Page 17 of Second Chance

So, Tony took a detour to the toy shop on his way to the maternity ward, where he searched painstakingly through all the stuffed animals trying to find something cute, not weirdly gendered, and without huge, hard plastic eyes.

The octopus was his best bet.

Apparently, it’s a winner because Lia loves it. Sometimes so much she cries when Gianna takes it away at bedtime. There’s something about all the arms, Tony thinks, that make it a comforting toy to hang on to. He lowers it a bit so she can reach it, and she squirms with delight as she grabs on.

Tony hasn’t been around babies much, at least not since Gianna was one. Given he was only five when she was born, his experience is limited. It’s all been a surprise—from thosefirst weeks when Lia could see so little of the world and barely understood what was around her, through her (mercifully brief) bout of colic in the summer when she couldn’t stop crying, up to now when she wants constant interaction and reassurance but also a rigid schedule of twice-daily naps and walks.

The most shocking thing, to Tony, has been how much personality he thinks he can glimpse in Lia at only seven months. Her eyes sparkle with love when she spots Gianna, and her chubby little cheeks dimple right up. And she never makes as much of a mess with pea mash as she does with spinach. Tony knows she’ll be a laugh riot when she’s old enough to crack a joke.

With her arms full of octopus, he’s free to tickle her belly.

She shrieks with laughter.

It segues quickly into the other kind of shrieking, and he picks her up and holds her against his chest, rocking gently.

“I got you, baby girl,” Tony tells the top of her head as Lia starts to settle against him.

Tony loves being an uncle and getting these quiet moments with her. He’ll get to watch her grow up from one step removed, from the room right next door, or sometimes from across the river.

He takes a deep breath of the sweet milky scent from the top of her head Ma calls “new baby smell.” He could be in Rhinebeck. He’s there often now, it’s true, but he could be there more. He could come here for babysitting sometimes, but he could have a different key ring and maybe a better car. Then Gianna would have more space here, and Lia could have her own room when she gets older. Maybe someday, things will twist around and Gianna will cross the river to visit Tony’s kids.

The thought must make something tense up in Tony, either with fear or desire, and the baby starts to fuss again.

She’s finally quieted down properly for her nap when the key scrapes in the lock. Tony winces as he looks toward it, but it’s just Ma coming in with the groceries. She spots them instantly and tiptoes through to the kitchen. Tony follows with the baby on his left arm and helps her put away the groceries one-handed. Trying not to wake Lia, he moves so slowly his help is practically counter-productive.

“How’d you end up on babysitting duty?” Ma whispers, taking a packet of spinach off of him and putting it in the crisper. Good thing Lia’s asleep. She might bring the house down if she saw the spinach.

“I offered. It’s my half day, and Gigi could do with a few baby-free classes.”

Ma reaches up to cup his cheek. “Uncle of the year.”

They get the groceries put away between them, and by then Lia’s settled enough he can try to put her down in her crib in the living room. With the baby monitor on, they retreat to the kitchen for a cup of coffee.

“How are you doing?” Ma asks. “I feel like I haven’t seen you in weeks.”

Heat creeps up the back of Tony’s neck. “I haven’t been gone that much.” He’s not sure it’s true. He slept here last night, at least. And Tuesday last week. And the Thursday two weeks ago when Daniel had a dinner thing with the faculty council.

She shakes her head. “You’ve been so busy at the shop, it happens. I’m glad you’re making time for your niece and your sister.”

“Always. They’re my best girls.”

“I always knew I’d be replaced by the younger generation.” She sighs dramatically into her coffee cup.

“Aw, Ma.” Tony comes around the kitchen table and wraps her up in a hug from behind. “You know I love you.”

“Doesn’t hurt to hear now and again.” She pats at his arms. “I love you too, Anthony. And I know we’re all pulling together to make this work, but I miss having us together as a family sometimes, you know?”

“I know. I know.”

He thinks guiltily of his half-empty dresser upstairs. Earlier, he went looking for clean clothes after he gave Lia the bottle Gianna left in the fridge, and she spit up half of it all over him. He discovered his favorites are in Rhinebeck. Now, he’s wearing a pair of basketball shorts he hasn’t used in at least five years and aLittle Shop of HorrorsT-shirt, a leftover from when he halfheartedly helped out in the high school scene shop because Lisa decided to try acting, and he wanted to be supportive.

He ought to sort through his things and—

And.

“Ma… You know we probably won’t all be living here forever?”

She rolls her eyes. “Of course I know. It’s convenient now though. Until Gianna has a job that can support her and Lia, at least, she ought to stay here where there’s plenty of help.”

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