Page 103 of Bountiful
“And yet you survived,” Castro pointed outquietly.
“Still. I’d rather not add to Zara’s stress today by bringing her back abruisedkid.”
“Mmm. You two going to be a coupleafterall?”
Now that was a fine question. “I really don’t know.” Though I liked that idea a whole hell of a lot more than I’d everexpectedto.
“Zara’s the best there is,” Castro said, even though he’d only justmether.
“Yeah, I know,” Iagreed.
“And you chased plenty of tail already,player.”
“That I have. But with me it was never about variety. It was about avoiding expectations. And notowinganyone. If Zara and I became a couple she would probably end up resenting me. I’m not going to quit playinghockey.”
“Some day you will,” the younger manpointedout.
I grunted. That idea made me even queasier than fatherhood. This summer would forever be remembered as the one where both my age and my overconfidence caught up to me.Hello,humility.
Castro finished his coffee. “I’m gonna throw away my cup.Yourstoo?”
I handeditover.
“Berightback.”
He went into the bakery. When he came out a minute later, Zara was with him. She jogged across the parking lot and up into herapartment.
“What’s up?” Iaskedhim.
“I asked if she had a baby pack. We can go for a walk,afterall.”
“What’s ababypack?”
I found out a couple of minutes later when Zara returned with it. The pack had a metal frame, a baby seat and a five-pointharness.
“Perfect,”Castrosaid.
“Here’s some water for her. Come back if you have a diaper issue.” She passed Castro a sippy cup and then ran backinside.
“Will do!” Castro called over his shoulder. “Nicole, baby. Want to go for a ride?” He showed herthepack.
She slid down the slide on her belly and came over toinvestigate.
“You’ve ridden in here before, right?” Castro had an easy way of talking to the baby. “C’mere, princess.” He lifted her into the pack and strapped her in. “Now I’m gonna pickthisup…”
“I’ll do it,” I said, stopping him. I lifted the pack, while Nicole watched me withbigeyes.
“Your shoulder gonna be okaywiththat?”
“Sure. She only weighs twenty-odd pounds.” Castro was a great guy, but if anyone was going to carry my baby in a pack, it was going tobeme.
“Suit yourself. Here—I’ll hand her off to you.” He took the pack by its frame while I pulled the shoulder straps on. “Clip that chest thing,”hesaid.
So I did. Nicole let out a string of babbling and kicked her feet, shaking the pack gently. “Let’s walk, and we’ll see if she’s downwiththis.”
“Awesome. Let’s go downriver?” Hepointed.
I looked around. “No—that way. She needs shade orshe’llburn.”
