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“Melody?”
“A local with a child Grace’s age. Did you know that some brands have 50 percent more sugar than others, and that it’s really best to stick with milk and water? She said Grace should still have a bottle but that it’s to supplement the food, as that’s the most important thing at her age. I bought a formula she suggested and bottle. I need to boil it though.”
“But we’re adults right, we should be able to do this?”
He turned and gave her a reassuring smile he didn’t feel. That woman had been scary in the supermarket. Who knew there were so many ways you could poison a child with just a jar of baby food that had too many calories? Dylan kept those thoughts to himself.
“Totally. I brought these hard biscuits Melody called Zwieback’s, because she’s probably teething.”
“Did you get her number?”
“No, but I know Dr. Google intimately.”
When he had everything ready he took Grace and held her on his knee, as they had no high chair. Piper put a small white bib trimmed in pink with three cute kittens on it around her little neck. Then she picked up the spoon and loaded it with baby food.
“Okay, sweetheart, you need to eat this now or the two inadequate adults who are caring for you will be at a loss what to do next.”
“Hey, speak for yourself,” he said, watching Piper’s face. Emotion was written all over it. Joanie’s loss cut deep, plus there was worry for Grace, and lastly herself.
Dylan saw a row of white teeth as Piper opened her mouth the same time as Grace did.
“She ate it.”
“Melody said it was the best brand.”
“God bless Melody.”
When the bowl was cleared she went for a sachet that held fruit and yogurt. That went down the same way. She then drank some water.
“She was hungry.”
“What worries me is that it will come out in a diaper next, and I’m putting my hand up right here and now to say I am not changing that one.”
Piper gave him a look. “I thought you said you were evolving into a better man.”
“Not that much!”
“Chicken.”
Dylan made small clucking noises as Piper cleared away the mess. Grace looked at him, so he turned her to face him, and they studied each other.
“How you doing, sweet cheeks?”
He touched her chin; it was like silk. Her big eyes looked at him solemnly.
“You play pat-a-cake?”
Taking both her little hands in his he began to sing the song and clap her hands together. She enjoyed it, because he got that soft little chuckle he’d received at the police station when the blocks tumbled over.
So small, he thought. So vulnerable and trusting. She had to rely on Piper now for her care, because there were no other options.
“You got her a bunny onesie.”
“Melody said her daughter liked it, and Bicky weighed heavily in the bunny’s favor. There’s plenty of nappies, and an extra blanket too.”
“Thank you.”
Piper gripped the onesie hard, her eyes on Grace.
