Seasons of Change

15

"How the hell is Brad going to tell me he hates parenthood when he's literally never even around his fucking kids?" Krist asked Linda after Camila's birthday party.

Linda closed her eyes and sighed, "He is growing more and more like your father by the day."

Krist scoffed as he dropped ice cubes into a glass, "Shit at least Dad seems to like little Marcus."

"Maybe he's just not a baby person?" Atira suggested kindly, tickling Gwendolyn under the chin, "I mean, not everyone likes babies."

Oh sweet Atira, always seeing the best in everyone and overlooking the fact some people just fucking sucked and shouldn't be reproducing. (Cough, cough. Brad)

"He's not even around them enough to dislike them," Krist pointed out, "He was always cool with Rocco so I guess I'm honestly a little surprised. And then while he was locked up, he's like 'Oh I'm gonna be super involved with my kids, I'm gonna be a good dad' and being friendly with Brooke and Holly. Fucking lame probably just hoped they would send him panty shots or some shit."

"Krist," Linda sighed.

He leaned against the counter, head cocked, "Tell me I'm wrong tho-aye! Rocco, what the hell are you doing in there?"

Rocco's head poked out of the pantry, followed by a chubby baby hand, "Gabe wanted Cheetos."

"You know that baby can't be eating no damn Cheetos. Get the hell out of there and don't just be taking my mom's food without asking," he lectured his son.

Rocco stepped out of the pantry, fingertips bright ass orange, "Come on, Gabe," he said, grabbing his baby brother's little hand and leading him toward the den.

"Gabriel wanted Cheetos, huh?" Krist asked as Rocco walked by.

"What? I was hungry."

"Go in the bathroom and wash your lil Trump-looking self," Krist told him, fighting back a smirk.

Rocco ran down the hallway, Gabriel dropping to all fours and crawling after him.

"Trump?" Atira asked.

Krist looked at her with his eyes half closed, disappointed she hadn't caught his joke, "You know...like how he's orange?"

Atira smiled, "Ohhhh!"

"Duhhhh," Krist teased her.

"Leave me alone, the baby brain is real!" She protested, playfully swatting at him with her free hand before wrinkling up her face and looking at Gwendolyn who was red-faced, "Girl, I can smell what you are doing. Let's get you cleaned up."

Atira disappeared to the nursery Linda and Bill had set up to change her niece.

"Brad's not on drugs again, is he?" Linda asked, lowering her voice.

"Not that I can tell, why?"

"Just the way he's been acting lately," she said, "And now he has Madison staying the night without the baby?"

Krist gave her the same look he'd given Atira, "Mom...Brad lives in a studio apartment and she lives in a sober living house, why do you think they want a night to themselves without Gwen?" He smirked.

"Krist," Linda closed her eyes again, "Don't make me think about that."

"Bro, you walked into that one," he chuckled.

"I just hope that girl is on birth control. I just can't even...Don't get me wrong, I love all the babies but those two do not need another baby."