Devin's Daddy - Chapter 5
Matt groaned, rolled over and blinked his eyes. Through the sleepy morning haze, he saw a little boy staring at him, and in a flash he remembered all of yesterday's events, including the little boy laying beside him now.
His son, Devin.
Matt yawned, running his fingers through his hair, and smiled at Devin. Devin shyly gave Matt that heartbreaking smile of his.
"Well," Matt said, resting his head on one hand, "I guess we better get moving. We've got a lot to do today, Devin."
"Like what?" Devin asked, sitting up.
Matt stretched, sat up, and said, "Well, first we need to get cleaned up and grab some breakfast. Then we need to get your room set up and unpack some of your clothes. You get to meet Uncle Jeff at breakfast, well, if he's awake, that is, but later on today we'll be going over to your grandfather's. What do you think? Sounds like a busy day, huh Devin?"
"Yeah," Devin said softly, hanging his head.
Matt gently lifted Devin's chin and saw that his son looked upset.
"What's wrong Devin?" Matt asked, brushing his hair in an attempt to soothe him.
"You said you were my dad, right?" Devin asked.
"Yeah," Matt said.
"Do I call you Matt or dad?" Devin asked quietly.
"You call me dad," Matt said firmly.
"Ok dad," Devin said, still looking troubled.
"Look son," Matt said, picking up Devin, sitting him in his lap, and stroking his hair. "I know the last couple of days have been pretty rough on you. It's been pretty rough on me, too, but you're my son. I love you Devin, and I promise I'm going to take care of you, ok?"
Devin looked up at Matt, tears flowing from his brown eyes. "I miss mommy," Devin whimpered.
Matt hugged Devin tightly, stroking his back.
"I know you do son," Matt said.
"Why did mommy leave?" Devin cried into Matt's shoulder.
"Your mom had to go take care of some things," Matt said. "She thought I would be the best person to take care of you."
Matt hated the fact that he had to lie to Devin, but he didn't know how to explain to the little boy that the mother he obviously loved was never coming back.
Devin leaned back, rubbed his swollen eyes, and looked supiciously at Matt.
"How come mommy never said anything about you? Are you going to leave me, too?" Devin asked.
"I don't know why she never talked about me with you," Matt said softly. "She just told me about you yesterday, but I'm very happy that she did, and I promise you that I will never, ever leave you, ok?"
Devin looked at Matt for a minute, sniffled, and said, "Ok."
Matt smiled, feeling some of the pent up tension and anger finally leaving his body, and said, "How about we get cleaned up, wake up Uncle Jeff, and get something to eat. You hungry?"
Devin smiled back and nodded his head.
Matt growled, pounced on Devin, and tickled him until Devin wriggled away laughing. He picked Devin up and carried him over his shoulder to the bathroom.
A Little While Later
"Have you got that all right?" Matt whispered.
"Yeah dad," Devin said softly. "But won't this make him mad?"
"Naw. Come on son." Matt and Devin tiptoed up to Jeff's bed and saw that Jeff was sound asleep.
Matt whispered, "One, two, three..."
On the count of three, father and son poured water on Jeff's head, shouting for him to get up. Jeff woke up yelling, to find that he was soaking wet, and Matt and Devin were standing over him laughing like loons.
"Looks like Uncle Jeff needs a shower before breakfast, huh son?" Matt asked Devin.
Devin looked up at Matt and said, "He is kinda wet dad."
Jeff looked from Devin to Matt, at a loss for words.
"Better take a shower Jeff," Matt said. "Breakfast'll be ready in about 15 minutes."
Matt and Devin left, giggling, and Jeff fell back on his bed.
"There goes the neighborhood," Jeff muttered, as he stumbled out of bed.
In The Kitchen
"Can I have a few words with you Matt?" Jeff asked, looking a little put out.
Devin, looking scared, got up to leave, but Matt waved him to sit back down.
Matt walked over to Jeff, leaned in and whispered, "Hey Jeff, lighten up. It was just a joke, ok? You're scaring Devin, and he's had a pretty rough time. I'll fill you in later after he's asleep. Truce?"
Jeff looked at Matt's hand, shook it, and growled, "Truce. But I want the full story later."
"Thanks Jeff. You got it," Matt said, looking relieved.
"Come on," Matt said. "I'll fix you a plate while you meet your nephew."
Matt fixed Jeff a plate as he sat down across from Devin. Jeff nodded his thanks and smiled.
"I'm your uncle, Jeff," he said to Devin.
"Hello," Devin said softly, not looking up from his plate.
Jeff looked at Matt and Matt shrugged his shoulders.
"Are you mad at us?" Devin asked, still looking down at his breakfast.
"Oh, hey no," Jeff said, getting up and walking over to Devin. "Well, I was a little at first," Jeff admitted. "But hey, it was just a joke. We're all going to be great friends and have a bunch of fun together, right Matt?"
Jeff grinned at his brother devilishly.
Matt, knowing his brother, rolled his eyes and sighed.
"Oh yeah," Matt said sarcastically. "Uncle Jeff is a bunch of fun."
Jeff smiled at Devin and said, "Better finish your breakfast. I don't want your dad mad at me."
Devin smiled back and started eating as Jeff passed Matt on the way back to his seat.
"You don't drive him anywhere," Matt hissed.
"Like I would drive crazy with my nephew in the car," Jeff hissed back.
Matt turned back to the stove just as the phone rang.
"Hey Jeff, could you get that?" Matt asked.
"Sure, no problem," Jeff said.
Jeff picked up the phone and said, "Hello?"
Jeff stiffened a little bit, laid the phone on the counter and said, "Matt, it's for you."
"Well, who is it?" Matt asked, motioning his brother to take over at the stove.
Jeff just looked at Devin and then at Matt.
Matt was filled with rage. There was only one person it could be.
"Hello Mandy," Matt said.