle him on his hip.
At eighteen she’d had stars in her eyes regarding a future with Ren, but she could have never imagined this.
She had no idea he had it in him to be this loving. This gentle. This caring.
She’d hoped. She’d seen glimpses with her, but they’d never been around kids before.
“I had sauce and meatballs in the freezer. I thawed it and am making spaghetti. It’s an easy dinner.”
“That is what you were having tonight?” he asked. “Or changed it when I ended up being the delinquent father.”
She turned and was going to lecture him on that but then saw the grin on his face and relaxed that he was joking. “I was going to make a salad with some of the leftover chicken I had from yesterday. But this was easy and would feed us both. Unless you would have preferred a salad. I think I remember that you aren’t a big fan of vegetables.”
She noticed he didn’t eat them much even though he was feeding them more to Max.
“No, still don’t care that much for them. I’ll pick and move them on my plate. A salad is fine if it’s lettuce, meat and cheese. Maybe a tomato.”
“So noted,” she said. “I made the right decision. I bought a few things that Max eats if you want to pick out what to feed him.”
“You did?” he asked.
“Yes. In the cabinet next to the pantry. I hope that was okay. I was trying to make it easier than you having to always pack things.”
“No,” he said. “It’s fine. I appreciate it. Like a horrible parent, I didn’t think much of it when I left the house to come get him. I assumed he had food left over from lunch since I put extra in there.”
“He does,” she said. “We can give him that or you can leave it for tomorrow.”
