Watson by Kathi Barton (ebook reader txt) 📕

“We can’t have that.” He laughed with her. “We do need to get her some things to wear. The staff made sure I knew the things we’d need, as well as the things parents fall for and don’t need. That list is longer than the one that she needs.”

“I did know that. When I’m delivering a baby, that’s what all the parents are told by the staff. Only buy what you need for a week. Nothing will be as useful as the stores make them out to be. You have no idea how many times I’ve had mothers come back for their check-up to tell me that the nurses were right.” Rayne handed him the list of things they needed to get. “I can go into town and get the essentials if you’d like to stay here with AJ and Dad.”

“She’ll need a few sleepers too, I was told. Really, it’s all she needs to wear around to keep her warm.” Rayne looked at him with such sadness on her face. “I wanted to pick out some cute little outfits for her too.”

As much as they didn’t want to leave AJ at home, Dad said he’d make sure he never left her. It was Rayne that told him that she’d be all right with him. Dad looked like she’d given him the keys to the castle just then. Leaving her behind, however, was about as hard as it could get, he thought.

They were still deciding on the sleepers when he just took them away from Rayne and put them in the cart. It wasn’t as if they couldn’t afford anything the baby needed and didn’t need, he told her. After that, she started picking out cute girly outfits, but only two. She would grow out of them quickly if they got her any more than that.

Formula was something they’d had to call Dad about. Neither of them could remember what kind they’d been given at the hospital. Dad whispered his answers to them as AJ had fallen asleep on his lap. Then they’d had to call him a second time when they were in the diaper section. Dad seemed to be having the time of his life with AJ and helping them out as well.

They were home later than they’d thought they’d be. Dad was still on the floor with AJ, but he did tell them that he’d been up and around too. Dad told them that he’d fed her, one of the best things he’d ever experienced. Then he said he was sorry.

“For what? Feeding your granddaughter when she was hungry?” Dad told him why he was sorry. “Dad, don’t think of that. Don’t worry that you didn’t feed me bottles when I was a baby. That’s all in the past. AJ is giving you an opportunity to make up for things that you missed because of Mother. Our daughter will absolutely love you being there for her because I have no doubt that you’re going to be her hero in all things.”

“I’ve never been a hero to anyone.” Wats told his dad that he was his hero now. “I don’t believe you have any doubt that I was a screw-up. That I messed up royally with not just you, but I think I let a great many people down.”

“Are you still doing that?” He said he’d not planned on it. “So, as I said, it’s over and done with. They’re gone. Not just out of our lives, Dad. But gone to the point where we don’t need to worry about them or their deeds from now on. You’ve said that you feel like a new man. Then be one. I need you to just move on as though you’ve been given a new life. A fresh slate, if you wish.”

Dad looked down at AJ—watching her sleep was the most relaxing thing he’d witnessed. When Dad started talking, he didn’t know at first if he was explaining things to him or his daughter. Either way, he could almost hurt for his dad.

“I need to tell you this one thing, then I’m going to take your advice and not think of any of them ever again. When we first heard that Holly was going to have a baby, I went to see her. I was there for about twenty minutes when Tina found out where I was and came after me. As I said, I wasn’t there long, but I did get to see that she was doing all right. I gave her ten thousand dollars. I don’t know why, but it felt like I needed to do something. Then Tina showed up.” Dad looked at him while he continued. “She beat Holly. Beat her so severely that she was bleeding badly. Me too, but I wasn’t going to have a child, and I was terrified for my sister. Calling the police, the only thing I could think to do, they came just as the other four of them showed up.”

“Christ.” Dad nodded. He put his finger into AJ’s hand, and she curled her fingers around it. “Dad, you don’t have to finish the story.”

“But I do, Wats. I really need to finish this.” Nodding, he watched his dad as tears rolled down his cheeks. “It was a nightmare. Holly was taken to the hospital while the others stayed behind to teach me a lesson. And what a lesson it was. I had three broken ribs on my right, two on the left. My wrist was shattered, and my jaw had been broken. I had to eat liquids for three months. And your mother managed to be home when I was ready to eat. She would heat my food up so hot that it burned me. And she was right there making sure that I drank every drop of it before I could be finished.”

Sobbing now, Dad finished the story. He told him how he’d never gone against them