Page 32 of A Return For Ren

Since it was after eight this morning and Ren hadn’t shown up with Max she was wondering what could be going on.

Did he decide over the weekend that their Thursday night dinner was so awkward that he couldn’t come back?

No, he wouldn’t do that to Max.

She hoped.

But then she got wondering if something else could have happened.

She went about setting up the Thanksgiving crafts she’d do with her Preschoolers for the day. It was only a couple of weeks away and she enjoyed spending time learning about holidays with the kids, even baking with them. She’d be doing that later in the week.

When she heard the bell, she looked up at the door to see Ren standing there on the camera. After eight, parents had to wait in the secure area, as the rest of the doors were locked.

She saw Caroline come out since Max was in her room, but she waved her off. She wasn’t going to be a coward.

Zara unlocked the door and held it open. “Hi, Max,” she said. He was reaching for her and she found it funny since she didn’t spend that much time with the baby. Not like Caroline did, yet Max was always reaching for her. “Did you oversleep this morning?”

Ren snorted. She hadn’t meant to bring it up but since she had to let him in, it was obvious he was late. “Rather he’s gone through two outfits this morning and I had to turn around to go home and change him on the second one.”

She grinned. “Anything I need to be worried about? Did he throw up?”

“No,” he said. “More like a food fight. Or a fight over wanting to hold his own spoon which of course didn’t turn out so well.”

“He’s young yet,” she said.

“And stubborn. He was screaming at me because I wouldn’t let him do it. It ended up on his shirt, in his hair and all over his face.”

“So he got a bath along with a change of clothes?” she asked, smelling the soft scent on Max. Nothing quite compared to a fresh clean baby.

“Two baths,” he said with his voice lower. “On the way here he decided to fill a diaper. It was so bad I was gagging in the car. I knew it wasn’t good. No way I could bring him in here like that. It’d be cruel.”

She started to laugh. “It wouldn’t be the first time that it’s happened.”

“I’m sure, but again, I know my kid and it was bad. Good thing too. You might have gone through a whole box of wipes cleaning him up. His clothes are in the washing machine and he went back in the tub. It was easier to clean him up.”

“Bet he thought it was playtime,” she said. Ren had told her that Max loved to play in the tub, which was why he was bathed at night when there was more time to relax.

“Which is why the second screaming match of the morning ensued. He’s yours,” he said. “It’s horrible. I’m sorry. I never thought I’d say that to anyone, but I can’t handle another screaming match and dirty kid this morning.”

“You got the best of your daddy this morning, Max,” she said, rubbing her nose against his. Max grinned at her and grabbed a fistful of her dark hair.

“No, Max,” Ren said, untangling his son’s tiny fingers. In the process Ren’s knuckles grazed her cheek. She looked up and caught his eyes on hers.

Yeah, this was awkward but in a different way. They definitely had to figure this out.

She wasn’t sure she liked the way things were left on Thursday, but now they were getting on boggy ground. They needed to deal with one issue before they attempted another one.

“I should get him back to his room,” she said.

“Yeah, I’ve got to go,” he said. “I’ve got a ton going on today.”

She wanted to ask what but didn’t. It wasn’t her place. Not yet at least. Maybe after another conversation, they could get to more current events in their lives.

“I’d like to talk to you when you get Max tonight if possible.”

“Sure,” he said after letting out a sigh.

She wasn’t sure what that was about but wasn’t going to let it stop her from saying what she needed to. Or at least asking if they could have some time so she could do that.