I woke up with Brayden in my arms and let me tell you, I was beyond happy to have her safe in my arms again. I looked her over and she wasn’t bruised anymore, she was smiling in her sleep, it was cute I wondered what she was dreaming about.
“I can’t sleep with you watching me Jim.” She mumbled opening her eyes
I smiled. “I’m sorry it’s tough, it’s been months since I slept with someone in my arms.” I said
She smiled and touched my face.
“It looks like it’s been a few months since you shaved your face. I’m going to call you Mr. Beard from now on.” She smiled
“I’ll shave it, and you’re silly.” I said
“Maybe I like it Mr. Beard.” She said
“Are you high baby?” I asked
“No, I don’t smoke I’m just tired.” She said
“I know, I was kidding. Go back to sleep, I won’t stare at you.” I said
She kissed me.
“Ow.” She said
She was rubbing her face
“Maybe you should shave that thing. It’s dangerous.” She laughed
I laughed, it was so good to hear her laugh again, it lights up my world and for those three months and three weeks I didn’t have her, I was in a dark dark place. Val had to take Payson away because I just couldn’t get out of bed.
“Promise not to stare at me as I sleep?” She asked
“Yeah.” I said
She smiled and rolled over so her back was facing me.
“Just in case.” She said after she rolled over.
I looked her back up and down and saw fading scars that I guessed were from a belt or something like that. I looked at her tattoo and it had something through.
“Brayden I’m turning the light on okay?” I asked
“Go ahead.” She mumbled
I flipped my side-table lamp on and I saw what was through her tattoo, it was the word USELESS. Branded or carved into it.
“I know what you’re looking at. Will you please stop it’s worrying me.” She said
“I’m sorry.” I said
“It’s fine, I know you’re curious to know what happened.” She said turning around to face me
“Tell me?” I asked
“Which part do you want to know about?” She asked
“The fading scars.” I said
“Do you want to know what they are from?” She asked
“Yes.” I said
She hugged to my chest and looked up at me.
“They’re from a belt and a whip thing.” She said
“How did the word get into your tattoo?” I asked
“I was laying there taking whatever the two of them gave me because they said if I didn’t they come after Payson and I wasn’t about to let that happen, but he kept asking me questions and of course I couldn’t talk from being swelled up and screaming like so much I didn’t answer him. He called me useless and pulled out some branding equipment and branded the one place I asked him to keep untouched.” She explained
“Heartless people..” I sighed
And I dated one of them, throughout my high school years, she was always sweet but I guess people change.
“Baby you go back to sleep and I’ll leave you to it.” I said
She kissed my chest and I got out of bed, I walked over to the dresser and slipped on some boxers and quietly walked out of the room. I walked into the nursery where Payson was laying quietly awake, when she saw me she smiled at me and giggled. I picked her up out of the crib and grabbed the ducky blanket as well because the house was rather cold and she’s a baby who gets cold easily. I changed her diaper and walked downstairs and into the kitchen, I set her down into her highchair and walked over to the cabinets.
“Baby oatmeal and bananas for breakfast.” I said
I made the baby oatmeal and sat down on a bar stool in front of the highchair. I got some on the little rubber spoon and held it up, she opened her mouth and took the bite.
“You’re my little chubb aren’t you?” I asked as I continued to feed her.
“Well look at that.” I heard from behind me
I looked at Brian was standing there with Nathan in his arms.
“What?” I asked
“That shit looks gross.” He said
“Yeah it sort of looks like vomit, but she likes it.” I said
“I’m going to but Nathan in your baby cage.” He said
The baby cage wasn’t really a cage it’s a fence type thing that was in the corner and it made a play pin.
“Okie.” I said
“Where’s Brayden?” He asked
“Asleep.” I said
“I’d figure she’d be awake.” He said
“Well let’s see where has she been the past three months? And the three weeks before that?” I asked
He made that ‘OHH yeah’ face and I smiled
“And I might of kept her up a little late last night and I accidently woke her up this morning.” I said
“Spreading your baby gravy around.” He laughed
“How’d you accidently wake her up?” He asked
I put the bowl that I was feeding Payson out of in the sink and grabbed a paper towel and wet it.
“I was watching her.” I said
I wiped Payson’s mouth and pulled her out of the highchair.
“Creepy Jim but I would have done the same thing with Maddie.” He said
I nodded and looked down at Payson in her onsie.
