Chaser (Dive Bar 3)

"It's also her seven-week birthday tomorrow," I said.

Jean looked from me to the bear and back again with Ada gurgling on her shoulder. Hard to tell if she was stunned or pissed. The mom, not the baby. Ada seemed fine about the whole thing and enjoying her midmorning awake time. Though to be fair, Ada had trouble focusing on anything more than a foot away, so probably couldn't even see the problem.

"That's worth celebrating, right?" I smiled. "Jean?"

Her lips parted but no words escaped.

Shit, she wasn't buying it. So I might have gone a little overboard with Ada's Christmas present. How was I to know? This was my first time having anything to do with an infant. Women you could get flowers. So long as you aren't cheap, they're happy. All good. But babies are trickier and I wanted to make an impression. A good one, though.

"It's bigger than her nursery," said Jean, eyes still wide with shock.

"Sorry."

She exhaled. "No, Eric, it's great. Incredibly generous of you. I just..."

"A nine-foot-tall teddy is a bit much, huh?"

"Just a little. Not that it's not beautiful."

We both stared at the big fluffy bastard sitting in the corner of her living room. I'd smuggled him into the apartment when Jean was changing Ada in the nursery. Though maybe "smuggled" was the wrong word for something that had to be squeezed through the door. He did kind of take up a lot of space. Oops. "A bit too big."

She nodded. Then she started quietly laughing. "That's the largest teddy bear I've ever seen in my life. I mean ... it's ginormous. Where do you even get something like that?"

"Ordered it online. I might have gotten a little carried away," I said. "Just wanted her to have the best."

Jean's eyes went all soft and sappy.

"No big deal," I said.

"It's a huge deal. You're very sweet, Eric."

Jesus. I shoved my hands into the pockets of my jeans feeling awkward as hell.

"Is it wrong that I feel like someone needs to make a joke about size?" she asked.

"Later," I said. "Not in front of the baby."

She snorted and kissed Ada's little head. Over on the table, her cell started beeping. "Do you mind?"

I took the baby, getting my first cuddle in ages. "Hello."

Ada stared up at me with her big eyes.

"You know I was reading the other night and the book said you should be seeing things better soon," I told her. "Your fingers will be opening too. What do you think?"

She whacked me in the chest with her tiny fist.

"Don't worry, you'll get there."

Over by the table, Jean had her cell up to her ear, listening. "No, Mom, it's fine that you called."

Anxiety seemed to be flowing out of the woman in waves. If her parents upset her any more I'd have a few things of my own to say.

"Yes, I realize that Grandma leaving me everything upset you," said Jean, her lips a tight line. "Threatening to sue me kind of made that point."

Uh, this was not good.

"Challenging the estate was attacking me, Mom." She sighed. "All right." Pause. "I appreciate the apology. It was an emotional time for all of us." She listened again. "Ada's doing great. I mean, it's hard, working out her sleep routine and everything. But the doctor's really happy with her growth and weight. She's beautiful, amazing. I wouldn't have changed having her for the world." Another pause and her brows rose. "Of course, I'd be happy to send you some pictures."

In my arms, Ada started fussing, kicking her little feet and sucking on her fists.

"What's up, Ada?" I mouthed.

The good thing about babies this age is that there are generally only five things that set them off. Either they're hungry, need a diaper change, are bored, need burping, or are tired. Fuck if I knew which one had her upset, however. So I settled her on my shoulder and gently patted her back. Amazingly enough, the crying stopped.

"Mom, I have to go. I think Ada's ready for a nap." She listened, biting on her lip. "Okay." A pause. "No, I would like to hear from you again." She shot me a smile. It still seemed a little strained. "I'll talk to you later then. Bye."

"You all right?" I asked, rocking from foot to foot to keep Ada happy.

"That was a surprise." Jean headed toward the kitchen to grab a drink of water. "Things were so bad when I left Florida, I honestly didn't know if I'd ever hear from them again."

"It'd be their loss," I said. "Missing out on having a wonderful daughter and granddaughter in their lives."

