“No, I’m good, thanks.”
Jake came over, his face bright red as he held baby Maxwell wrapped in his white blanket.
“Hannah just plonked him on me! What am I supposed to do?!”
He bounced the baby up and down gently.
“Nothing! You’re doing fine,” said Melody, laughing.
“But what if he wakes up?” Jake said, looking more and more panicked. “What if he starts crying?”
Mr. Jenkins was standing by the fence. He had one eye fixed on his new son. I doubt he was very happy that Jake was holding him.
“It looks to me like you’re doing a great job so far,” I said.
Jake stared down at the sleeping baby.
“I dunno. His eyes keep flickering. Does that mean he’s got gas? I don’t like the look of it. I’m gonna take him back to Hannah.”
Melody and I laughed as he carefully picked his way around the guests and outdoor furniture, bobbing the baby as he went.
“He’s all right, really, isn’t he?” said Melody, wiping her mouth with a napkin. “I think he just wants some friends. Don’t you?”
“Yeah, I think you’re right,” I said. “He just needs another chance.”
We watched as he carefully passed Maxwell back to Hannah, laughing as he got his arms in a twist. He looked back at us and smiled, shaking his head as he walked toward the barbecue to get more food.
I didn’t want to stay long. I just wanted to say hello to Melody and Jake, and show Mum and Dad that I was trying to change.
“And how about you, Matthew? How are you doing? Are you going to be all right?”
I swallowed as I looked around at everyone eating and laughing together. These people were my world, my neighbors, my friends.
I turned and faced Melody.
“I think I’m going to be fine,” I said.