“Hold her I’m going to get a change of clothes for her since it’s cold. I might throw on some pants and a jacket for myself too.” I said
He nodded and took Payson from me grabbing her blanket as well and sitting on the couch. I walked upstairs and quietly into our room and slipped on some clean sweatpants and grabbed a red hoodie. I left our room and walked into the nursery and grabbed a pink long-sleeved onsie, a pair of black pants to go over it and some socks. I walked back downstairs and Payson was laughing and pulling on Brian’s hair.
“How’s that feel?” I asked
“It doesn’t typically bother me anymore.” He said
I grabbed payson and laid her on the floor on her back, I undressed her.
“Naked baby.” Brian said
I laughed and redressed her and put her in the baby cage. Her and Nathan started playing together.
“I have a feeling they are going to be good friends.” He said
“She will not under any circumstances date him.” I said
“Awh why not? That’d be cute.” Brian said
“You sound like Madison.” I said
“I spend a lot of time with her.” He said
“You two are practically a married couple. So when are you going to pop the question??” I asked
“I don’t know. I was just thinking to keep it classy and ask her over dinner.” He said
“The whole put the ring in the champagne thing?” I asked
“Pretty much. Zee wants to ask Gena on stage at one of our concerts.” He said
“Cute.” I said
We sat in silence watching the kids play when I started thinking.
“Where is Madison?” I asked
“Shopping with Michelle.” He said
“Oh new girl with the ex-girl. How’s that working out?” I asked
“They are actually pretty good friends. Michelle and I left on good terms so its okay.” He said
“Unlike Lea and I.” I said
“I honestly didn’t think Lea was capable of those things.” He said
“Me either.” I said
His phone started ringing; he pulled it out of his pocket.
“Hello? Yeah I can… here let me ask because of course I want too. When do I not.” He said having a conversation
He looked at me
“Jims can you watch Nathan for the day? I’ll pick him up around seven.” He said
I nodded.
“Jims said he’d watch him…Okay cool, I’m on my way.” He said
He hung up and looked at me.
“Madison?” I asked
“Yep.” He said
“Ohh hey I’ll be taking Nathan with me to the studio then right?” I asked
“Oh that thing today?” He asked
“Yes.” I said
“What time?” He asked
“Noon.” I said
He looked down at his phone.
“I’ve got five hours.” He said
“Here I’ll watch him today and I’ll bring him with Brayden, Payson and I to the studio and I’ll bring him back with us and he can stay here tonight.” I said
He smiled and we shook on it, he kissed Nathan and headed out the front door. I laughed at him; I’ve never seen him move so fast at seven in the morning. I looked over at the babies and they were playing with one of those round stacker thingys. I laughed as they made weird baby noises the Zacky makes in his sleep. We were going into the studio to just basically play around with our instruments since it’s been a while, to also talk about going on a tour soon. I was already given the O.K that Brayden and Payson could come with us for the entire tour which we don’t know how long yet. Around ten I was sitting in the baby cage playing with the monstrosities, they were using me as a jungle Jim.
“Cute.” I heard a hoarse voice say
I looked up and Brayden was standing there smiling
“Hi baby.” I said
“Hello Mr. Beard.” She said
I laughed
“How long do we have the second little one?” She asked getting into the baby cage and picking up Nathan.
“Until tomorrow.” I said
“Sweet. Baby time.” She smiled
“All of us are going into the studio today.” I said
“Cool beans. At what time?” She asked blowing raspberries on Nathan’s cheek
“We’ll leave here at eleven so we can make it there by noon.” I said
“So we have to pack bibs, diapers, food, bottles, and some toys.” She said
I nodded.
“Want to see your baby girl crawl?” I asked
She smiled and nodded.
“We gots to get out of the cage.” I said
We both took a baby and stepped out of the cage. I set Payson on her back and took Nathan from Brayden and Brayden sat a few feet from Payson.
“Payson go to mommy.” I said
Payson giggled and rolled over onto her stomach and started to crawl towards Brayden.
“That was so cute.” Brayden said
After a while of playing with the kids we decided to get them ready, thankfully we have two car seats in the car, thanks to Madison and crashing her car. We packed the baby stuff and put them into the car seats and climbed in the car. Brayden smiled at me and I pulled out of the driveway at eleven on the dot.