His Distraction (Assured Distraction Book 2) (32 page)

By the end of the band’s first week home, Krissy began to panic. The doctor assured her the baby was fine, and they had simply miscalculated the due date from the beginning. He also told her that first baby were notorious for going as much as two weeks past their due date. Krissy did not want to hear any of it. She was ready to get rid of her pregnant body. In the last two weeks, she had gained several pounds, and her body was stretching places she did not want to think about.

Peri attended child birthing classes with her since they expected the baby before the band returned. All that was left to do was wait. While Peri had enjoyed learning all the new things happening to her body and the baby, Krissy’s interest was minimal. She simply went through the motions.

Hayden decided to stay in the apartment, much to Krissy’s dislike. He wanted to be there in case she went into labor in the middle of the night. She wanted it to all to herself, but Ryan agreed with Hayden on the idea.

Ryan and Hayden moved the rest of her baby things from Peri’s to the apartment. The two sat down and waited to see what else Krissy needed. She found them waiting as came from the bedroom.

“Thank you all for getting the things into
our
room,” she emphasized the “our.”

Ryan spoke up. “Krissy, we’ve been over this already. You know it’s better if you’re not alone.”

“I know, but I’m sure Hayden would like his own space, as well. Did you even ask him what he wanted to do, or did you just tell him this was what he was stuck doing?” Krissy’s bitchiness had returned now that Ryan was involved, and everyone, especially Peri, hated to see it.

Hayden moved into her line-of-sight. He hated that they were talking about him like he wasn’t even in the room. “I told him I would stay here. He didn’t have to ask me. You don’t need to be here alone with the baby coming at any time. I will move out as soon as you and the baby get home and settled. Who is going to help you when you leave the hospital, Krissy? Have you thought about that?”

His abrupt, direct questions caught her off guard. “I have thought about it, and women have done this,
alone,
for thousands of years. I can do it, too. I’m going to have to get used to it.”

“Yeah, you probably can do it alone, but what I’m saying is that you don’t
have
to. I was eight-years-old when my sister was born and ten when my little brother came along. I helped my mom take care of both of them since their daddy was never around to do it. I can change diapers, feed, and bathe a baby, which is more than you’ve probably ever done. So, get over yourself, I’m staying.” Hayden walked out the patio door, leaving Krissy with her mouth hanging open.

“Well, seems like this is all figured out now.” Ryan turned to Peri, “Let me talk to Hayden and then I think we should go.”

Ryan walked onto the patio where Hayden was playing with his phone. “Hayden, I appreciate what you’re offering here, I truly do. But I don’t want you to feel obligated to stay if you want to move on. She’s not going to be easy. That was just a taste of how nasty she can get.”

“I remember from the beginning how she can be. We’ll be fine. I can put my headphones on and ignore her, or leave if I have to. She shouldn’t be alone. I remember too well when my mom had my brother and sister. I will start searching for another place, and when she’s on her feet after the baby’s born, I’ll move out.”

“Okay, if you’re sure about this. You’ll tell me, though, if she gets to be too much? We can hire a nurse or something to stay here with her.”

“Sure, I will, but I promise you this will all work out for the best. I might even take her with me. It’ll give her something to do to keep her mind off the baby, and she knows more about where would be a good place in Austin to live.” Hayden seemed set on this plan, so Ryan didn’t try to talk him out of it.

No one had long to wait though because the second night they were home things started progressing. “Oh. My. God.” Krissy yelled from her bedroom. “Hayden, Hayden, come here.”

He rounded the doorway and saw her standing in a puddle on the floor. “Well, I guess tonight’s the night. If I remember correctly, I think your water just broke.” He looked Krissy in the face and saw tears running down her cheeks. “You’re going to be fine. It’s supposed to happen like this.”

All she could do was nod her head. “I think I’m having a contraction. My back has been hurting off and on since about noon, but it hurts a lot more now.”

“Yeah, I’d say you’ve probably been in labor all afternoon. Guess we better get in the car and go. You can call everyone on the way.” Krissy agreed and pointed to her packed bag.

After loading her in her car, Hayden drove to the hospital trying to avoid bumps and red light delays. Krissy informed Peri and Ryan, and they assured her they would be there as soon as they could get across town.

