Fourth of July

Chapter 32

I'm reading an actual physical book and my twelve year old sister freaked out and was like "why are you reading? Reading is gross, social media is more smartening"

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Miles didn't stop screaming all night long. It didn't matter if I fed him or changed him, he just screamed. It kept Gee awake too and while I was trying to comfort Miles Gee would lay at my feet throwing his own fit. As soon as Jamia came over the next morning I fell into her arms as I sobbed.

"Frank, you haven't slept for two nights now," she said.

"M-maybe this was a mistake," I sobbed. "I-I should've put him up for adoption."

"Frank, you should get some sleep, I'll take care of Gee and Miles," she said.

"No, th-they're my responsibility, I should take care of them," I said.

"Frank, it's okay to get help," she said softly. "Come on, let's go get you to bed, you're a mess."

She took my head and I sniffled quietly as we went upstairs. I could still hear both the kids crying as I curled up in bed. She took the baby monitor off my nightstand and tucked me into bed.

"A-are you sure you?" I asked. "I'm okay, I can watch them."

"No, Frank, you just need to sleep," she said.

She kissed my forehead gently and turned on some music, drowning out the sound of screaming. She left the room and I curled up in the soft bed as I fell asleep.

When I woke up it was already night, the stars shining bright outside. I stood up and yawned, feeling almost like a different person. I went downstairs and smiled when I saw Jamia in the kitchen, cradling Miles in one arm while cooking with the other while Gee colored at the table.

"You look so much better," Jamia remarked.

"I feel so much better, thank you," I said.

"You can go grab a shower if you want, I'm just finishing up dinner here," she said.

I nodded, going upstairs and grabbing a quick shower. I got changed into some sweatpants and a Nirvana t-shirt before going downstairs. I smiled, wrapping an arm around Jamia's waist as she stood in front of the stove.

"Hey," I said quietly. "Here, let me take Miles."

I took Miles from her arms and smiled down at him.

"You need help?" I asked.

"That's okay, I'm just finishing," she said.

I sat next to Gee at the table and smiled.

"Daddy, look at the dinosaur I'm coloring," he said. "What is it called, Mia?"

"A tyrannosaurus rex," she said.

"Tyrasorus rex," Gee repeated.

"Very pretty," I said, looking at the pink scribbled dinosaur.

Mia finished cooking and soon we were all eating. Gee started falling asleep while he ate and Jamia took him up to bed while I fed Miles. Jamia sat beside me on the couch as I burped him, cradling him in my arms. His little hand wrapped around the tip of my finger and my eyes watered.

"I made the right decision to keep him, right?" I asked.

"You did," Jamia said. "He's so cute."

I gently kissed his forehead, smiling softly.

"I love you," I whispered. "You're my sweet little boy."

Jamia smiled, holding Miles' hand.

"You know, I've been thinking about something and it may be kind of crazy," I said. "But...I-I was thinking of adopting Gee."