Not Eli. Aubrey and Theo, who held Madeline in her baby carrier over one of his arms, stood in the hallway. The kite swooped back to earth.
Penelope ushered them inside, exclaiming over how great they all looked. Aubrey, in a sundress with her hair flat-ironed. Theo, in a white business shirt open at the neck. They’d dressed Madeline in an outfit Penelope had given her—a one-piece with cherries on it and a matching red headband.
“This is almost more baby cuteness than I can stand, you realize,” Penelope told them. “Hello, darling itty-bitty human. Your preciousness meter broke because it couldn’t keep up.”
Madeline sucked her pacifier, looking content to be in the care of both her parents instead of the care of her well-meaning but inexperienced aunt.
Penelope waved them to seats in the living area.
“I haven’t left the house in days and I was desperate for a change of scenery,” Aubrey said.
“We’re on our way out for dinner,” Theo said.
“Okay, but you’re going to take things very easy, right?” Penelope couldn’t help but ask her sister-in-law. After Sunday’s events, she didn’t trust Aubrey not to slump over, unconscious, at any moment.
“Very easy. The most strenuous thing I’ve done today is walk up that flight of stairs.” Aubrey hooked a thumb toward the building’s staircase.
Penelope regarded her with concern.
“Penelope, Aubrey’s going to be fine,” Theo said. “The clot is gone, and they think they have her medicines calibrated just right. Her medical team is on top of things. It’s very unlikely that she’ll have a relapse.”
“Yes! Of course. I know.”
“Really? Because ever since Sunday you’ve seemed a little traumatized,” Theo told her.
“Which I totally understand,” Aubrey said. “It must have been an awful shock to find me passed out like that.”
“I’m just glad you’re all right. I’m sorry again that I wasn’t with you when it happened—”
“Look into my face,” Theo said to her sternly. He leaned forward, planting his elbows on his knees. “You don’t have to apologize to us again. You were there that day becauseyouwere doingusa favor.”
Aubrey regarded her with sweet sincerity. “Even if you’d been right beside me, I would have fainted.”
“Yes, but if I’d been beside you, I could have intervened to help you sooner.”
“How could you have done more than you did?” Theo asked. “She came to when her body was ready to come to.”
“You’ve done so many favors for us this past week and a half,” Aubrey said. “You’ve gone above and beyond.”
“No—”
“Yes,” Theo insisted. “Thanks for everything.”
Love for them washed over Penelope like a waterfall shower. “You’re welcome.”
She’d learned that taking care of a newborn was hard. Physically hard. But the mental weight of the responsibility was hard to bear, too. Aubrey’s medical issues: also hard.
The three people in front of her were a living reminder that love isn’t always rosy. Love demands effort. Sometimes it’s scary. The hardships that come with love will refine you with painful fire. But if you let them, the difficulties can also deepen love.
Madeline’s pacifier wentsqueak squeak squeak.
Roy zeroed in on the pacifier the way he would a hummingbird. “Roy.” Penelope activated his soft, flopping fish toy, then tossed it. The cat skidded across the room to it, batted it. Skidded. Gnawed on it. Rolled on his back, clasping it in his paws.
“Go get ready,” Theo said to Penelope. “You’re coming with us to dinner.”
“I am?”
“Yes,” he answered. “And we’re leaving in ten minutes because I’ve been starving for the last half hour. Another half hour from now I’ll be seriously cranky.”
