Jayden had decided after who knows how long that he was ready to come home. It was dark outside, but they had a front porch on. Jayden hardly noticed the infant laying in front of the door. Joel wasn't even crying (anymore), and he wasn't sure how long he had been sitting here. Jayden had been gone for at least a couple of hours.
Joel was chewing on his hand, self-soothing himself by playing with his feet as well. His face was wet from the spray of rain coming with the wind. Jayden's heart ached as he saw the site. How could Kari just leave him here like this? And where the hell was she?
Jayden couldn't help but let tears stream down his face as he picked up his son. This was awful. He was left alone, cold and wet. He could only imagine how scared Joel must have felt. Jay held his baby close to him, bouncing him and patting his back. With only a few pats on the back, Joel burped. Kari never did after she fed him. He really needed that. But with this burp came spit up. He threw up all over Jayden.
This has happened before, but this time Jay was in an extremely bad mood. He couldn't help but begin cursing, hurrying inside with the infant in his arms. He needed to clean Joel up. But he also had to get the mess all over his shirt taken care of.
Anger and frustration were building up in his stomach as he carried Joel to the bathroom. While cursing and mumbling to himself he cleaned Joel up by giving him a quick bath. He prepared a new change of diapers for him after the bath. Joel was tired. Jayden figured. It wouldn't have been a very comfortable place to take a nap. You know, just in front of the front door and all.
He carried Joel to his room upstairs and placed him in the crib. Jayden felt tears welling up in his eyes. He kissed Joel's forehead gently. "I am trying," Jayden whispered. "I really am."
Jayden was pissed as he gently closed the door to the infant's room. He slept on the couch that night.
Early the next morning Jayden awoke to the sound of crying. Joel's crying. Jayden was exhausted. He rubbed some sleep from his eyes and made his way upstairs. As Jay was closer to the door, he could hear the shushing sounds from Kari.
She groaned. "Shhh. Shhh. Shh. Please just shut up." Her voice was quiet. But it seemed as if every time Kari tried to shush Joel, he cried even more loudly.
Jay pushes open the door to the room. Kari was trying to cuddle Joel and bounce him to soothe him. But it wasn't working. Kari's face was red and looked like she had been crying.
"Give him here," Jayden said coldly. At the sound of his voice, Joel's little eyes connected with Jayden's. He reached his arms out towards Jayden as he took him from Kari.
Kari's face grimaced at that. It hurt her that she was having such a hard time connecting with Joel. Everything was overwhelming her.
Joel's cries turned into whimpers. He was able to feel comfortable while Jayden held him. It felt secure. It wasn't often that he was held anyway for very long, so every hug from Jayden felt more comforting. The infant was sniffling, and his forehead was hot to the touch.
"I think he has a fever." Jayden's fingers traced over the baby's face. "I guaranteed that he has a cold now."
Kari shook her head and turned away. "Just what I need to hear. More bad news."
Jayden glanced at Kari as he dug through the bag of infant medication. "More?" He was getting some cold medicine for Joel. He really needed it. As he administrated the medicine to Joel, Kari stayed silent. Her face lay in her hands. "Kari, what the hell are you talking about? Are you going to tell me that there is more bad news? How much worse can it get? You left our three-month-old out in the rain. He needed you. He's not a puppy, you can't just throw him away because it's not what you expected! What are you freaked out at?"
She began hysterically crying. Jayden put Joel back into his crib. He felt like he was losing his cool, and it wouldn't be a good idea to be holding a baby when he was mad. "I- please. I can't do this alone." She spoke through cries. "I can't do this alone. Jay, I-. I am scared,"
He raised his voice at her. "What the fuck are you talking about?!"
Kari dug her head into her knees and mumbled. "I- " But it wasn't anything coherent. Jayden was anticipating the worse. What was she freaking out over and why won't she just spit it out already?
"I'm pregnant."
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