pretty girl? It’s big, huh? You gotta thing for big noses like your momma?” he asks her lightly, raising his deep drawl slightly.
She smiles and growls out, “Ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma,” once again, and turns to cheese at me.
“You wanna sit down?” Jason asks, and pivots to carry Josalyn over to the bed where he takes her into his hands and flies her to the center of his mattress. She giggles as she lands gently on the soft comforter. The opposite side of the bed is up against the wall, so I sit on the edge to make sure I can catch her if she decides to take a crawling leap.
She grabs ahold of Jason’s finger and ungracefully pulls herself up into a seated position, and he slides himself down until his knees are on the floor but his torso is still on the bed. I watch, fascinated at their interaction, a smile stretched across my face I wouldn’t begin to know how to wipe off.
Josalyn lets go of his finger and claps her tiny hands, watching Jason expectantly. When he doesn’t do what she apparently wants him to do, she takes hold of his pointer finger on each of his hands and brings them together, apart, and then together again, lets go of him, and then claps her hands once more. When he claps by himself this time, she erupts into a fit of giggles and looks up at me with her eyebrows raised, as if to say, “Look what I taught him, Mommy!” It’s all I can do not to burst into tears at the scene, and I grab my camera out of my purse quickly to snap a picture before tossing it back on his couch.
To get ahold of myself, I use distraction, leaning over to unzip Josalyn’s hoodie and pull it off her. Leaving her in a baby pink onesie, the cherry sweater’s matching pants, and fluffy socks with grippers on the bottom. She’s really starting to get the hang of cruising now, holding onto furniture while she walks along wobbly, so I got her these new socks so her little feet don’t shoot out from under her.
“So what do you want to do today?” Jason asks me, continuing to clap his hands lightly for Josalyn.
“Isn’t there a TGI Fridays close by? I’ve been seeing an advertisement for fried green beans from there that look delicious, but I’ve never been to one before.”
“Yeah, there’s one over by Baybrook Mall. Are you hungry now? I haven’t had any lunch yet since I’ve been in class since eight.” He looks at me hopefully.
“I’m starving. I only had a kolache and a donut early this morning, and I definitely need to eat. Don’t know if this is too much info or not, but I still nurse Josalyn, so I eat like a pig,” I confess.
“Why would that be TMI? Babe, there’s nothing you can’t share with me,” he assures seriously.
“I just… have you ever dated anyone with a kid before? Or, more specifically, a baby? I didn’t know if you were one of those people who think breastfeeding is gross.”
“No, I’ve never dated anyone with a kid before, and no, I don’t think breastfeeding is gross. I mean, I wouldn’t want you to just whip your boob out for the whole world to see when we’re out in public, but that’s just because they’re mine and I wouldn’t want to kill anyone for looking.” He gives me a grin that immediately puts me at ease and makes me laugh.
“Actually, they belong to her for three more months, and then you can stake your claim. I’m gonna stop when she turns one.” I reach over and tickle her belly, loving the giggle she lets out. “I normally time everything around feedings though. If I get desperate and have to feed her in public, I usually do it in my car, or at least find a secluded area and cover up with one of her baby blankets. You can’t even tell I’m doing it with the clothes I wear. It just looks like I’m holding her while she sleeps.”
“I’m not worried about it, babe,” he says, getting to his feet. “So, TGI Fridays? I haven’t been there in a while. Sounds good. You want me to drive?”
I stand as well and