Can't Fight It - Kaylee Ryan Page 0,35
so I can’t stop thinking about her. If I’ve looked at the clock once, I’ve looked at it a thousand times. Milo has had his dinner and his bath, and now we’re playing. Well, he’s playing. He’s lying on the floor under the activity mat that my parents bought him. He loves this thing. It has a lot of toys that hang down and a little mirror so he can see himself. He’ll lie under it for hours, his little arms and legs just swinging away.
A knock on the door tells me it’s almost time. That has to be my parents here to watch Milo. “Come on, buddy. That’s Grandma.” I climb to my feet and lift him into my arms before going to answer the door. Sure enough, it’s my parents. “Hey, come on in.”
“Colt, this place looks great. It’s really coming along,” Mom says, examining the house while Dad takes Milo from my arms.
“Thanks. I think so too,” I admit.
“We were thinking the roads are supposed to get bad with this snow rolling in. How about we keep this little guy at our place for the night?” Dad offers.
“I don’t know.” There’s an ache in my chest. An actual physical ache at just the thought of being away from him for a night.
“Come on,” Mom says. “We raised you and your brother. He’ll be just fine.”
“But what if he needs me?”
“Colton,” my mom whispers. “I’m so proud of you. You’re such a good daddy, but even daddies need a break. You’ve been working on the house, working long hours at the gym. Chase said you’ve been working on planning your classes at home at night. We don’t want you to burn out.”
“He’s my son. I could never,” I say, my voice louder and obviously defensive. I know they mean well, but after the way his mother just left him, it’s important to me that he knows I’ll always be there.
“Son, I know what you’re thinking,” Dad says. “He knows you love him. It’s okay for you to take time for yourself. When you and Chase were little, Grandma and Grandpa did that for us too. We’re going to do it for you and for Chase and Gabby. Let us have this time with him.”
“That means I don’t see him until tomorrow sometime.” That’s seems like forever away from my son.
“And you’ll both live,” Mom says before leaning down to kiss Milo on the back of his hand.
Before I can answer, I hear her soft voice. “Oh, sorry to interrupt. Colton, just let me know when you’re ready,” Hollis says from behind me.
“Hollis, it’s nice to see you,” Mom tells her. “You’re not interrupting a thing. In fact, maybe you can help me. We’re trying to convince Colt to let us take Milo for the night so he can have a break.”
“I don’t need a break from my son,” I tell anyone who will listen.
“I’ve been trying to get you to let us keep him so you can go out and have some fun. That’s not working, so at least give us this. If your class runs over, you don’t have to worry about rushing home so we can get home. I promise if we need you, we’ll call you.”
“We won’t need you,” Dad chimes in.
“Help me out here, Hollis.” I turn to look at her.
She shrugs. “He’s their grandson, and it’s good for all parents to take a step back now and then. Ask anyone who has kids. Your time is important.”
“How do you know that?” I ask her.
“Women’s intuition,” Mom speaks up, answering for her.
Hollis steps up and places her hand on my forearm. “He’ll be okay, Colton. They love him as much as you do.” Her words are softly spoken, and they calm me instantly.
“You’re right.” I nod. “Let me go pack him a bag.”
“No need. We have everything he needs. Diapers, formula, bottles, clothes, all that stuff. We will take the diaper bag just in case we need something between here and home,” Mom says.
“He needs his blue blanket. He likes to snuggle with it when he takes his nighttime bottle. He keeps it up close to his face and falls right to sleep.”
Dad nods. “We’re going to need that then.” He chuckles. “Aren’t we, buddy? You excited to stay with Grandma and Grandpa?” he asks my son. Not that Milo can answer him.
“I’ll be right back.” I rush to Milo’s room and grab his favorite blanket. I stop on my way out the door