Peri and Ryan’s ride to the hospital started off quietly with them both lost in the thoughts of everything about to happen to their lives. Either Krissy and Ryan would have an attachment for the next eighteen-plus years, or Ryan had been right all along. One way or another, the truth would no longer be looming on the horizon, and the magnitude of it all was settling over them.

They parked close to the birthing center, and Peri unbuckled her seatbelt as Ryan grabbed her hand and brought it to his lips. “Sunshine, no matter what the outcome, please remember how much I love you and
our
baby.” He placed his other hand on her rounded tummy. “Nothing will ever come between us. If that’s my child, I hope you will find it in your heart to learn to love it, too.”

“If it’s part of you, I’ll love it from the moment it’s born, regardless of Krissy’s involvement. I’ll always be on your and your baby’s side. That baby will be
our
baby’s half-sibling, and I want it to love our child completely. I don’t want to bring our child up to think it’s better, or superior, in any way. That’s simply not fair to either child, and I’ll not have it.”

Peri worked herself up into a fit and was almost yelling by the time she ended her speech. Ryan let her have her say before he tried to talk. “Do you know how much I love you right now? You have such a gentle, loving heart for everyone, Peri. The idea that you are willing to stand-up for another baby as if it were your own makes me love you all the more.” He pulled her in for a brief kiss. “Guess we better go before Krissy has this baby.”

They walked into the waiting room to find Hayden standing around. What’s wrong, dude?” Ryan asked.

“Nothing, but they wouldn’t let me go back there since I’m not a relative or on the damn card to be back in there with her.”

Peri gave both men a hug. “I’m on the card and I’m going back, but she’s going to be fine. We passed the classes with flying colors.”

“Do you think she’s going to want me back there, too?” Ryan asked. His face paled to

white.

“I’ll go back, and if she wants you back there, I’ll ask someone to get you.” Peri gave him a quick peck on the lips and walked through the doors.

“Dude, you’re about to be a dad!” Hayden said to Ryan but didn’t get much response out of him. Ryan pulled out his phone and walked to the corner of the room.

“Hey, Cash, I wanted to let you know we’re at the fucking hospital with Krissy and the baby is coming. Shit, I don’t care. Call whoever you want. I’m pretty damn sure we’ll be here a while. Yeah, see ya later.” Hanging up, he said, “Cash’s going to call the rest of the band if any of them are interested in coming up. I’m sure KeeMac will have to bring Chandler here.”

Hayden was playing on his phone when Ryan finished with the phone call. When Ryan started pacing, Hayden mumbled, “You might as well sit down dude. You know we might be here a long damn time.”

“Yeah, I guess you’re right.” He sat across from Hayden.

Before too long, Cash, KeeMac, and Chandler came in with flowers and balloons. “I’m so excited for Krissy,” Chandler said. “Have y’all heard anything?”

“No, Peri never came back out after she went in. I sure as hell hope everything’s going alright,” Ryan told the group.

“Well, I’m going back there. I want to know what’s happening.” Chandler skirted past the men who looked at her like she’d lost her mind for wanting to be in there knowing that going on. A few minutes later, she came back through the double doors with a huge smile. “She’s going to be having it shortly, so I left. Krissy and Peri both are doing fine.”

“How did you get in? They wouldn’t let me go back.” Hayden asked.

“Krissy gave her permission.”

Hayden stared at his watch and spoke up again. “She hasn’t been back there all that damn long. Are you sure she’s ready?”

“Yes, I’m sure. The delivery nurse told me to suit up and stay or leave now because she was ready to start pushing. I asked Krissy if she wanted you back there Ryan, and she said it was your decision.” Chandler looked him straight in the eyes. “Don’t you think you owe it to her to see your child being born, Ryan?”

“Shit! I… I really don’t… don’t know if I… want to see that.” He didn’t sound convincing, even to himself.

“You are going to so-fucking-regret this if it’s your child, Ryan! Get your ass back there, dude.” KeeMac slapped him on the back.

