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She wasbarelyan adult, by the looks of it.I pulled out my phone, quickly looking up her birthday on her mother’s Wikipedia page.Not even old enough to go to a bar.
As Wyatt introduced her to every train he owned, I explained, “So this is Wyatt’s room.Mine is directly across.You have the master.”
She looked up at me, shocked.“That’s not at all necessary, Mr.Davis.”
“Call me Mason.And honestly, the room was just the one no-one was occupying.It’s a small apartment, but I like to be as close to Wyatt as possible.”Oh, and the master belonged to my ex-wife.Going in there makes me relive my failures.
Interestingly, I wasn’t thinking much about Elle right now because this girl?She was fucking hot.She’s a child, Mason.And your employee.I watched her settle right into a game with Wyatt on the floor as she sent a text.Off limits.Go back to pining over Elle.
“Dinner will be here in ten,” I announced.Candace gave a wave, but Wyatt didn’t even acknowledge me.
Typical.
Wyatt had been with me full-time for a few weeks, but still referred to me as either ‘the Senator’ or ‘Mason.’The concept of me being his father was still new to him, I guess, but every time he did it, he reminded me of what a shit parent I had been.
This kid and I barely know each other.By the end of the week, he’ll know the fucking nanny better.
It was a situation of my own making.Sure, our fathers—both high-profile politicians, had talked Catherine and I into keeping my part in Wyatt’s parentage quiet, but I didn’t have to agree to it.She was still pregnant when our parents decided she would raise the baby without the support of her family.I provided financial support, but that was about it.
I was a piece of shit, and now I regretted my absence from his life.
I sighed, walking to my room.My notebook was open on the desk full of notes about my son.I gathered them so I could give them to Candace as if they were always meant for her, but they were just as much for me.
My eyes caught on a line.
7:30 - Call with Sergio
It killed me that this extraneous person read my son a book every night before bed.I needed to put an end to that soon.It was ridiculous.There was no reason Sergio needed to do this when I was right here.He’s on tour for fuck's sake.I really thought he’d stop once he was back on the road, but he insisted.
Dinner arrived as the phone rang.“Is it mama?”Wyatt looked at me brightly.A glance at the caller ID showed it was her.
“Yeah, buddy.Go wash your hands and you can talk to her, okay?”
Wyatt raced to the bathroom to wash his hands.I answered the video call.“Hey Catherine,” I said.“He’s just washing his hands for dinner.”
I knew she was mad at me for taking Wyatt to DC with me, but she was in no condition to be a full-time parent.Hell, her sister dragged her on tour because leaving her alone seemed ill-advised.I certainly wasn’t letting my son go on tour with a band.
Wyatt pulled the phone from my hands and took off to the couch to tell her all about his day.He had a ten-minute talk with Catherine while I scooped a helping of meatballs onto his plate to cool.
Wyatt happily ate the meatballs while Candace looked on, saying she wasn’t hungry.
I cleaned up the kitchen and Candace quietly helped where she could, not knowing where things belonged.“Thanks,” I said.“When this is all cleaned up, I’ll take you through his evening routine.I’ll try to be here every night for bedtime, but sometimes it’s just not possible.I hope that’s okay.”
She nodded, “That’s fine.It’s what I’m here for.”
The quiet had me rambling, “Catherine calls him most nights.She’s the assistant for the bandHandheld Ninjas.They are on tour right now.”
“So, is Wyatt used to her being gone, then?”
I shook my head.“Not this long.Usually, she only goes away a few days at a time.This whole situation is new to all of us.I’ll explain after he goes to bed.”
I can explain why I’m a piece of shit and another man reads to my kid every night.
We went through Wyatt’s bedtime routine.Right on time, Sergio’s video call came through.Well aware of the routine, Wyatt accepted the call all on his own.“Hey, buddy,” I heard Sergio say.“How was your day?”
Wyatt babbled about going to the train station and having a new nanny for a few minutes before Sergio asked him which story he wanted to hear.
To his credit, he must either travel with copies of Wyatt’s favorite books or have them memorized, because Wyatt lay in his bed with his copy open, ready to look at the pictures as Sergio read to him.
