I’m hoping against hope it’s one of my family members taking pity on me.
“Uhh… Looks like it’s your dad?” Melody turns the device to me.
“Great,” I growl. “Just great. He’s probably going to try and give me some super-helpful pep talk about how he was a single dad, and if he can do it, I can do it. Like he didn’t have Aunt Dylan helping him the whole time.”
Okay, it wasn’t the whole time, but still.
“Actually, he says, ‘Did you try the Stinkbalm? It really helps.’” Her eyes lift to mine, and she frowns. “What’s Stinkbalm?”
We’re quiet a minute, a brief stillness falls over the room, then realization hits me. The tube mom gave me.
“Stinkbalm!” I hiss. “Shit shit shit.”
I scoop Cricket off the bed, and she’s actually squealing happily right now. I put her under my arm and run to my bedroom.
“Where is it?” I murmur, frantically throwing my clothes around.
“What?” Melody jogs around my room, sifting through all my discarded clothes. “What are we looking for?”
“My mom was here… She gave me this Chapstick from my dad… At least, I thought it was Chapstick.” I find the pants I was wearing, and shove my hand into the pockets, until finally I catch a break. “Here it is! Look…”
I hold up the balm, turning it so I can read the tiny print on the label. “Stinkbalm Odor Blocker Original.”
We look at each other, and I look down at the label again, reading the instructions. “It says to put a thin layer over your upper lip, under your nose.”
I do so, and immediately, my senses flood with the clean scent of peppermint. It’s not a bad smell, and it masks everything else. I carry Cricket to the bouncy chair she loves, switch on the vibration setting, and plop her in it, then I goto the living room rug where the seriously disgusting carnage awaits.
“I don’t smell it,” I say, looking over my shoulder at Melody.
She grabs the stick off the counter and rubs it over her upper lip as well. “It’s like we’re armed for battle.”
I drop to my knees and carefully roll up the fouled diaper. I carry it to the kitchen and toss it in the bin, then I fish out a can of carpet cleaner from under the sink. It’s billed as being for pet stains, and I guess that’s about right.
No offense to Cricket, but the way she acted this afternoon was essentially puppy behavior.
Returning to the living room, I spray the stained area, then I put the can aside to give it the prescribed amount of time to work its magic.
Cricket is happy in her chair. Melody walks around, helping me pick up the dirty towels and clothes, carrying them to the laundry room. I grab my phone off the mantle to send a quick reply to my dad.
Knox
Stinkbalm makes a serious difference. I can think without puking now. It’s possible I might actually survive this.
Dad
It’s overwhelming at first, but you’ll find a rhythm. Call or text if you need anything. Love you.
Knox
Thanks, Dad.
I don’t say that what I really need is an extra set of hands. I’ve already made that case. Instead, I return to the kitchen to prep her bottle.
“I think I’m starting to understand why my dad retiredand moved home.” I take the can of baby formula out of the cabinet and fill a small pot with water.
“What happened to his wife?” Melody walks over to where I’m standing, looking down at the dark-haired little baby with the bright blue eyes.
“She left him,” I say quietly. “He never really talked about it, but she’s a big country music star now.”