Page 19 of Spring UnVeiled
“Stay right there,” the nurse ordered.“Ian is a gassy one so you’re going to need to burp him several times.”She threw a small soft towel over his shoulder then helped move the baby into the correct position.
Evan thought the first belch was impressive—the third was worthy of a SEAL after drinking a six-pack of shitty beer.He started to fall asleep, his tiny breaths next to Evan’s ear.
“Thank you, sir.He should sleep now for at least an hour.”The nurse gently took his sleeping grandson from his hands and placed him in the bassinet.
Evan immediately felt empty when the seven pounds of infant was no longer in his arms.He suddenly felt as though Ian was no longer protected.Glancing around the well-equipped hospital nursery, he realized that was ridiculous.At that moment, he was in the best place possible.
“We have a lot of shopping to do to prepare his room,” Genevieve explained.“We’ll try to get back in a few hours.Hopefully, he’ll be awake again then.”
Situated back in the car, Genevieve placed her hand on his forearm.“Thank you for helping with Ian.I have to admit, when you offered, I figured it would be just like before; broken promises with me left to take care of the baby by myself.Thank you.”
She squeezed his arm before she let go.
Had he really been that big of a douchebag?How many times had he promised her something then wasn’t able, or just didn’t, carry through?He made a silent promise to himself, and her, that he would be a better man this time.Starting now.
He grinned regretfully.“I don’t remember doing this when we had Kylie.”
Genevieve’s grin mirrored his.“You didn’t.Mom and Dad went with me when they came out to visit.Mom and I decorated the room with purple curtains and wall decorations while Dad put the crib together.The room was pretty well set-up by the time you got home that night.”
“I’m sorry.”He seemed to be saying that to her constantly.He was sorry about many things, but moving to the East Coast had been perfect for his career.Then, and still, he was disappointed that Genevieve hadn’t gone with him.She could’ve found a teaching job in Virginia and the three of them would have stayed together.
Instead, Evan had left alone.He’d excelled in his commands and had been promoted quickly.He was still amazed that he’d been assigned command of Group 1.A position he had yet to claim.
Although thankful to Vice Admiral Maddox for the time off to handle his personal situation, Evan was anxious to take command.He knew what he was doing at work.Shopping for baby shit was all new to him, but he’d handle it.He had to.Ian was fifty-percent his responsibility.He pulled out of the hospital lot and headed south.
Chapter8
Genevieve glancedat her ex-husband as he merged onto Interstate five.He’d looked so domesticated feeding the baby.Memories of Evan feeding Kylie like that had flooded her heart, immediately followed by spears of pain.Their daughter was gone, but she’d left them her baby.
As they zipped down the interstate, she was curious as to where he was going to buy baby things.When he turned toward the largest naval station on the West Coast, she had to grin.He was headed to the base exchange.Not a bad choice, since they carried higher-end products at good prices.
As they entered the doors, Evan looked at her.“Lead the way.I have no idea where to find the baby section.”
When their eyes met, she shrugged.“I don’t know either.I haven’t been here since we got divorced.For the few things Kylie ever wanted, we were able to pick them up at the small exchange on Coronado.”
“What about the big stuff?”He truly looked confused.“Didn’t you come over here?”
Genevieve raised an eyebrow.“I lost all base privileges with the divorce.”
He had the decency to look contrite.“I didn’t realize.I’d made sure with base legal that Kylie would maintain a dependent ID card until she was out of college.”He didn’t have to say that he’d looked after their daughter but not his ex-wife.
Scanning the signs hanging from the ceiling, she found the baby department.She grabbed the cart then pushed a second toward him.“This way.”
They came across the diaper aisle first.Genevieve stopped and scanned.“Wow.There are so many more choices than when Kylie was little.”
Evan reached over and grabbed a package and dropped it into his cart.
Giggling, Genevieve picked it up and put it back on the shelf.“These are for toddlers.”She pointed to the weight range.“Ian won’t be this big for probably two years.”
As his gaze swept up and down the aisle, he asked the important question, “How much does he weigh?”
She pointed to the section for newborns.
Again, Evan grabbed a random box and practically threw it in the cart.
Shaking her head, she picked up the box of preemie diapers.“These are for tiny babies.Ian weighs about seven pounds.”She found the correct size for their grandson and put three boxes into her cart.“This should last for a week or two.”
When Evan’s jaw started to drop, Genevieve had to hold her laugh.“All babies do for the first few months is eat, pee, and poop, and not necessarily in that order.Oh, yeah, they also sleep, and before you ask, yes, they pee and poop in their sleep.”