Ryan eyed each friend standing in the waiting room, all silently agreeing with KeeMac and Chandler, and finally nodded his head. He didn’t want to watch, but he guessed they were probably right. He made his way through the doors and followed the directions to the birthing room. He knocked thinking barging in was not a good idea. A nurse opened the door and ushered him in, handing him scrubs.

“Push, push, push, Krissy,” Peri said in her ear. “You can do this.” Peri’s encouragements were helping Krissy be strong.

“I don’t want to push anymore. I’m too tired,” she yelled at no one in particular.

Ryan appeared at Krissy’s other side and grasped her hand. He once loved this woman and even though the feelings were no longer there, he cared she was in pain. “Come on, Krissy. You know you can do this. You want to see that new baby,” he told her.

She smiled and viewed Peri and Ryan. “I know, but it sure is hard.” Tears streamed down her face.

The doctor told her to push hard, and it could be the last one she would need. He was right. A slippery little boy arrived with her final push. “You have a boy, Krissy!” the doctor told the three of them. Krissy and Peri both cried at the sight of the baby as the nurses worked hard to clean him up before placing a wiggling, crying little person on Krissy’s chest so she could view at son for the first time.

“He’s adorable,” Peri whispered through her tears.

Krissy looked down at the dark-headed, pink-faced infant. “Yeah, I suppose he is.”

Peri stared at Krissy and then Ryan, who was pale and pasty looking, and she was speechless.

The excitement finally died down, and the nurses came for the baby to do tests and clean him. Ryan left to tell the group waiting outside. The report of a healthy baby boy was well-received, and Ryan accepted congratulatory handshakes and fist bumps. Ryan didn’t know how he felt now, but it was an experience he would never forget.

When Peri came out, she was exhausted. “Babe, you’re worn completely out. Let’s get you home and off of your feet.” Ryan was worried about her.

“I am tired and ready for some sleep. I can only imagine how tired Krissy must feel. I don’t want you to have to leave. She might need you, Ryan.” Peri didn’t know how to handle this. She felt guilty asking him to take her home, but she was emotionally and physically exhausted from the ordeal.

Once again, Hayden stepped up. “Why don’t I stay here and you take Peri home? If there’s a problem, I’ll call you first thing. I’m sure Krissy will want to sleep as soon as they get her settled, so she’ll probably be fine ‘til morning.”

“Yeah, that’s a good idea, Hayden. But dude, I hate to ask you to do that. You’ve already done so much.”

“You didn’t ask me to do a damn thing; I volunteered. Now go on and take Peri home. She’s falling asleep on her feet.” Hayden pushed them toward the exit doors.

Once they were outside, Cash came up behind Hayden. “You’re a great guy, Hayden, to stand-in for Ryan like that.”

“Well, it’s a fucked up situation, and I’ve spent a lot of time with Krissy. She’s used to me being there to help her, so I’m sure it won’t be any different now. Hell, she’ll probably sleep ‘til morning if they’ll let her.”

“As much as I’m dying to hold that sweet baby, I guess we should come back in the morning so they can get a little rest,” Chandler told the group.

Hayden waited in the room where they were moving Krissy, with the flowers and balloons Chandler brought. They rolled Krissy’s bed into the room, and she took one look around. She never acknowledged Hayden but instead closed her eyes to sleep. It was exactly what he expected from her. He knew she wanted Ryan there instead of him. Ryan was reluctant to embrace the entire situation, and while Hayden understood it, he didn’t like it.

He opened the reclining chair and prepared to sleep just in case she woke and needed anything. Not long after he finally fell asleep, they brought the baby in for Krissy to feed. She refused to take the crying baby. Hayden picked up the baby boy and talked soothingly to him as he had his little brother when he was born. He remembered his mom feeling the same way when she brought his brother home from the hospital.

The nurse came in and told Krissy she would need to start nursing the baby, but Krissy refused and told the nurse she wasn’t going to breastfeed and to bring a bottle for the baby. The young nurse considered Hayden, not knowing if he was the father.

“I’ll bring you a bottle then, Mr.…”

“Devillier, Hayden Devillier.” He couldn’t shake her hand with the baby in his arms. “That’s a good idea, though. Bring a bottle and I’ll try to get him to eat.”

She looked back and forth between Krissy and Hayden then nodded her head and left the room.

