Chapter 13

"Hi daddy," the little girl said brightly.

"Uh, hi guys," he said uncomfortably, he slowed his steps when he realized he wouldn't know the first place to look for the nipples or the bottles. He walked to the counter behind where the kids were and willed himself to think.

"I already put them in the freezer," Jamie said softly from behind him.

"Oh, yeah," Lee stammered, "thank you," he watched as the older boy shrugged, "uhm...you guys doing ok?" he asked.

Jamie just nodded but Jenny went on to tell him about their adventure. Eating at Mc Donald's, going to the hotel and swimming in the pool until Matty started acting up.

"He wasn't acting up, twerp, he's sick," Jamie told her, "you used to cry all the time too."

"Nuh-uh," Jenny told him sticking her tongue out at him. Jamie grunted and rolled his eyes, then escaped up the stairs leaving Lee alone with the precocious little girl.

He looked at the clock on the wall and made his way to the space at the counter that Jamie vacated, "are you about done with that? It must be your bed time by now?" he said casually, as he looked around for the clock. He had no idea what time it was.

She narrow her eyes at him and paused for a moment, "oh it's passed my bedtime but grandma said I could have a snack...am I sleeping in my bed?"

He wasn't sure why every interaction with her felt like she was testing him. He willed himself to relax and act casual, "well, where else would you sleep? The front porch," he knew immediately he miscalculated when she cocked her head to the side and regarded him quietly.

"I love you big, daddy," she said in an eerie voice. It almost made him laugh but he knew better.

"I love you, too sweetheart," he told her in a serious tone.

"Are you my real daddy?" she asked suspiciously.

"Uh….yeah of course," he told her, looking everywhere but at her, "why would you asked that?"

She shrugged, "I don't know but you're not you. Your eyes are different," she said studying him closely.

He tried to laugh her off, "my eyes are different? I'm not sure why you'd say that," he forced out another chuckle.

"Lee?" 'Saved by Amanda,' he thought, "we're ready for that bottle when you get a chance," she yelled from the top of the stairs.

"Ok," he said back, he turned around and looked at all the closed cupboards, wondering where the bottle stuff was. Other than the nipples in the freezer anyway.

"In there," the little girl pointed to a cabinet by the sink, he looked at her quickly.

"I know," he said, he pulled out a bottle and a can of powder. Peeking over his shoulder he found Jenny staring at him. He hesitated, he didn't want her to watch him read the directions. Thankfully, it was Dotty who saved him this time

"Alright little girl, you are up quite passed your bedtime," Dotty floated in from upstairs after having helped Amanda settle the boy in the bath, "you're mom and dad are going to keep Matthew in their room tonight so you jump in your bed tonight."

"Aw grandma-"

"Don't 'aw grandma' me, missy, scoot," Dotty said sternly but broke out in a giggle when the girl had gone, "that girl I swear, she looks more and more like you every day," she shook her head, and turned to him, "I am so sorry about your night," she grabbed the can and the bottle and before he knew it she was adding the powder and the water, "I know Amanda was looking forward to it," she told him a fixing the top and holding it out to him.

"Oh yeah well its fine," Lee told her, "he can't help it that he isn't feeling well, it happens," he smiled at her. He'd come to like her very much. He realized he had no idea where she slept. Did she live with them? There were only three bedrooms upstairs but he knew Dotty used to live with Amanda, did she move out because of him? It was ten o'clock at night and he was still here...come to think of it she was here early this morning.

"Uh, it's getting a little late," he left the statement hanging.

"Oh yes it is, I'm actually pooped from all of the shenanigans today," she leaned up and planted a kiss on his cheek, "I better get out to my place, I want to read a bit before I turn in," she turned and headed for the back door, "good night," she threw over her shoulder on her way. He hurried to the back door and watched her enter the garage. The light flicked on for a moment while the door was open, for what he glimpsed they must have converted the garage into an apartment for her. He stood watching lost in thought for a moment. Ok, that would make sense and was very practical.

"Lee?" Amanda called bringing him back to the present. The baby, he thought, he was sick.

"Coming," he said flipping the lock on the door and bolting up the stairs. "Sorry," he said as he entered their bedroom, "I wanted to make sure your mom got in safe."

"Thanks. Ok," Amanda said as she bounced Matty and paced, "I think he is almost out," but as soon as the words left her mouth the boy's head flew up and he started to reach for him, "or he just wanted his daddy," she laughed softly and handed him over.

"Here give him to me," He told her, he noticed a playpen had been set up that wasn't there before. That answered that question. She was a good mom, he thought. And she works so hard, "why don't you lay down and try to get some sleep, I'll give him this and try to get him settled," he sat down in the rocking chair in the corner and she petted the little boy's hair and kissed him on the head, then kissed Lee in the same way.

She turned out the bedroom light, leaving one on in the attached bathroom so he could see. As the quiet minutes passed with the continuous rocking of the chair, Lee found himself staring into the face of- not his son, he thought. He shook his head, honestly it was his DNA- whether or not this current self was there when he was created. So, he sighed, this was his son that was staring back up at him just as intently. Lee gently caressed the boys chubby cheeks and fore head.

He was a miracle. Both of the kids were. People have children every day but he'd never thought about it really. Matthew a piece of her and a piece of him. Together they made this tiny person. It was amazing. He continued to rock, and as the moments kept ticking by eventually Matthew's eye drifted closed. He watch him sleep and after several moments he realized he didn't know how to get up and put him in that play pen without waking him up. Lee sighed, and adjusted the pillow at his back and settled into the chair a little deeper.

The chair was close enough to the bed that his legs could reach so he propped his feet up on the mattress and closed his eyes. He'd stay right here, he knew it was going to be hell on his back tomorrow –if there even was a tomorrow here.