Simon looked at her, “We talked about it before we went inside.” He answered.
Cherish rolled her lips in, “I’ll pay you back.” She whispered.
Simon opened the door and placed Jr. inside, “I understand that you’ll pay be back. For now, we have things we need to take care of. Jasmine needs a car seat and I must return the stroller in my trunk. So, let’s go.” He said shutting the door. He didn’t know what she wanted him to tell her. He was doing his best.
Cherish fell silent. Now she felt even more of a bother than before, “Alright then.” She said in a minute voice. She sat in the backseat, strapped in, and watched the road quietly. But, the moment Simon turned the car on, Jr. began to wake up. His whimpers caught Cherish’s attention and her breasts began to ache. Huffing out, she scooted forward, “Can you take her? I know that sound, he’s ready to eat.” She said unbuckling Jr. and lifting him from his carrier, “Alright handsome, I hear you. Let’s check your diaper.” She whispered. Peeking between the folds of his onesie and diaper, she grinned, “Where in the world do you keep all that milk, boy?” She asked. Without thinking, she kissed him on his cheek before she situated herself for his feeding.
They were stuck in the car for well over a half hour. Simon cradled Jasmine close with his finger in her tight grasp. He wiggled it from one side to the other and watched the way Cherish doted on his flesh and blood. Her winces caused Simon to speak to take her mind from Jr.’s strong mouth, “You’re doing so well. You know, compared to me.” Cherish propped her elbow on the side of the baby seat and rocked him from side to side. She paused and didn’t expect Simon to say anything, much less, compliment her. He released a little laugh as he played with Jasmine’s hand more, “I barely know what I’m doing. At my age, I probably should.” He said to himself.
She ran a hand through her hair and shook her head, “Oh no, I don’t know what I’m doing. I’m just…repeating what the hospital taught me.” She said with an awkward smile. As he looked away, the smile dropped, “I think you’re great. If it wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t be able to do any of this. I don’t think new parents really know anything until their child is born. No matter the age.” She said staring down at Jr.
Simon reflected on the fact that every new parent was a complete novice and responsible for life. He blew out with widened eyes, “Well that’s scary.” He muttered to himself. Rolling his lips in, he wanted to get to know her past. He felt as though he knew her character but didn’t understand where she came from and what she’d gone through, “Before you got pregnant. Where did you work? Or live?” He questioned.
Cherish once again looked up at the back of his head. She started to feel a prickle of nervousness down her spine. She shifted a bit in the seat before she felt like Jr. was done on one breast, “Uh, I didn’t have a job.” She answered. Glancing upwards, she tried to find a way to word herself, “I’ve never had a job, actually. I lived in a hotel across town with Todd.”
He wasn’t surprised, and it wasn’t Cherish’s fault. He figured from the time he met her, with how Todd acted, that he wasn’t the best person to be with. Controlling, lazy, and manipulative. He ticked all the boxes of a jackass.
She patted along Jr.’s back and rocked from side to side, “How old are you?” She asked.
Simon turned his head to her, “I’m forty.” He answered with a mischievous grin.
At first, she believed him but that was until she saw the smirk on his face. Now, he told on himself. Cherish nodded, “Oh. Well you look just awful.” She returned with a half laugh.
Simon took her comment in stride, “I’m twenty-seven.” He corrected. Grinning, he played along and began to predict her age which he thought was too young, “What about you? Seventeen? Eighteen?” He asked.
Even though she tried, Cherish couldn’t stop the smile that broke through, “Of course not.” She said at first. “I’m twelve.” She answered sarcastically. Finishing., she propped Jr. on the other breast. His little face twisted, and a small whine cried out before he quieted down and ate.
Simon hung onto this distraction for as long as he could. He arched an eyebrow, “I’m not that gullible.” He said confidently.
Cherish shook her head, “Of course not. You were close though. I turn twenty at the end of August.” She replied.
His eyes widened in mild shock. He didn’t think she was so young and now, his joke didn’t work, “You’re nineteen?” He asked.
Quietly, she flicked her gaze at him, and the rocking came to a pause. Jr.’s muffled sucks was the only sound between them other than the car engine. She nodded, “Yeah. Is that bad?” She asked.
Simon answered quickly even though he’d thought she was around his age, “No, no. I just didn’t realize you were so young.” He answered. Now, what Doctor Cline said troubled him more. Had she gone through an extensive amount of trauma at such a young age? He decided to change the subject now because if he wanted to escape his misery, there was no point to bring up hers, “I didn’t start my first job until I was twenty-three.” He said.
Cherish tilted her head to the side. Todd started to work as soon as he was legal as did her mom. Though, what her mom did to her and with