Once she was gone, Hayden walked to the side of the bed where Krissy was facing. “Krissy, don’t you want to try to feed the baby? Doctors like the baby to have its momma’s milk, you know.”

“I DON’T CARE! I’m tired, just let me sleep!” She closed her eyes and turned the other way.

Hayden was surprised that she would turn down her child. She hadn’t asked to hold him yet, and now she didn’t want to feed him either?

He accepted the formula from the nurse and sat down with the baby to try to feed him his first bottle. The young nurse couldn’t seem to take her eyes off Hayden, which felt strange to him.

She watched him working to get the baby to take the nipple. “So, it seems like you know what you’re doing here.” Hayden shook his head yes while he spoke to the boy in hushed tones. He worked the nipple back and forth across the little pink lips until the boy opened his mouth and tried to suck from it. Finally, the baby got a taste of the formula and began working his little tongue to get the nourishment it offered.

Relieved that the baby was eating, Hayden looked up at the hovering nurse wondering what her deal was. Was this part of some test or training for new parents that the nurse was supposed to do?

“I think I’ve got this,” he told her.

“Yes, I just wanted to make sure. I didn’t think you were old enough to have much experience with newborns.”

“Not my own, no, but I have a younger brother and sister that I cared for when my mom had them.”
Now why did I tell her that?

“You know, Mr. Devillier, you familiar to me. There was a lot of talk during the baby’s delivery that the band Assured Distraction was in the waiting room.

Quickly rolling over, Krissy yelled at the two, “Get the hell out of my room. I don’t want to hear you hitting on him or mentioning that band!”

The young nurse gave Hayden a hasty, apologetic look and left the room quietly. He didn’t say a word because he knew whatever he said would only make Krissy angrier.

When the baby stopped sucking, Hayden put the infant on his shoulder to burp him. Once it finally happened, he continued patting him until he realized the newborn was fast asleep, so he gently laid him in the rolling bassinet. An older nurse came in and watched him as he moved with the little one, realizing Hayden knew what he was doing. She rolled the baby back to the nursery, which wasn’t the norm anymore, but in this case, she felt it was best to let mom rest.

Hayden lay back in the chair and pulled a blanket over himself, puzzled at Krissy’s lack of interest or concern for her baby. Even if Ryan wasn’t going to be there for her, she was this child’s mother.
Weren’t mothers supposed to have some supernatural bond with the baby after carrying it inside them this long?
He wondered what was going to happen when she took the baby home. Babies needed a lot of holding and loving. He fell asleep with these heavy worries weighing on his mind.

He was jarred awake a few hours later to Krissy yelling at the same young nurse to get the baby away from her bed. He quickly moved around to where the nurse stood by the baby’s bassinet. “It’s okay, I’ll see to him,” he reassured her. The nurse gave Hayden a look of pity, and then nodded and left him to it. Once the door closed behind her, he turned on the new mom.

“What the hell, Krissy? He is your baby. You haven’t even held him.”

“I’m not going to hold it either. That baby has ruined my life. I’ve made up my mind to give it up for adoption. It’s obvious its daddy doesn’t want it so neither do I.”

“Krissy, it’s a baby boy, not an “it”, and he needs you. And Ryan
does
want him. He left you guys alone to sleep for a few hours and was planning to come back early this morning. How do you think Ryan is going to feel when he gets here and learns you’re reneging on the plans you two talked about?”

“Do I look as though I give a
fuck
what that bastard thinks? As soon as I can leave, I’m out the door. He can keep it, or give it up, or whatever. I. Don’t. Care. As a matter of fact, take it out of here. I don’t want to see it again.”

“Krissy, you can’t mean that. You carried this baby for nine months. Don’t you want to hold him first, before you make any decisions?”

She rounded on Hayden, and the glare in her eyes was one full of hatred and anger. “Listen to me, Hayden. I don’t want that baby. I
wanted
Ryan. He doesn’t want the baby or me. So tomorrow, when they release me, I’m getting the fuck out of Austin and never looking back. I don’t want to name it, I don’t want to know anything about it, and I don’t want you saying another fucking thing about it to me.” By the time she spoke the last word, she was screaming, causing the baby to cry, as though it could feel the resentment and lack of love from his mother.

