Page 72 of Dirty Puck

“Oh, my god, is that all you ever think about?”

“Mostly—yes. You can’t judge me because you’ve never had sex with you.”

“I’ve gotten myself off.”

“Not the same. Not the sameat all.”

“You’ll have people to be here around the clock? It’s that or no-go. I can’t leave Claudia to care for Benny and be a companion for your mom. It’s too much.”

“Round the clock, babe. Start packing because this is happening.”

I kissed her. Damn, that woman could kiss. I didn’t lie. I truly loved spending time with her more than anyone else. My mom and Benny being close seconds.

“I have work to do,” I said, letting go of her waist. “So do you. Suitcases are in the closet behind my suits.”

The rest of the night, I made calls to the visiting nurses service, leaving messages for them to call me back. Last minute was hard, but given the bonus I put on the table to get reliable nurses here to help, they managed to free up the people we needed. We were a go.

In the morning, I started preparing for my stint on the road. The first of the visiting nurses showed before lunch tointroduce herself while I was still home. The second arrived before dinner. Both received the schedules and routines, met Mom, Claudia, and even Benny to make him comfortable with the new people in his place. I wasn’t home to meet the third. Practice. She came highly recommended and would be taking the overnight shift.

Before Bree laid him down for the night, Benny walked into the den wearing his T-Rex pajamas and holding a book, one of his favorites about tools that lived in a toolbox. He handed me the book

“You want me to read to you, bud?”

Benny stared up at me with his big eyes waiting.

“All right, bud.” I scooped him up onto my lap, getting him situated, and opened to the first cardboard page to start reading. It was only five pages long. When I finished, he yawned and snuggled down to get comfortable before falling asleep on me. Without thinking, I bent in to press my cheek to the top of his head.

“It’s funny how fast it happens,” Mom said from the doorway.

“What are you doing up? You need to rest.”

“I’m okay right now.” She sighed. “When I have the strength to get out of that bed, I do.”

How did I respond to that? We both knew what was coming. “What happens?”

“Huh?”

“You said, ‘It’s funny how fast it happens.’ What happens?”

A sad smile spread across her face. “Love,” she said.

“Love?”

Mom pointed to Benny sleeping. I shrugged.

“He’s my bud.”

“I wasn’t just talking about Benny. You’re different around her. I’ve loved every version of my son you’ve ever presented me, but this—this version of my Baker is the best so far.”

“Ma.”

She held her hand up. “I’m going to lie down for a while.” Then she turned, slowly walking away.

It looked like Bree and I were still selling this relationship enough for my mom to continue to buy it. Love. Hilarious. But having her say that reaffirmed the plan. It made her happy and that was what mattered.

Only about a minute later, Bree walked into the den. “I thought he might be tired,” she whispered. “Here, let me take him.”

I waved her off. “I got him,” I whispered back while moving him into a carrying position as I stood. We walked him upstairs together, and I waited for her to turn down his bed. When I laid him down, even with his eyes closed, he held on to my shirt, and even asleep wouldn’t let go. Bree gently removed his little fingers and kissed him on the head. She tucked the covers around him and we left him to sleep.

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