Cover me in sunshine (Completed)

chapter 2

You, baby, are so nice… You've got such a jerk brother! On the other hand... this Vegas is his relative. And, apparently, he is able to provide his brother with everything he needs. Unless, of course, he tries not to ruin the kid in infancy.

Pete promptly recalls how on short-term courses organized by the company, they were taught to act in any emergency situations with children, including the case of potential poisoning. He simply refuses to believe that a person over twenty could have come up with the idea of giving a one-year-old baby a sleeping pill.

Pete quickly changes clothes himself, without even looking at his room, washes his hands thoroughly and returns to Venice. It takes about an hour for all procedures, bathing and putting on a diaper. The kid looks curiously at Pete, smiling at him, feels his cheeks and nose with plump crooked fingers, pulls his hair. Babbles incoherent sounds, and this is a little alarming: Pete knows that a child can pronounce individual words at the age of one year, even if completely unintelligible. And Venice only strives to fall on his knees and crawl, he does not want to stand on his legs at all, even with support.

Okay. Of course, all children are different and can develop in different ways… But it's worth clarifying something.

He barely has time to put Venice at his small table, as he hears from the nursery door:

"The cook said that you missed breakfast. Did something not suit you?"

Well, yes. He's the boss. Moron.

Pete is still angry at Vegas's carelessness.

"I'm not hungry. Don't worry. Besides, I had to help the child first," Pete blows on the spoon without turning to the door.

Then Vegas goes inside and stands next to Venice and Pete who's squatting in front of the baby.

"There is a small stool," Vegas nods to the corner, "why crouching on the floor?"

"I'm comfortable. Thanks."

"Hmm. Awesome."

And why are you standing here? Go about your business. You said that you handed over the child to me.

"Khun Vegas?"

"What?"

Pete takes a deep breath:

"Did Venice have a nanny before me?"

"There was some kind of. That so-called mother hired her, she didn't really need Venice herself, as you can see. With the death of our father, the inexhaustible ATM for her comfortable life ended — so she just escaped. She knows perfectly well that our dad did not leave her a single baht, and Venice will not break a big jackpot until he comes of age, only for the most necessary. It's good that my father managed to take care of it."

Yeah… I, sort of, asked about the nanny, but I found out the whole background of the family.

"I see. That means, nobody really took care of Venice, right?"

"I've told you. Were you listening to me at all?"

Yes, I was listening. So-called mother, you say? You're not much different.

"Well, yes."

"So?"

"Your brother is one year old. Right?"

"So?"

"Khun Vegas," Pete wipes the baby's chin with a bib, "he's not standing on his legs at the age of a year, even when I hold him with both hands, he's about to fall. And I didn't hear a single word from him."

"Yeah? And what do you think he should recite poetry at a year?"

"No. But at least know his name. React when I say "turn around", "look" and so on. I'm sorry, but it seems that the child has long been neglected."

"Mhm. Are you a big specialist here? With the experience of raising a family-neighbor herd?"

"Well, besides that, I have a certificate. The company organized training."

"Ah. So, what-no, but the basic knowledge is there? Yes, and confirmed by a certificate?"

Pete hears the mockery in his voice.

"You know… In any case, I have enough of this knowledge not to give a one-year-old child sleeping pills."

Vegas snorts arrogantly, twisting his mouth:

"Okay, I didn't give him any sleeping pills. It was a joke. Well, I wanted to test you, too. What will you do in such a situation."

All Pete wants to do is to slap this pompous turkey on the forehead with a spoon. It's just a pity that it's light. It won't hurt very much and is unlikely to have a long-term effect.

Pete gathers his courage:

"Never. Never joke. Like this. Venice is a baby. Your brother."

Vegas chuckles:

"We'll see."

Damn, I forgot the bottle in the kitchen.

"Khun Vegas, there are literally a couple of spoons left. While the porridge is not cold at all — finish feeding him, I'll quickly run for a bottle."

"What else! The last time I tried to do it myself, he threw up all over me!"

"Please. Just a little bit. Come on, I'll be right there!"

Pete jumps out of the nursery, and when he returns, he finds an amazing picture: Vegas, swearing, with a baby saucer on his head, the remnants of porridge dripping down his hair, and Venice cackling with joy.

"I warned you: he's just a little devil!

It's very difficult for Pete to keep from laughing. The aggressive expression of Vegas's face, the ends of his hair sticky with porridge and the steam almost coming out of his ears add to the comicality of the situation.

"Oh... please, don't be angry. He's just a little baby. Can I give you a napkin?

"I'll manage!"

When they are left alone, Pete wipes the baby's messy face, still chuckling softly:

"You're a good boy, Venice. You will definitely learn to do everything."