Hayden stood there staring at Krissy like the devil himself had taken over her body. He couldn’t fathom that this woman he thought he’d gotten to know a little over the last several months could feel this way about her newborn child. His mother faced similar circumstances, but he never lacked for love from her. Even in their hardest times, Hayden always knew love from his mom and grandparents.

He rolled the bassinet out of the room and down to the nurses’ station. He had no idea what to tell them. Surely they heard everything she was screaming. When the nurse who brought the baby in saw him coming toward their desk, she rounded the end and took the baby from him.

“I don’t want to pry into personal matters, so please excuse me for asking, but is she your wife?” Hayden shook his head no. “Do you know who the father is, because someone’s going to have to come up here and take custody of him, or we’ll have to call Child Protective Services?”

“Well, it’s complicated. I’m her roommate and have been helping her out during her pregnancy. She claims the father is my cousin, the man here last night when he was born. But he’s demanding a paternity test be done to make sure. He hasn’t made it back up here yet this morning, but I’m sure he’ll be here soon. I’ll hang around until he gets here. If there’s a place I can be with the baby, I’ll take care of him until then.”

“Yeah, he needs to have bonding time with someone, and you seem to know what you’re doing with a baby. We have quiet rooms; I’ll see about getting you set up in one.” She showed him to a small room with formula and diapers. “Call if you need me.” She left, and Hayden picked the baby up to soothe him from the fretting that started when Krissy was yelling. Hayden began singing softly to the baby while he walked and bounced the tiny newborn. He finally sat in a rocking chair and continued to sing and rock the boy while he slept in his arms.

Ryan and Peri knocked on Krissy’s open doorway, and she wouldn’t turn her head in their direction.

“Where’s the little one?” Peri asked. “I’m dying to hold him.”

“I don’t know. Hayden has him somewhere.” Krissy’s tone immediately indicated she was angry. “I think I’m going to see if the doctor will spring me from this hell hole tonight.”

“Is that safe, Krissy? You just had him last night,” Ryan asked, concerned about her and the baby’s health.

“I had it without any complications, and I’m perfectly healthy. It’ll be twenty-four hours tonight. I’m sure I’ll be able to leave in the morning if not tonight.” She was still lying in bed in her hospital gown.

Ryan laughed a little, and then said, “I think I would stay as long as they let me stay. It's got to be easier in the hospital with nurses around than it will be when you get home.”

Before she could reply, Hayden pushed open the door and rolled the bassinet into her room. “Oh, I didn’t know y’all were here already. I thought maybe Krissy would want to feed him this time.”

Peri turned to Krissy with her mouth hanging open. “Aren’t you feeding him every time? How does he eat without you?”

“I’m not feeding it at all. It takes a bottle just fine, and I don’t want anything to do with it.” Krissy slowly stood up and went into the bathroom, shutting the door behind her. Peri and Ryan looked at Hayden, mouths still hanging open. He motioned for them to follow him and the baby out of the room without saying anything for Krissy to overhear.

“What the fuck, Hayden?” Ryan said as soon as they were in the feeding room.

“I don’t know what to say. She won’t hold him. She won’t feed him. Nothing. Hell, she wants nothing to do with the little guy. I think that girl is fucking crazy. She never said anything about not wanting the baby. Who doesn’t want to hold the baby they’ve carried for nine months?”

Peri gazed at the sleeping baby, sporting a blue stocking cap for warmth in the bassinet. His little body was swaddled tightly in a receiving blanket. “He’s adorable. I wished he wasn't asleep because I’m dying to hold him.”

“I’m the only one who’s held him so far. He wakes up every four hours like clockwork and wants to eat. He’s still trying hard to get the whole nipple thing down. I know y’all don’t want to talk about this, but y’all have to make some decisions. The nurse said that if she’s not going to step up to care for him then a relative needs to claim him, or they will be forced to call CPS. We can’t let that happen, guys.”

The shock was written all over Peri’s face, but Hayden continued. “She said the doctor will probably discharge them tomorrow, and then what will happen? Krissy says she’s putting him up for adoption.”