Isaac was in Isaac watched as Iris fed Clara pieces of corn cake and spoonfuls of baby food. “Would you like to do this?” Iris asked. Isaac brightened. “Sure,” he said. Taryn took a long drink of her margarita and watched Isaac as he fed and talked to Clara. It was obvious that he was going to be a good father. She wondered if there was going to be any way to undo the damage she had done by lying to him and hiding things from him. After dinner, Isaac and Taryn returned to Taryn’s house with the children. Iris went off to her bathroom to take her shower and get ready for bed. “Do you want to give Clara her bath?” Taryn asked Isaac. Isaac’s eyes grew wide. “I’d love that,” he said. Taryn motioned for Isaac to follow her to the kitchen. Isaac carried Clara in and laid her on the towel Taryn had spread out on the table. “You strip her down, and I’ll get her water ready,” Taryn instructed. Isaac pulled Clara’s socks off and marveled at her perfect little toes. Everything about her was perfect. Being the oldest of seven children, Isaac had been around lots of babies before, but he was amazed at how different he felt looking at his own child. Taryn filled Clara’s plastic tub with warm water and carried it to the table. Isaac finished undressing the baby and slid her into the water. Taryn sat across the table from Isaac and propped her head in her hands. He handled Clara like a pro, gently washing her hair as she splashed happily. “How does she sleep at night?” Isaac asked as he began to wash Clara’s arms and hands. “She’s an angel,” Taryn said. “Iris was fussy and colicky. I’ll bet she was at least 18 months old before she slept through the night. But this one’s been doing it since she was about six weeks old. She’s out by 9:30 and she doesn’t wake up until at least 8 in the morning.” Iris emerged from her shower, dressed in cotton shorts and a t-shirt. “Oh, hey,” Isaac said, nodding toward the living room as he turned Clara over to wash her back. “There are some bags in there. I picked up a few goodies for you and Clara.” Iris smiled. “Cool,” she said. “You always give the best presents.” Isaac grinned. “I try,” he said. Iris was flabbergasted by Isaac’s gifts. “You didn’t have to do this Ike,” she said. “This was so nice of you.” Isaac smiled. “I knew I missed your birthday in September and last Christmas,” he said. “I was just making up for lost time.” Iris hugged Isaac, who leaned into her, never losing his grip on Clara. “I have to go to bed,” Iris said sadly. “Will you be around tomorrow?” Isaac nodded. “Definitely,” he said. “Maybe your mom will let me pick you up from school.” Iris looked at Taryn. “Can he, Mom?” Taryn raised her eyebrows. “Are you sure it’s no problem?” she asked Isaac. Isaac shook his head. “It’s fine,” he said. “Okay,” Taryn said. Iris hugged her mother and skipped off to bed. Isaac lifted Clara out of her tub and laid her on the towel. He wrapped her up expertly and drew her to him, taking in the scent. “I love to smell of wet, naked baby,” he said. Taryn smiled. She watched as Isaac rubbed his daughter dry, powdered her and diapered her. He put her into her blanket sleeper and hugged her to him. Clara was becoming drowsy, rubbing her eyes and tugging at her ears. “Can I put her down?” Isaac asked quietly. Taryn nodded. She rose and motioned for Isaac to follow her. Once in the nursery, Taryn flipped on Clara’s nightlight. Isaac laid the baby gently in her crib and covered her with a soft blanket. She curled up and closed her eyes almost immediately. Isaac stood by the side of the crib, gazing at Clara in the soft yellow light. “I can’t believe I haven’t even known her for a day and I love her so much,” Isaac said, gently stroking Clara’s soft curls. Isaac and Taryn left the nursery and returned to the kitchen, where Taryn motioned for Isaac to sit at the large white tile table. “Want a soda?” she asked. “Sure,” Isaac said, taking a seat. Taryn poured a glass of soda for Isaac and a glass of white wine for herself. She handed him his glass and sat across the table from him. “Tell me about when she was born,” Isaac said. “When’s her birthday?” Taryn smiled. “On your birthday,” she said. Isaac’s jaw dropped. “No way.” Taryn nodded. “Yep,” she said. “November 17th. Late at night.” “Like what time?” Isaac wanted to know. “I went into labor about five o’clock in the afternoon,” Taryn recalled. “I went to the hospital about eight o’clock that night, and she was born at 10:38 p.m.” “How was the labor?” Isaac asked, wanting to know every detail of what he had missed. Taryn smiled. “Labor is never fun,” she said, taking a drink of Chardonnay. “But it took less time than it did with Iris.” “Who was your coach?” “Lindsey,” Taryn said. “She was really great through the whole thing.” Taryn gave Isaac a long look. “She and Cam both told me from the beginning that I should tell you about it.” Isaac nodded. “I always liked those two,” he said. “You should have told me about it.” “I know,” Taryn said slowly. “And I feel like a broken record trying to justify why I did what I did. I can’t take it back now, Isaac, no matter how much I wish I could.” Isaac locked gazes with Taryn. All he could think about was how much he had missed her and how much he wanted to hold her and never let go. He pushed the thoughts away. “Were you ever going to tell me?” he asked. Taryn shrugged. “I don’t know,” she admitted. “As time went on, it just made less and less sense that I would have. You were doing your thing, and I didn’t want to throw a monkey wrench into your life.” “She’s my kid, Taryn,” Isaac said. “She’s not an inconvenience or a problem. There are so many fathers who don’t want to own up to their responsibilities. I would have wanted to, and you didn’t give me a chance.” Taryn sighed. “Where do we go from here?” she asked. “I’m not sure about what’s going to happen between you and me,” Isaac said. “I mean, this is really major. I trusted and loved you like I’d never trusted or loved anyone before. You really screwed me over, Taryn.” Taryn nodded. “I know.” “But I do want to see the kids,” Isaac said. “Both of them. I can probably stay here for another couple of days, and after that we’ll play it by ear. Is that fair?” Taryn nodded again. “Yes.” Isaac rose. “I have to get back to the hotel,” he said. “Can I spend the day here with Clara while you go to work, and then pick Iris up from school?” “Sure,” Taryn said. “I’ll just call the daycare center and tell them Clara won’t be there.” “What time do you leave for work?” Isaac asked. “About 8:30.” “I’ll be here.”
the mood for Mexican food, so Iris and Taryn suggested one of their favorite places. Despite the uneasiness between Taryn and Isaac, the mood was lightened by the presence of Iris and Clara.
