Every Other Memory

“You said Monday.”

“Yeah, I’m free this entire week.” I don’t even try to hide my smile. My girls are coming home with me, which means I don’t have to be without them. I’ve already missed so much time, the thought of leaving them even temporarily was tearing me in two.

“Come here.” I motion for her to lean closer. As soon as her lips are close enough, I kiss her, not giving a damn that we have an audience. “You’re coming home with me?”

“For a few days.”

“That’s all I need. Come on.” I manage to stand, still holding Hazel. “We need to pack what she’s going to need for the week. I read that it’s best to travel when babies are sleeping to not interrupt their routine. If we leave here around eight, we can make it to my place at eleven, feed her, and maybe she’ll sleep for the rest of the night.”

“You read? Why have you been reading about babies?” Scott asks.

“Because I’m a father.”

“When?” Thea asks.

“While my girls were sleeping the past two nights.”

“Trevin,” Cadence whispers. I can see the wonder in her eyes, and the disbelief. I don’t care how long it takes, I’m going to prove to her that I’m in this. That she and our daughter are my world. I know it’s fast, but when you know, you know, and I am certain that she is who I want. I want us to raise our daughter together, and have more babies that I’ll be there for every step of the way.

“I needed to know what to expect, how to take care of Hazel, and help you. You’ve had the entire pregnancy and the first three months of her life to get up to speed. I had some catching up to do. I still have some catching up to do.”

Cadence nods, leaning in and pressing her lips to mine. “You’re one of a kind, Trevin Hubbard. I’m so glad we found our way back.”

“Me too, baby. Me too.” My voice is thick, and I’m man enough to admit I’m choked up. I went from wondering if I had imagined her and our night together, to having a family. I’ll take the latter every damn time.

“You better get moving,” Thea says. I can hear the tears in her voice, and sure enough, when I glance at my sister, she’s wiping at her cheeks as Scott takes their son into his arms.

“Hear that, baby girl?” I ask Hazel. “You get to come home with Daddy for a few days.” I’m already imagining them in my space. Sure it’s not where we’re going to be living, but having them in my home, it’s going to make this all that much more real.

“Call me when you get there,” Thea says.

“We will,” Cadence assures her.

I stand with Hazel in my arms, offering Cadence my hand. We say a quick goodbye before heading across the hall to pack.

“For such a tiny thing, she sure needs a lot,” I say as I carry in the final bag.

“Well, she needed the Pack ’n Play to have a safe place to sleep. Bottles, diapers, formula, clothes, blankets, toys.” Cadence stops and begins to laugh. “She does have a lot. I’ve never gone anywhere except to Thea’s or to visit Shelby for a few hours or to the doctor’s office. This is a first for me.”

“Well, we’re going to need to find a bigger place. She’s already overrunning your apartment, and when we have more, it’s going to get worse. Besides, there are only two bedrooms.”

“We? A bigger house?” she asks.

“Yeah, we’re doing this, right? You, me, and Hazel?” I study her hard and see the tears well in her eyes.

Slowly, she nods. “Y-Yes. We’re doing this.”

“Good. Now, let me figure out how to set this thing up in my room, and we’ll get her fed and changed and back into bed.”

“Let’s just set up the Pack ’n Play and try to lay her down. She might sleep a little longer.”

“Okay. Well, here goes nothing.”

“You watch her, and I’ll put it up.”

“I need to learn how to do it,” I tell her.

“It’s easy. It just pops open. Show me where to set it up.”

Picking up Hazel’s car seat which she’s snoozing in, I lead Cadence to my bedroom. “In the corner, maybe?”

“That should be fine.” Cadence wastes no time getting to work setting up the Pack ’n Play, and I watch, making sure I see how she does it. I don’t want to be the dad who never does a damn thing for his kid. We made her together. We’re going to take care of her together. That’s how my parents raised Thea and me, and that’s how I plan for us to raise Hazel.

Together.

“You want to try, or do you want me to?” Cadence points to our sleeping daughter.