the moment Vaughn lifted him, and I pursed my lips, hoping this wasn’t the beginning of him demanding to be held all the time.
Without explanation, Vaughn disappeared upstairs with River. I was ready to follow him out of curiosity when my father walked up to me and pulled me aside. I hadn’t even realized he was here. Ever’s parents, Evelyn and Thomas, were there as well though they stood on opposite sides of the room. Evelyn was currently engaged in a conversation with Winny, Wren’s grandmother.
“Vaughn did good,” my father said with a nod as he looked around.
I blinked stupidly. I hadn’t even considered the possibility of this being Vaughn’s idea. My stubbornness had made a baby shower impossible, but this more than made up for that. Staring at the mountain of wrapped gifts waiting on Four and Ever’s table, I realized once again how unprepared I was for motherhood. I hadn’t even considered all of the things River would need once he was home. Sweat beaded my brow and upper lip as I ran through the list in my head. It was never-ending.
Right now, all I had was the small supply of diapers and wipes the hospital had sent home with me, a couple of baby bottles, and my breast milk.
“I just want you to know that this doesn’t change anything,” my father told me, drawing my attention back to him and out of the turmoil wreaking havoc in my head. “I’m still proud of you.”
I felt my legs quake hearing that.
“Thanks, Coach.” I had to clear my throat of the raspiness before speaking again. “That means a lot.” It was a simple response despite the emotions running wild inside of me.
“So when the fall comes, I want you back at school, Tyra. Don’t worry about River,” he quickly added when my lips parted in protest. “I’ll take care of my grandson.”
“Dad, it’s not just River. I don’t have the money.”
“I have some savings,” he announced, making me blink. I knew my father’s salary. No matter how much money he had stashed, it couldn’t have been enough to pay for three more years of out-of-state tuition at a private ivy league. “It’s enough to cover you for the rest of your time at Harvard.”
My stomach dipped but not with relief.
I knew without him elaborating that he meant his retirement fund. The one he’d been working for his entire life. He had intended to withdraw every single cent for me, the daughter who’d already disappointed him once by getting knocked up at eighteen and losing her scholarship.
I couldn’t and wouldn’t let him do that.
“We don’t have to decide this now,” I pleaded. I had no intention of taking his money, but immediately blowing off such a loving gesture as if he’d offered me a stick of gum seemed callous. “We’ve got time.”
It was the truth, at least. I still had the entire summer to figure things out.
Before my father could argue, music started playing, and I felt relief flow through me for the distraction. I felt like throwing up, and it wasn’t because the song playing was fucking “Baby Shark.”
“Jamie, can’t you play something else?” Four complained.
“No, I can’t, doo doo doo doo doo doo,” he sang.
And so the party began.
It lasted the rest of the afternoon and into the evening despite there not being alcohol. I scratched my head at that because it wasn’t like there were other children present. Vaughn had reappeared at some point without our son, and I forced myself to stay put despite my need to check on River myself. I admitted that if not my heart, I trusted Vaughn to take care of our son.
Wren’s grandmother was the first to bow out, Evelyn and Thomas were second, and my father was the last at a quarter past nine.
“For fuck’s sake, I never thought they’d leave,” Jamie said once the door closed behind my father. He sauntered over to the mysterious empty table, lifted the black cloth, and began setting out the beer and booze he’d stashed underneath. In no time, Jamie had the table looking like a minibar. He then switched the music over but kept the volume low before pouring everyone a shot. When he got to me, I shook my head. “Oh, come on, Ty-baby,” he whined. “I saw all that titty milk you stashed in the fridge. By the time you need to pump again, it will be out of your system.”
Only Jamie would make a valid point while being obnoxiously