Single Daddies

Chapter 7

Noah

I came home and Kylie was fast asleep in the chair where I'd spent last night sleeping when I was checking in on Richard. I should have woken her up and told her that I was home, but there was something calming about watching her sit there.

She looked at peace, not sad like when she first came to the house, and all I could think about was, why did she come if she didn't want to be here? I was tempted to call Terrance and ask him, but then I remembered that I only call him if I'm desperate-which isn't often.

***

I get home wanting to take a nap. I was exhausted this morning when I got up at five. Later on, I have to go back to the ranch, so I head to the kitchen and grab something quick to eat. Kylie's already made bottles, and it even looks as if she's taken him out in the sling, the one that I'd planned on telling her about. I wonder where else she's been in the house. She seems to have made herself at home in one day. I didn't see her or hear them in the house, so they must still be out. I make a quick sandwich, with only one thing on my mind and that's hitting the sack. I'm on my way when my phone rings. I didn't even bother to check who's calling as I blurt out, "Yes!"

"Noah."

Great, it's Terrance. What does he want?

"Is it true?"

How does he know?

"Stephanie called Kylie, and there was a baby in the house. Well, not just any baby, but your son. So, is it true?"

To say the relationship between Terrance and I is a little strained is a bit of an understatement. While Terrance isn't my real dad, he has been the closest thing to it since my parents died. So when he bumped into Stephanie, Kylie's mom, at the high school reunion and they started dating, well I have just felt a bit awkward. Where Terrance was like my second dad, Stephanie has always been like my second mom, but to have them actually together? Yeah, weird.

"Does Jason know?"

I'm just about to hang up when, as usual, Terrance comes out with the stupidest comment ever. Of course, Jason doesn't know. Why would I tell him?

"Terrance, I'm beat. Richard kept me up during the night, and I've been working on the ranch. I'm not in the mood for twenty questions, especially when you already know the answers to the questions you're asking."

"Wow, it's only two, and besides I would have thought that you would call me the minute that you discovered you were a dad."

"Son?"

Why does he insist on calling me like a kid?

I start to get even more irritated, and I'm debating whether to hang up or not.

"I never told you because I'm due to take the paternity test on Monday. And besides, I thought that you were busy."

I try to make him feel important once in a while. Terrance owns a business in the city, but to say, but to say that he's busy is a private joke. Everyone in the family laughs about it because he's the most absent CEO of a company ever. I'm surprised it's still making money. He's never in the office. He's always out with Stephanie, doing whatever it is they do. I think that it involves just living off the profits and whatever he managed to get from previous wife's death.

"I am busy, but not too busy to hear from you and Jason once in a while."

Well, Jason can't stand you. Then again, he can't tolerate anyone. He decided to go live with our grandparents, and when Granddad died, he took over the ranch. The family said that it was too painful to stay there without him, so she divides her time between traveling the world, here, and as little time as possible with dad.

"Terrance, do you have anything else to say?"

"Well, if the paternity test is positive, then I'd like to see the little fellow. You should send me a photo."

Really?

"Sure. Do you want the photo now?"

"No point if he's not staying there?"

That's Terrance for you. He's got the type of reasoning that doesn't make sense to anyone but him. Sometimes, I think that's the only person that he really cares about. He hasn't even bothered asking where Richard's mom is.

"Okay, I'll contact you on Monday then."

"You'll get it around Wednesday or so?"

I don't bother asking how he knows this little piece of information because it's no secret that Terrance was cheating on his wife so much that I wouldn't be surprised if there are more Bradley's running around.

"Okay, Wednesday then. Anything else?"

He's quiet for a minute, and I'm wondering if he's going to give me some final words of wisdom.

"Some clinics take only a day, so you may get it on Tuesday."

No surprise then. No words of wisdom. Just more annoying statements.

"Okay, Tuesday or Wednesday."

"Sure."

"Take care and get some rest. The ranch won't run itself."

Like your business.

"Night Terrance."

"Night."

I turn my phone off and then fall into a deep sleep immediately as I think about Kylie, not with Richard, but only with me.