Page 5 of Something Stronger
“No, no, no!” Amy pounded her fists on the high chair tray. We both stopped and looked at each other as Amy’s lip quivered.
“You can’t keep doing this,” I commanded in a hushed tone. “She knows more than you think.” I went over and rubbed my hand across the top of my daughter’s head. “It’s ok, baby. Mama and Dada are fine.” I kissed her before going back to the waffle iron. In that moment, all I wanted was for Charlie to go to work and leave us alone.
Charlie shook his head at my actions before polishing off his breakfast. He abruptly stood from the table, grabbed his keys from the counter, and left.
“Dada bye bye!” Amy waved as Charlie disappeared out the door. I head his truck roar to life, and then he was gone.
I shook off the frustration before grabbing the last waffle and making myself a plate. I tossed the dirty dishes into the sinkand sat down at the table. “How would you like to go for a walk today?” I smiled as Amy stuffed another sticky bite in her mouth. “Maybe we can go see Grandma.” I forced the knot in my throat away before smiling at Amy. She grinned as she went back to eating. All was right in her world. Mama was smiling and she had food.
Ooooooooo
Ever tried to bathe an toddler the same time you’re bathing yourself? It’s not easy. Amy’s almost ready to walk, so getting her to stay in one place is nearly impossible. I’ve learned how to do all sorts of things fast, or one handed in order to keep an eye on her. Usually, I shower when she takes a nap, but today, we both needed a bath. She managed to completely cover herself in syrup and butter, and as I tried to pick her up without coating myself, she clapped her sticky hands on my face and grabbed a handful of hair in each fist. She laughed as if she knew exactly what she was doing, and I just decided to bring her into the shower with me. I placed a hand towel on the floor of the shower over in the corner, out of the way of direct spray. I made sure the water wasn’t too warm, and then I placed her on the wet towel. It kept her from sliding around, and after handing her a few of her tub toys, I climbed in. I quickly washed my hair as I felt her moving about near my feet. She giggled as she drove a toy car over my foot. When she crashed it into my big toe, I yelp. She started to cry, so I quickly rinsed my hair, and then squatted down to attend to her. She blinked against the shower spray, and then grinned, her two bottom teeth front and center. “You’re a silly girl.” I ruffled her wet hair before standing back up to finish washing. Once I finished, I picked her up and held her under the spray. She scrunched her nose up and blinked her eyes before closing them. I rubbed baby soap all over her the best I could and then rinsed her off. She kicked her legs and bounced in excitement, which made it hard to hold her since the soap madeher slippery. After setting her back down, I turned off the water and reached for a towel. I wrapped my hair up and then slipped into my terry cloth robe before wrapping a hooded towel around Amy. She giggled as I dried her. I carried her into the nursey to get a fresh diaper and a spring outfit. It was a nice day, and if we were going to visit my mom, I knew we’d be outdoors.
After getting her dressed, I carried her into my room. There was a blanket already on the floor in the corner with some toys. I placed her in the middle and then went to work getting myself ready. When I finished, I slipped on a pair of sandals and lifted Amy into my arms. I grabbed the diaper bag, my keys, and purse, and locked the door before bringing everything to the car. Despite Charlie’s urging to get something more practical, I refused. I flipped the seat forward, and strapped Amy into the baby seat in the back of my Mustang. Charlie had given me this car as a wedding gift, and it was one of the few things I still had and used from before Amy. I was determined to make it work until she was old enough to get in on her own. I told him that I was the one who struggled to strap her in and if I was willing to do it, then it shouldn’t matter. He gave up that argument. Every time I had to go through this though, I rethought my stance on the whole thing.
I tossed the diaper bag and my purse into the passenger seat before climbing in and cranking the engine. It was about a half hour drive to my parents’ house, and I decided to take the scenic route. Charlie was undoubtably going to work until after the dinner hour, so there was no need for me to rush my day. Besides, I was feeling rather spiteful after the way the morning went. If Charlie happened to come home early, he could figure out his own dinner.
Ooooooooo
When I pulled up to my parents’ house, Mom was in the garden. Her sun hat casted a shadow across her face, but I couldstill make out the surprised looked when she noticed my car. I opened my door and could hear the faint hum of the tractor in the distance. “Well, this is a nice surprise.” She smiled as she came over.
“I just thought I’d come visit, since it’s such a nice day.” I smiled as I began unbuckling Amy.
“Is Charlie with you?” She looked around.
“He’s working.” I frowned but quickly hid my aggravation. “How are things here?” I lifted Amy into my arms and closed the car door.
“Your dad is doing well. Overworking himself as usual. Carrie got a job at the Piggly Wiggly, and Ginny’s around here somewhere.” She looked around but my sister was nowhere in sight. “She’s probably in the hayloft reading. She sometimes goes up there to watch the boys come in. She thinks she’s being sneaky.” Mom smiled and shook her head.
“She’s thinking about boys already?” I sighed. My baby sister was only eleven. I think I was fourteen before I began to notice the boys.
“She reads all those books about princes coming to rescue the princess. I think the hayloft is her tower, so to speak.” Mom laughed and began walking back to the garden. “I’m not really worried about her. Gia, on the other hand, seems to have a new beau every time we talk to her. That one is going to worry your daddy into an early grave.”
“Did you ever stop to think that maybe it’s the shock value she’s after there?” I mused. My middle sister Georgia was always in trouble growing up. She’s the wild child and despite my parents trying to tame her over the years, she seems to always find trouble. Daddy believed going away to college would help, but it seems to be doing just the opposite. “She’ll find someone who will tame her, give it time.”
“I’m not sure I’ll live long enough for that.” Mom waved me off before maneuvering between the rows of vegetables. There was a basket on the ground that was half-filled with squash and tomatoes, then a little farther down was another one spilling over with beans. “Think you two might wanna stay for dinner?”
“We’d love to, right, Amy?” I smiled as Amy clapped her hands.
“Let’s go over in the shade. Amy can play, and you can help me snap these beans, and tell me what’s really on your mind.” Mom picked up the basket and headed toward the lawn chairs that were parked under the giant oak in our back yard.
“What makes you think something’s on my mind?” I followed her.
“I know my daughter, and I know somethin’ ain’t right. Talk to me.” She patted my shoulder as she sat down. I placed Amy in the grass in front of us, and she began to play with the toys I offered her.
“I think Charlie might regret having kids right away,” I murmured. “He seems to always be mad at her, and when he’s not, he looks like he feels guilty. I just don’t know if he was ready to be a dad.” I grabbed some beans from the basket and began snapping them into smaller pieces.
“Well, he’s a dad now, so he’s going to have to figure that out. Just give it time. Sometimes there’s a longer adjustment for others. He’ll come around, I’m sure.”
“I hope so.” I sighed as I watched my daughter play. I wondered silently how anyone couldn’t love her and want her. She was perfect. I was just going to have to do more to make things easier for him. That was it. If he didn’t feel burdened by us, then he’d be happier.
Chapter 4
8 years ago…
Louisiana
“Mama, watch!” Amy called as she spun around on one foot. We were playing in the back yard after her nap. It was a nice spring day, and Charlie had promised he’d be home for dinner. I had a roast in the oven, and with the windows open to let the breeze through the house, you could smell it cooking from the back yard.
