Leaning over, I opened one of the desk drawers where I’d stashed my cell. Usually it sat in my purse upstairs, but I’d wanted Aidan to have zero concern about reaching me if something were to happen to Mia. I knew it was overboard—if anything, Mia was better off with Aidan than me. Or at least it seemed like it when I thought about my beautiful husband, who took everything in stride compared to my new brain that liked to whirl with worry. Still, I’d been concerned I wouldn’t hear my phone upstairs and couldn’t stomach that thought.
With a glance at my phone, I struggled to make sense of the call. It was Cheryl, our daycare provider once Aidan went back to work next month.
“Sorry, guys, I need to take this,” I whispered to Emma and Tim.
Emma made a shooing gesture, and I headed to the kitchen in the back of the library with my phone.
I clicked on the button to accept the call, sinking into the kitchen’s couch as I did so. “Hey, Cheryl.”
Cheryl sounded breathless. “Grace, I’m so sorry to bother you on the weekend, but I wanted to call you immediately.”
My stomach dropped as my ever-helpful brain began immediately catastrophizing, going through all the worst-case scenarios I could think of.
“Are you okay?” I figured I should start with the most pertinent information.
“Yes, aren’t you sweet to ask. It’s just that we learned last night that Gus was approved for a transfer at work and we’re moving to South Carolina. Can you believe it? We’ll be closer to our daughter, and the weather, well, what an improvement it will be over Illinois. But I hate leaving you and my families in the lurch. I’m giving everyone a month’s notice, though that will be right when you were going to start anyway, but I wanted you to know now so you could make other plans. Again, I’m so sorry…”
Cheryl was still talking, but my brain was racing. Worst-case scenario? Yep, we were there. Highland Falls was many things—heck, many good things. However, the ease with which you could find decent daycare was not what we were known for. No way, no how.
I thought of the possibilities in town that I’d already tried. Maggie and Sully had El going to the newer daycare/preschool called Farm School with Sully’s parents, Anna and Lee, as backup. Anna had offered to stay with El, but Maggie and Sully loved the spot they’d found and were happy with their choice.
Emma and Max planned on taking Emma—and Sully’s—mom up on her generous offer, however. Their baby would stay with Anna for the first year, then go to daycare.
But grandparents as daycare weren’t in the cards for us. My parents were still full-time professors and, honestly, preferred that over parenting. Good people, just very focused on their jobs, and I’d accepted that. They clearly wouldn’t be able to pinch-hit for us even if they didn’t live in Madison, which was over two hundred miles away. And Aidan’s mom still worked part-time. Also, the Farm School’d had zero openings when I checked months ago. Heck, I’d even checked with Ivy’s daycare provider, Teri. No spots open there either. Panic began setting in. My stomach churned. My heart raced. And my brain was in overdrive.
“Grace? Grace?”
I started, glancing at the phone in my hand. Oh, Cheryl. “Sorry, Cheryl, I’m here. My mind was just already spinning. But I’m so excited for you all to be closer to your daughter.”
“Thanks, sweetheart. Now, if your sweet babe was older, I’d have some great suggestions for you. The daycare on the edge of town that’s on an honest-to-goodness farm is delightful, but they have a limited number of infant spots and those are all full. Babies are tough in our little town, but if you’re willing to drive to Champaign, you’ll have plenty of options.”
Champaign. My heart sank. That was an extra sixty miles of driving a day for daycare. It would be different if Aidan and I were already commuting for work to the larger town, but to drive over there just for daycare… I couldn’t imagine doing that.
My breath was coming in shorter bursts, and I needed to get the heck off the phone. Attempting to sound as normal as I could, I got out “Cheryl, thanks so much for giving us a heads-up. Aidan and I wish you all the best in your move and your new home.”
“You too, sweetie.”
She might have had more to say, but that was all I could handle. I ended the call and dropped my head between my knees. Didn’t that help you catch your breath?
What on earth were we going to do now?
The click of someone’s shoes reminded me I wasn’t alone, though for the life of me, I couldn’t care less at the moment.
“Tim, you were right,” I heard Emma call from near the door to the kitchen. “Looks like we’re in crisis mode.”
Within seconds, Emma was by my side on the couch, rubbing my back. “What is it, Gracie?”
I moaned into my lap.
Tim came in and stood in front of me. I knew because his Pride Converses were in my field of vision. “Who do I need to kill or maim?” His toe tapped.
“I can’t be a stay-at-home mom,” I murmured. “Zero offense meant; I bow down to anyone who can do it. I just know that I will wither and die.” I pulled myself to a sitting position, then looked with watery eyes from Emma to Tim, then back. “I didn’t shower for a week at a time in Mia’s first month.”
“Oh, sweetheart, I hope that wasn’t a secret. You were looking rough there at the beginning. And, honestly, your hair could still use a trim.” Tim’s fingers ran through my too-long locks as he doled out his brutal truths.
I worked to ignore his commentary as I dropped my head to Emma’s shoulder. Making an appointment for a haircut was a step too far right now. There was zero chance that I could manage that. Heck… maybe I couldn’t even afford one anymore.
“Grace, what was the phone call about?” Emma wrapped her arm around me.
