Stubborn Love

Part 8

Part 8

It's the weekend and I am going out of my way to have Garrett take care of Clyde for the day, luckily Milo will be there to handle and experience Clyde alone. I'm nervous for Clyde to meet his uncle and aunt for the first time, properly. I just hope Clyde doesn't get shy or scared while I'm off at work. I've tried to explain how they are in our lives. I want to believe he understands it for his age.

I pull up to their apartment and look back at Clyde who was napping. I get out of the car and gently shake Clyde in his car seat. 

"Sweetie, get up," I say, kissing his chubby cheeks. His eyes open and he yawns, rubbing his eyes. "Ready to meet uncle Garrett, and spend a whole day with him and dad? Remember, Garrett and dad are twin brothers," I say.

"Yeah," he yawns again. He hops out of the car and I hand him his backpack. I grab onto his hand as we walk into the apartment complex. Learning to be a parent, you start noticing the little things that are somewhat grateful. Like Garrett's apartment is on the bottom floor, meaning if anything were to happen with this building and Clyde was in it, Garrett would be able to get out of it quickly. 

I walk at the end of the hall. I knock on the door as I look down at Clyde who was scanning the area out. Garrett opens the door with a big smile on his face. 

"Hey," I say. 

"Hey," he squats down, "hey buddy, I'm uncle Garret," he outreaches his hand for Clyde to shake. Clyde shyly shakes his hand. I rub the back of his head, comforting him that he's alright. 

"Come in!" Garrett opens the rest of the door as Clyde and I slowly walk in. "Is he allergic to anything, Hazel?"

"No, he's not," I look around Garrett's apartment. Clyde's hand lets go of mine, meaning something has caught his eye. I look over and see him touching a puppy that's a golden retriever.

"You have a dog?" I ask. 

"Yeah, I hope that's alright. Evie wanted it," Garrett laughs awkwardly. 

"Oh no, it's fine, just Clyde hasn't really experienced with house pets yet."

I watch Clyde poke at the puppy, then suddenly see him smack its back as the puppy yelped a little.

"Clyde, no!" I walk over as Garrett follows.

I squat down and bring the puppy to me, "we don't hurt the puppy, we pet them gently. Can you do what mommy is doing?"

Clyde stretches out his hand and gently pets the coat of fur and smiles. I smile with him and give him a kiss on the forehead, "good, sweetie."

I stand up as I sigh at Garrett, "sorry about that, didn't mean to traumatize your dog."

"Eh, Evie is trying to make him strong, we'll see about that," he shrugs.

"Say, where is your wife and Milo?"

"Oh, well we're putting Milo on grocery duty for the next month, so she's showing him the ropes."

"Wow," I laugh. 

"Yes, good luck to both of them," Garrett laughs. "But they should be back soon. I wanted you to meet Evie."

"Ahh, does this Evie want to meet me?"

"Well, of course she wants to meet the mother of  her nephew."

"That's good to know," I laugh. I sit on the couch as Garrett sits next to me. He pats my thigh and sighs. 

"You okay?" I ask.

"As I look at Clyde, I am just..."

"What?"