“He is only the cutest baby that was ever born,” I gushed, pushing D.C.’s arm, “I can’t believe you didn’t tell me about him!”
Jeremiah was sitting in my lap, sucking on two of his fingers happily. Dave was sitting next to me, bursting with pride. He was so happy because I’d volunteered to take care of Jeremiah instead of sending him back to D.C.’s mom.
“Well,” D.C. wasn’t as excited as Dave and I were, “I try not to advertise it.”
“I would,” I smiled, tickling Jeremiah’s tummy. He giggled happily, drooling on himself.
Dave made dinner for us (macaroni and cheese and frozen pizza) and for Jeremiah (a jar of beef and apples baby food), and we gathered in Dave’s living room to watch Nickelodeon. Dave was positively glowing, feeling fulfilled that he was part of a family.
“Wanna go out to eat?” Heidi asked.
“I can’t.”
“Why not?”
“Dave is dropping Jeremiah off. I have to watch him while Dave goes to band practice.”
“Doesn’t Jeremiah usually just stay at D.C.’s mom’s house?”
“Yea, but I volunteered my services because I think she gets tired of him or something… she’s not a very happy lady.”
“Well, do you want me to bring anything home for you?”
“No thanks.”
Heidi left, and soon after, Dave dropped off my new best friend, Jeremiah. He can’t really talk yet, but he crawls around and drools a lot and can high five and play peek-a-boo, and so we have a good time.
“Hi!” I kissed Dave’s cheek and took the baby into my arms.
“Are you sure you don’t wanna come?”
“I think it will be loud for him,” I said, nodding my head toward the little boy.
“All right,” he kissed me and went back to his car.
I spent the night with Jeremiah, trying to teach him to say “bottle” and “blanket” and “guitar.” He didn’t say any of that, of course, but he laughed a lot whenever I did. I put him to sleep in the little collapsible crib thing that Dave had brought with him.
My mother called. I broke the news softly, explaining that D.C. and Dave were different people then, and with the addition of Jeremiah, they were much more caring, responsible people. I mentioned how they were both enrolled in classes for the upcoming semester, proving that they were dedicated to their futures and that they were still good people and I would be fine hanging out with them. I did not mention, however, that I was now Dave’s girlfriend and that I was performing the duties of Jeremiah’s mother.
“Did you hear what happened?” Heidi knocked on my bedroom door.
“With whom?” I muttered through sleep.
“D.C.’s mom.”
“Huh?” I rolled over to face her and opened my eyes slowly.
“She got in a really horrible car accident?”
“What? When?” I sat up, rubbing my eyes.
“This morning when she was going to the grocery store.”
“Was Jeremiah with her?” I shot up, panicking.
“Yes, but only her side of the car was hit. I think he’s fine.”
Without another word, I reached for the phone and dialed Dave’s number. When no one picked up, I dialed D.C.’s house. “Deece?” I asked.
“Tay, hi.”
“How’s your mom?”
“She broke both of her legs. She has to have a wheelchair and everything. Luckily, though, they say that the fractures aren’t that bad. She will be fine when they heal.”
“That’s good to hear,” I couldn’t believe she hadn’t said anything about Jeremiah, “And the baby?”
“He’s fine. I don’t know quite how it happened, but my mother was thrown out of the car, which is how she broke her legs. Since he was in his car seat, he was all right.”
“That’s really lucky,” I sighed, relieved.
“Yea. Listen, I was gonna ask Dave to take care of him while I go visit my mother in the hospital, but would you mind taking care of him?”
“Absolutely not.”
And so I was baby sitting again. I treated Jeremiah especially well, taking him on a walk and giving him an extra cookie because I was sure the early morning had been quite traumatizing. We watched Beauty and the Beast and had some talking lessons.
I couldn’t help running the image of D.C. as she’d handed over the baby. It was like from a amovie, all awkward and uninterested. It was depressing. She really didn’t want him. She really thought he was just this thing to be tossed around or like, a burden she had to deal with. It was sad for her… and for Jeremiah.
It was obvious that Dave loved the kid, but he wasn’t exactly the greatest influence a kid should have. He tried hard, yes, but he didn’t even have much good parenting in his own life.
I felt so sad for the little baby as he cuddled in my arms. No wonder he’d taken to me so quickly. No wonder he got excited whenever he saw me. No one else in his short little life treated him with any value.
“Mama?” he looked up at me, his eyes wide and questioning.
His first word.
