CHAPTER 3

Dean was leading Mark up to the baby's room, carrying the box of items Mark had brought from Texas.

"Dean, I've got to tell you. Renee looks great. She's absolutely glowing."

"Thanks. I tell her that everyday. She just scoffs."

Mark chuckled. "Really?"

"Totally. Her hair could turn gray today and I would still love her and think that she's the most beautiful woman on Earth."

"You're a good man."

"I try. Speaking of hair, nice crew cut by the way. And clean shaven too."

"I wanted to do something different."

"What does Michelle think of the new you?"

"It's a new look, same me."

"Let me rephrase it. What does Michelle think of the new look?"

Mark eyed Dean smirking and wagging his eyebrows.

"That expression explains it all. Here we are."

"Let me get the door for you."

"Much appreciated."

Mark turned the knob on the door and pushed it inward. He stepped to the right allowing Dean to enter first.

"Come on in. Take a look around," Dean offered flipping on the light.

Mark stepped inside the room taking in the view. Pink and white everywhere. Pink on the walls, white for the furniture. Rocking chair, dresser drawers, toy chest, crib. Pink and white stuffed animals of different shapes and sizes sat on a shelf to the right of the crib.

Mark whistled. "Very nice, Ambrose. Very nice."

"Thanks," Dean answered sitting the box on the white changing table.

"Have a name picked out?"

Dean turned to face Mark. "We were going with Megan Louise Good."

"Beautiful name. You nervous?"

"If I said no, would you believe me?"

"Hmm..."

"Me neither." Dean looked around the room blowing out a puff of air, rubbing his palms together. "I can't believe it. Me. A father. They say a baby changes everything. It sure changed me."

"Care to explain?"

"I gave up drinking."

Mark smiled. "Is that right?"

"Haven't had a sip of alcohol of any type for 6 months now."

"Good for you."

"Yeah. Of course, I'm not that pretty a sight drunk, which you found out first hand. I wasn't that easy to be around."

"You said it. I seem to recall that black eye you gave me. Then passing out on the kitchen floor."

"What was I thinking? Don't answer that. I wasn't thinking. I really am sorry for that by the way."

"Hey. I forgave you for that. It was a long time ago. It wasn't you."

"You're right. It wasn't me. It turned me into someone I didn't like. It turned me into my..."

Dean's eyes closed as he sighed heavily. He walked over to the rocking chair and sat, hanging his head low.

"My father drank a lot. He and mom argued because of it. One day after school when I was 13, mom and I found him in the arms of another woman in the living room. The lady left. Mom and him argued again with me standing right there. He called my mother every name under the sun. She gave it right back to him. He slapped her hard across the face and she hit the floor. I ran in to stop him, but got backhanded to the floor myself. When he got closer to me, I rose to my knees and hit him between the legs. I jumped him and just kept punching him. I told mom to run and grab the duct tape out of the kitchen. She returned shortly and I forced him onto his back, taping his wrists behind him and his ankles. I taped his mouth and left him on the living room floor as I called the police. They came by and took him away that night and we never saw him again.

I made a vow to myself that day that if I were ever blessed with a woman in my life, I would everything I could to make her happy. I would love her, cherish her. I would never raise a hand to her. I vowed I would be a better husband and a better father than he ever was."

Dean's head rested between his hands, releasing another heavy sigh. Mark approached him and knelt.

"Look at me, Jonathan," Mark said using Dean's birth name. Blue eyes locked on green. "Without a doubt, I know that you are a far better husband. You will be a far better father, and you are, without question, a far better man, than that sniveling snake will ever be."

"Sniveling snake? That's the best you can come up with?"

"Me being a Christian has limited my cussing." Dean chuckled. "Plus, I don't want Kaia to pick up anything from me that shouldn't be used."

"Understandable."

"Now. I was wondering if you wanted some help with that grill."

"I do the chicken, you do the veggies?"

"We'll tag team this thing."

"Let's get to it."

They slapped hands and began leaving the baby's room. Dean stood in the doorway of the room and took one more look around. He turned his eyes towards the heavens.

"Why do I have a feeling you would have spoiled her, mom?"

Dean turned off the light before shutting the door to the room, then headed down stairs to start dinner on the grill.