Read Online Simple Man by Lydia Michaels - Free Book Online Page B

finagled the belt around the carrier and locked it into place, tested the security of her work, and appeared satisfied.
    “I have four grandbabies and three kids. I’m an old pro at this,” she told him proudly.
    “Thank you. I’m sort of out of my element here.”
    “You’ll learn. He’s a cutie. What’s his name?”
    “Shane.”
    She smiled and ran a hand over the baby’s head. Women were always touching him. He hadn’t touched him yet, but he looked soft, too soft. He didn’t want to dent him.
    He thanked the woman and stuffed the baby purse on the floor next to all the trash. He definitely had to clean out his truck.
    Driving home was an ordeal. Had there always been so many maniacs on the road? People were doing forty in a twenty-five. To play it safe he drove a slow fifteen miles an hour the entire way home. It took him over an hour, but he made it there safe and sound, precious cargo still sleeping peacefully.
    When he pulled up to his trailer the roller skate was out front. Exiting the truck, he carefully undid the seatbelt. Baby Shane stirred a bit, but didn’t wake.  He carried him inside and placed the carrier on the floor by the coffee table.
    The toilet flushed and Duce came out of the bathroom. “You’re back. How’d it go?”
    Shane tipped his chin toward his nephew. “I got him.”
    Duce cautiously stepped closer to the baby. In hushed tones he said, “Dude, I can’t believe they actually gave you a kid. What are you gonna do with it?”
    “I’m gonna take care of him .”
    They both silently stared at the baby. “He doesn’t do much,” Shane informed. “This is basically it.”
    Duce reached forward with a pudgy finger. “Coochy, coochy, coo…”
    Shane yanked his friend’s hand back. “Don’t touch him. You’ll wake him up.”
    “Oh, sorry.”
    They stared some more.
    “You wanna get something to eat?” Duce finally asked.
    “Uh, getting him in the truck’s sort of a pain. And I don’t think he’s supposed to be in the front. I may need to get a new car.”
    “How you gonna afford a new car? You can barely afford to keep this one.”
    He shrugged. “I don’t know. I’ll figure something out.”
    “Well, I’m starved. I’m gonna run down to Chung Luck. You want something?”
    “Yeah, get me a few egg rolls.”
    Duce pulled out his keys. “What about for the little guy?”
    Shane frowned. “Babies don’t eat Chinese food, dumbass. They eat baby food.”
    “Oh. Right.”
    “Wait, stay here with him for a sec. I forgot that big bag in the truck. There’s probably food in there.”
    When he returned Duce was exactly where he’d left him.
    “Did he do anything?”
    “No.”
    Shane put the bag down and Duce snickered. “What?”
    “Nice purse, dude.”
    Shane grimaced at the mint green bag with ribbons around the straps. “I didn’t pick it.”
    “The kid’s gonna have a complex with accessories like that. You gotta get him some manly bags.”
    “I will.”
    When Duce left, Shane sifted through the bag. There were tiny diapers, wipes, some sort of yoga mat thing, a bunch of creams. He laughed when he saw something called Butt Paste. That was self-explanatory.
    There was something resembling a miniature turkey baster. He found clothes, itty-bitty socks, a knit cap, a few rattles, two containers of formula, some bottles, and a small booklet with doctor’s visits listed in it. He recognized the writing as his sister’s and a strange, sad nostalgia settled over him.
    Was she here watching him now? “He’s beautiful, Noel,” he whispered. “I’m gonna do this. Don’t worry. I’ll figure it out and I’ll take good care of him for you. You’ll see.”
    By the time Duce returned Shane was reading the bottle of formula. “What’s that?” his friend asked as he plopped down the paper takeout bag of food.
    “Formula. I didn’t find any food. Do you think I should wake him to eat?”
    “Uh, isn’t there some rule about never waking a sleeping