“I bet.” I can’t keep the smirk off my face.
“Yeah. That too.” Robin snickers, and that’s when I laugh too.
“I love you, Robs.”
“I love you more, honey-pie. So, we’ve got something fun to look forward to.”
“We do.” I smile into my phone.
“You need to measure that little area in your apartment, so we know what size pieces to buy. Maybe there’s even room for a small dresser there.”
“Maybe.” Doubtful. The niche she’s talking about is a small area right outside my bedroom between my room and the bathroom. I think it used to be a stairway that led to an attic, but they removed it when they turned this single-family home into apartments. Right now, I have bookshelves in that space. Those will need to go somewhere else, if I can find a spot for them. If not, they’ll need to go. “I’ll measure tonight.”
“Ooh, we could put some of that self-adhesive wallpaper they have now. You know, it’s like shelf paper so it can come down when you move. I’ve seen some adorable prints.” Robin has a thing about decorating. She loves watching shows where people redo their homes.
“Smart.”
“Mm-hm.” Robin sounds satisfied with that response. “Is there a ceiling light in that space?”
“Yep. A little one.”
“There are some sweet light fixtures that look like tiny chandeliers. That’d be perfect in there. Oh, my goodness. That little baby niche is going to be ah-dorable.”
I’m smiling wide now. Robin’s getting me excited about the baby’s room. Area, I mean. “It is.” I look to my left at the spot in question. It’s in the perfect spot—so close to my bedroom it’ll be perfect for her while she’s a baby. “It really is.” Once she gets older, though, I’ll probably have to move. But I’ll cross that bridge when I get there.
We hang up, and I finish my meal. Washing the bowl, spoon, and pan, I set it all on a towel to dry. Searching my tool drawer, I spy my tape measure at the back. With a paper and pencil in hand, I measure the width, depth, and height of the area. I take pictures of it along with the light fixture. The one that is there now is old and tarnished. A new one with a baby theme would be cute. Robin’s right, it’s going to be ah-dorable.
I decide to box up some of the items on the bookshelves. Some of it belonged to my mom, so I want to keep it close. Other things, like textbooks from college, I set aside to donate. There are a couple bookstores nearby that will pick up donations, which is nice since I don’t have a car. Another stack of books, the ones I want to keep, I’ll either need to box up and store somewhere or find a place for them here. I glance around my living room and wince. It’s not that my apartment is tiny. It’s small, yes. Six hundred square feet isn’tthatsmall, but I’m limited to available space thanks to my furniture. Mom’s furniture. A long sofa and loveseat along with a matching recliner. A rocker recliner that I plan to use for the baby, so that has to stay. “If I stored the loveseat, I’d have room on that one wall for one of these bookshelves. If I did that, I could keep the books and knickknacks.
I could give up the love seat. I’ll still have her sofa and chair….
My eyes begin to burn with tears, and I shake them off. “This is for the baby.” And I know her. My mom would insist I give up that loveseat. She’d want what’s best for her granddaughter.
“Damn it.” I guess today is just going to be a crying day.
And I’m okay with that.
12
Maggy
Three weeks later
“He’s out there again.”
I stop arranging the centerpiece I’ve been working on and turn my head. I give Robin my best glare. “Seriously?”
“Gus said his truck is about a half block down.”
It’s not like we don’t know it’s him. His stupid company logo is right there on both sides of the huge black truck. “Just sitting there?”
“Just sitting there.”
“Is he inside the truck?”
“Yep.”
“What the hell is he doing?” This is the third time Nate Black has been spotted just sitting in his truck. Twice here at the shop, and once a block from my apartment building.
