August Exclusive - "Sparkly Objects " - Part 1

One

You’re too stressed. You need to take a break. You’re going to burn out.

This is what Nathan hears from Julia.

When he challenges her – because what is she really trying to say here? Because surely this is all about her, because isn’t everything, in the end, about her? – Julia insists that she only tells him such things because she loves him. Because she wants her boyfriend to be happy and healthy.

Happy and healthy. Like reading the label on a can of dog food. How about a shiny coat and bright eyes to go with it?

Sure, Nathan is stressed. Because his job matters. Because he’s busy making a difference. And because the people in his life rarely do what he wants them to.

Take today, for example. Where they are visiting with Julia’s sister. How is that a recipe for rest and relaxation? How is that taking a break? She has a six-month-old baby, and she’s decided today’s the day to have a yard sale.

Take this very moment, another example. Nathan is sitting in the Julia’s sister’s living room, watching Oliver.

Nathan had surprised Julia when he had chosen watching the baby over dealing with the yard sale customers.

“I don’t really want to do either, but at least this way, I’m out of the sun.”

Julia’s sister had raised an uncertain eyebrow. “Thought you didn’t like babies.”

“Not a huge fan,” Nathan had replied. He held out his hands to take Oliver “But they seem to like me.”

Sure enough, the baby is content with Nathan. Spends a few minutes on his front on an activity mat, and then – ooh! Aah! – a few minutes on his back, and then to top it off, some time sitting up with a cushion behind him.

Julia’s sister comes back into the house more than she needs to:

“Just getting more price stickers.”

“Gonna get the staple gun, put up a couple more signs.”

“Wow, it’s hot out there! Filling up my water bottle.”

Nathan knows that she’s checking that the baby is okay, because she doesn’t know that it’s perfectly possible to watch a baby even if you don’t really like babies that much.

She crouches down, strokes the baby’s fine hair. “Look at you, hanging with Uncle Nathan!” She says to Nathan, “I should check Ollie’s diaper.”

“Don’t bother,” Nathan replies, “Changed it five minutes ago.”

Julia’s sister blinks at him. “Really?”

Nathan nods. “It’s not rocket science.”

She laughs. “Guess not. Still, I didn’t realize you knew how to do this stuff.”

“I was the oldest, growing up. Had to watch my little brothers and sisters.”

“Cool. I’m going to make him a bottle, you okay to feed him?”

“No problem.”

Julia’s sister beams, and then goes to the kitchen counter. After a few seconds, she calls over, “So you know how to take care of babies, but you don’t want one of your own?”

Nathan suppresses a groan. “Julia and I…we’re still working that out.”

“She says you don’t want one, period.” There’s a pause, and then she returns with the bottle of formula. “She says you’re not interested.”

Nathan takes the baby to the couch and sits down. “Can he hold it by himself?”

“Pretty much.”

Nathan watches the baby as he starts to drink. Yeah, he’s a pro, both hands on the bottle, cheeks pumping.

Nathan looks up at Julia’s sister. “I told Julia that I don’t find babies interesting, there’s a difference. If she’s set on starting a family, I can get on board with that.”

She shrugs. “I think my sister’s hoping for a little more enthusiasm from you.”

Nathan laughs. “Julia knows me pretty well. My work is the priority, and I’ve got a lot going on.”

Julia’s sister looks as though she wants to say more, and then she just smiles. “Well, thanks for watching Ollie. He’ll need burping, just call me and I- “

Nathan shakes his head. “I got this. He usually go down for a nap after?”

She smiles and nods.

“I’ll take care of it.”

And he does because it’s easy. It grates on him that Julia and her sister imagined Nathan didn’t want kids because he was nervous at the prospect or felt underqualified. Nathan knows he could take on any challenge that comes his way, that he’s dealt with bigger problems than putting a baby down for a nap.

Especially a baby like Ollie. This kid knows how to drink his milk. The nipple falls from his mouth, a rivulet of formula dribbling down his chin, and then he yawns, a satisfied ruler of all he surveys.

“You got everything you need,” says Nathan, holding Ollie against his chest and then patting his back until the baby produces three good belches.

“Good job.” He strokes Ollie’s back in a circular motion, partly to check for a final burp but mostly to help send Ollie off to sleep. The baby’s head feels heavy and warm against his shoulder, little fingers curling and stretching. Such a picture of contentment, Nathan would only be mildly surprised if the brat started to purr.

Nathan gets up and takes the baby through to the nursery. He lays Ollie down, and the baby kicks his feet a little, as if he’s going to put up a fight, as if being put down for a nap by his almost-uncle isn’t on the menu, but when Nathan turns on the sound machine and then flicks the switch above the crib that activates the slowest, laziest of mobiles, Ollie stops fidgeting and instead gazes up at the swirling, felt animals.

Nathan takes a moment to identify them. “You like fishes, huh.”

Ollie answers the question but continuing to look up at the mobile. He reaches with his hands, as if he hasn’t already tried this so many times, and then he relaxes, eyes glassy and then closing, his chest rising and falling as he drifts off.

“What a life,” whispers Nathan. “What’s it like, to have everything taken care of? How does it feel, for some fish floating above your head to be enough?” He shakes his head and murmurs, “I’m almost jealous.”

And then he leaves the nursery, closing the door gently behind him, so he can go back to the living room and read all the emails and notifications that have been filling up his phone.

To be continued...