“Are you ready to meet him?” Jason asked.
I was and wasn’t. What if he didn’t like me?
Yeah, I’d babysat when I was a teenager, but those babies weren’t mine. I had to give them back. This one would be mine forever. I would be the one hiring the babysitter and leaving her with lists of numbers to call and rules he needed to follow.
There was always a premium adult to call for help back then.
Was I premium? An adultier adult? Would I have the answers when I needed them?
I chewed my thumb.
“Cora.” Jason’s voice was soft.
When I didn’t answer, his hand covered mine and I looked at him.
“I support whatever decision you make, but I think you are going to make an excellent mother.”
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
I closed my eyes and took a few calming breaths. “I’m just… I don’t know. Terrified. What if he doesn’t like me?”
Jason chuckled. “That’s not possible.”
“You don’t know that.”
His gaze caught mine. “Yes, I do.”
It felt like his steely gaze was reinforcing my bones. I swallowed hard. “Okay. I guess I’m ready.”
“Perfect timing,” Jason murmured, nodding toward the street behind us.
I turned to see Ms. Chen climbing out of a practical gray Honda, adjusting her blazer before reaching back for what looked like a large purse and some paperwork. Even from a distance, her movements seemed efficient but unhurried—exactly what I needed in someone who was about to supervise the most important meeting of my life.
“Keep the car running,” Thomas said to the driver.
He exited the SUV, scanned the area, and motioned to Jason that it was clear. He stepped out, walked around the back of the vehicle, and opened my door.
Ms. Chen appraised Jason and Thomas with her eyes, then her gaze landed on me. “Ms. Williams… and these gentlemen…?”
“This is Jason Georgiou and Thomas Vasil. They’re…”
Jason stuck his hand out. “Supportive friends. It’s nice to meet you.”
She shook his hand. “It’s nice to meet you too.” Turning to me, she asked, “Are you ready to meet Elias?” The corners of her eyes crinkled. “It’s perfectly normal to be nervous the first time. I’ll be right there with you.”
She shifted her folder to one arm. “I should mention, the Hendersons—that’s his foster family—are lovely people. They’ve been caring for Elias since the accident. I’ll be observing today, but try not to think about that. Just focus on getting to know him.”
“How is he doing? I mean, is he okay? Healthy?” The questions tumbled out before I could stop them.
“He’s doing well, eating regularly, sleeping through most nights. He’s a calm baby, very sweet-natured. The Hendersons have been wonderful with him.”
“That’s good. That’s really good.” I hesitated. “How long will we have today? I don’t want to overwhelm him, but…”
“We’ll probably stay about an hour today, maybe a bit longer if things go well. Don’t worry if he seems fussy at first. New people can take some adjustment, even for babies.”
My stomach fluttered. “What if I don’t know what to do? I mean, I’ve babysat before, but this is different. This is…” I trailed off, not sure how to finish.
