was difficult to let the little fellow cry alone in his own room. Given their situation, Axel figured he’d rather err on the side of indulging him.
He moved through the dining room, still decorated with his ex-girlfriend’s frilly tablecloth, through the living room with his big chair and small fireplace, and up the creaky stairs.
Noah’s door was the first one at the top of the steps.
Axel stood in the hall for a moment, listening.
No sound came from inside, but he wrapped his big hand around the knob anyway, and closed his eyes before easing it open, as if not watching the door might make it quieter.
The room was filled with Noah’s sweet scent. Technically, Axel knew it was mostly the scent of baby powder and the delicate detergent he used to wash the baby’s sheets and clothing. But there was an undertone of pine and cinnamon he swore was the woodsy scent of his little one.
Noah was asleep again, his little body splayed on the crib mattress, tiny hands open wide like stars, the moonlight from the window playing up the dimples of his chubby cheeks.
His tiny eyebrows were slightly furrowed, as if he disapproved of whatever he was dreaming about.
“It’s okay, buddy,” Axel half-whispered, half-sang, caressing his son’s pillowy cheek with a calloused index finger. “Daddy’s right here. Daddy will never leave you.”
Noah smacked his lips in his sleep and his forehead smoothed.
Axel felt his heart melt, for the millionth time.
“My boy,” he whispered.
Axel stayed just where he was for a long time before finally sneaking away for his own night of sleep.
The next morning, he woke up early and headed to the Tarker’s Hollow Community Center, as planned.
The air was crisp and fragrant, and Noah was making happy growling noises.
“You’re excited to see your friends, huh, buddy?” Axel murmured to him as he dug in his pocket for the keys to the building.
He and Noah enjoyed their mornings at the baby playgroup once a week.
Axel had volunteered to open up the place and clean up the toys at the end, hoping to get in good with the tight group of stay-at-home moms who seemed to run everything in town. After all, Noah would be going to school with their kids one day - Axel needed to prove he was a trustworthy presence for playdates.
But so far it hadn’t seemed to win him much goodwill. No matter how friendly Axel was, the women hadn’t taken a shine to him. The other single dads in the group had theories on that, but Axel didn’t like to presume. He hoped that in time he would be accepted.
Balancing Noah on his left hip, he opened the door and jogged up the stairs to turn on the lights.
The huge arched windows that lined the north side of the room looked out over verdant views of the Tarker’s Hollow College campus and soccer field.
The space used by the playgroup was as big as a ballroom. It had been used for the high school’s required dance classes back in the fifties, as his great-aunt liked to remind him.
Now, it was mainly rented out for parties and used by the playgroup twice each week. Axel could only afford to close the shop one morning each week to attend with Noah, but his buddies Dax and Chase came Wednesdays and Fridays with their kids.
He opened the big closets on the near side of the room and pulled out a nice selection of toys for different age groups.
Noah was too little to do much more than lie on a play mat and kick his legs, but the toddlers at playgroup used the bikes and the toy kitchen and other items they cycled through week by week.
Satisfied with the offerings for the “big kids,” Axel lowered his backpack to the floor, opened it with one hand and pulled out a fuzzy blanket. He spread the blanket on the floor and sat down with Noah just as heavy footsteps jogged up the stairs.
“There’s Noah,” a voice boomed.
“Hey, Chase,” Axel said with a grin. “And hello, Jacob!”
Chase Bowman always brought his nephew to playgroup. His sister worked a nine to five in the city and Chase’s job fundraising for the college meant he sometimes worked late nights. He’d told Axel that when he’d asked for flex hours so he could spend mornings with his nephew, the dean had granted his request on the spot.
“How are you guys?” Chase asked, spreading out his own blanket and sitting down with little Jacob.
“We’re great,”