Done Adulting Vol. 1 Ch. 116

“It’s nice to have a family dinner, Danny,” Becky said.

“It was Laurie’s idea, actually. Where is she anyway?”

“Fussing over Jamie in the living room.”

“Jamie is awfully tolerant of it,” Danny observed after looking around the corner at the two of them.

Becky peaked through the door and saw Jamie resting his head on Laurie’s chest while she played with his hair. “I can’t tell if he likes it or if he’s just playing along. He got up from a nap an hour ago, so I know he’s not tired.”

“Maybe he’s just indulging her.”

“Maybe.”

“He seems like he’s doing pretty good.”

“He has been lately. Pretty mellow overall. His daycare teacher says he’s been playing with other littles more, and he reads to the others for a half hour before nap time now.”

“Hello?” Amanda called out as she came in.

“In the kitchen,” Becky replied.

“Hi, Danny,” Amanda said as she gave him a hug.

“Hi! How did your exam go,” Danny asked.

“Okay. I think. Every time I think I did well on anything science or math I get a low B at best, so…”

“I’m sure you did fine, honey,” Becky replied. She knew Amanda was smarter than she sometimes gave herself credit for. Her real challenge during finals had been prying herself away from Jamie when she should have been studying.

“So how does it feel to be on vacation,” Danny asked.

“Great! As always. Mind if I get a beer?”

“Help yourself.” Amanda opened the fridge and took a bottle of some microbrew with a dog on the label, which she figured was the reason Danny bought it. Discerning, he was not, and that coming from a perpetually broke college student.

“Where’s Jamie?”

“With Lauren,” Becky said, leaning out to indicate he was around the corner in the living room. Amanda took a look.

“Why is he playing patty cake?”

“For Lauren’s benefit, I’m sure,” Danny said.

“Maybe he could use some guy time soon,” Amanda said. “It’s been a while.”

“Yeah,” Becky said, “Take him to some sports ball game.”

“I’d like that.”

From the living room, they heard Lauren sing, “Soooo big!” Amanda looked again. She and Jamie both had their hands in the air.

“Did you feed him before we came, Mom?”

“No.”

“Huh.” IT was so unusual for him to play like that without at least some milk in his belly unless he was with Mel.

“Dinner should be done in a few if you want to go wash up,” Danny said.

“Thanks.” She went into the living room to say hello to Lauren.

“Hi, Laurie. Having fun with my guy there?” Jamie smiled at her. He’d been looking forward to her being done with finals. Now they had until after the New Year to spend whole days together, and Becky would be off work soon too.

“Jealous,” Lauren asked.

“A little.”

“Of which one of us,” Jamie asked with a grin. She snatched him off Laurie’s lap and held him belly up across her arms.

“Which one,” she said playfully, “Which one?” She pulled his shirt up and blew a raspberry on his tummy while he squealed, trapped on her arms and trying to pull his shirt back down. “Whose bear are you?” She did it again and again. “Whose bear are you?”

“Yours,” he cried uncle.

“Whose?”

“I’m your bear!”

“That’s right,” she said, tossing him over her shoulder and planting five swats on his padded butt. “And there are no filthy bears allowed at the dinner table, so let’s go wash your hands.” Amanda winked at Laurie, who smiled back. She’d had several aunt-to-niece talks with Amanda when Becky decided to get a little. Amanda had been entirely against it, mostly out of jealousy and later out of fear she wouldn’t be a good big sister. Laurie hadn’t sold her on the idea; she only managed to convince her to participate in the process rather than fight it. Jamie did the rest.

Amanda carried him slung over her shoulder to the bathroom. “Did your exam go well,” he asked from back there.

“I think so.” She set him on the vanity and turned on the tap. First, she lathered her own hands, and then Jamie put his under the faucet. Taking his hands, she rubbed them in her own until he was soapy. “Were you having fun with Laurie?”

“Yeah.”

“I’m surprised you went along with that.”

“She’s just having fun.”

“You don’t think it’s weird?”

“No.” But Jamie knew the reason Danny and Laurie had invited them for dinner, or least he thought he did. “Whatever makes her happy.”

“Speaking of,” she said as she dried their hands, “You still owe me a list to mail to Santa.”

“But I really don’t need anything.”

“But it’s Christmas! And my first Christmas with a little. It’ll be more fun if you let Mom and me spoil you rotten.” She put him on her hip and carried him to the kitchen.

“I’ll think about it.”

Dinner was fitting for the Christmas season, as Jamie was convinced the massive thing Danny carved was a roast beast. He struggled with what he thought was a drumstick, or possibly a leg, or maybe an arm of some kind, before resorting to eating with his hands. He’d learned not long after going back on solid foods that just about everything he was served was good, and asking what everything was would only get in the way of that. He ate it down to the bone.

“That was great, Danny,” Becky said as she finished her meal.

“He’s been spoiling me,” Laurie said.

“Did everyone save room for dessert,” Danny asked.

“Not really,” Amanda said, overfull.

“O, come on. It’ll be good, promise.” Amanda and Becky helped clear away the dishes while Laurie and Danny got out dessert bowls and spoons.

“Don’t forget the cake, Daniel,” Laurie said.

“You didn’t have to do that,” Becky said.

Daniel reached up on the top the fridge and took down a white cardboard box, setting it in the middle of the table and taking the top off. “But it’s a special occasion.” It’s a boy was written across the cake.

After the squeals and questions had died down and the cake was eaten, Jamie sat back in his chair, stuffed and glad his pants had an elastic waistband, and exclaimed, “I was afraid for months I was gonna blow the secret.”

“You knew!” Amanda shouted. “How?”

Jamie nodded in Laurie’s direction. “Laurie hasn’t struck you as acting a little strangely lately?”

“I have not,” Laurie said as she licked a napkin and wiped at Jamie’s already clean face.

“See,” he said, “Doesn’t she seem a little extra maternal?”

Laurie realized what she was doing and stopped. “Why didn’t you say anything, honey?”

“Because you seem happy. Game of patty cake never hurt anyone.”

“Good, because it’s going to get worse before it gets better,” Danny said. The three most important women in his life all gave him The Look. “Sorry,” he sheepishly replied.

He could use some guy time, Jamie thought.