She shot me a grateful smile. "Thank you."

Ada lay still, slumped over my shoulder. "It's the truth. Shall I put her in her crib?"

"Yes, please," said Jean, heading for the short hallway. "The Eric magic works again."

"My conversation can put anyone to sleep," I said modestly. "It's just one of my many gifts."

Carefully, I followed her into the nursery, and laid Ada on a light blanket so Jean could wrap her up. Ada twitched and made a little noise of distress, but didn't fully wake. Success. We crept out of the nursery, quietly closing the door.

"You going to get some sleep now?" I asked.

"Do I look that bad?"

"No. You look fine."

"The whole yoga pants, old T-shirt, and messy hair thing really works for you, huh?"

I just smiled. The truth being that her whole existence worked for me. Jean breathing and moving and being herself was beautiful in every way. Not that I would be saying that. An expensive giant bear might have been slightly pushing the boundaries, but blurting out sweet nothings would definitely cross a line.

She still seemed tense though, her shoulders tight and gaze distracted.

"You okay?" I asked. "You don't think your parents are going to try and cause trouble again, do you?"

"No, I don't think so." She frowned. "I mean, what can they do? The estate is settled and we're halfway across the country."

"True."

"Mom actually sounded sorry."

"Think they're finally figuring out what they've lost?"

"Maybe." She shrugged, staring off at nothing. "I miss them, you know. Don't get me wrong--what they did, trying to pressure me like that. It wasn't okay. But they're still my parents ... we used to be so close. And I always imagined them being there as grandparents."

The hurt in her voice slayed me. What would my friends do in this sort of situation? Pat would probably buy me a beer. Slap me on the back a time or two. Ditto Joe. Alex, however, would be all over me with the hugging and caring.

Since it seemed a bit early in the day to try the beer option, I opened my arms somewhat stiffly. "Need a hug?"

"Yes, please."

Next thing I knew, her face was pressed against my chest and her arms were around my waist. I wrapped her up tight, giving as good as I got. Not thinking about the way her curves fit against me, because wrong. Friends didn't do that. I rested my cheek against the top of her head, nudging her messy bun out of the way. Affection with your clothes on could actually be worthwhile. Incredible.

"I needed this," she whispered against my sweater.

Me too. But I kept quiet, enjoying the moment. This was about her, not me.

"I can hear your heart," she said.

"Yeah?"

A nod. Then she sniffed. "I think my hormones are still a bit crazy."

"Sure you're all right?"

"I'm fine," she said. "And I do dig the bear, really."

I smiled. "Good. Next time I'll keep the presents to a more manageable size. Say, eight feet maximum. Definitely nothing over eight and a half. You have my word."

"Great." She laughed. "Um, Eric?"

"Hmm?"

"I think you have regurgitated milk down your back, compliments of my daughter."

Of course I did.

"Come into the kitchen, let me clean you up."

She stepped away and I let her go reluctantly. Best hug of my life, hands down.

"Thank you for the hug," she said.

"Anytime."

"Say..." She cocked her head. "Got plans for the next while?"

"Not really. What are you thinking?"

"That some adult time would be wonderful," she said. "Don't feel like watching TV with me, do you?"

I grinned, baby vomit and all. "I'd love to."

CHAPTER ELEVEN

"Ada hated it. Too many explosions."

As part of Jean's getting the hell out of the apartment and practicing taking the baby on expeditions program, we'd attempted going to a movie. It hadn't exactly gone as planned. But then, I was fast learning that things involving infants rarely did.

Joe shook his shaggy head. "No such thing as too many explosions in a movie. Did you even try to explain it to her?"

"They're loud and she's little."

"Amazed you took her in the first place."

"They have special showings where they leave the lights on for people with babies."

"Huh," he said, mixing up a couple of old-fashioneds. "So you left?"

"Nuh," I said. "I just walked back and forth beside the candy shop with Ada so Jean could catch the rest of the movie. She doesn't get out much and it would have been a pity for her to miss the ending. I can see it anytime."

"Good of you."