It makes me laugh, and she bounces with the movement of my chest. I put her down and direct her back to herbreakfast.
“Here,” Aubrey hands me a cup of coffee. “Can you hang out with her? I need to blow-dry myhair.”
“Definitely.” I wink at Claire and she beams. Aubrey leaves us, a coffee cup in her hand also, and I take the seat across fromClaire.
“Are you excited for school today?” I'm not sure what to ask her, but this seems like a goodstart.
“No. I saw mommy put broccoli in my lunch box. And I donotlike broccoli.” She shakes her head defiantly and stuffs two pieces of pancake in hermouth.
To keep from laughing, I take a sip of coffee. “Whatdoyoulike?”
“Pancakes. And carrots, the purple ones with the yellow center. And grandpa's lasagna. And ice cream. And…” She goes on and on, using the same five fingers of her right hand over andover.
“Wow. You like a lot ofthings.”
She pushes back her plate. “I’m done. Can you help me wash myhand?”
I stand quickly. I want to be put to use. Care for this child somehow. Together we walk to the kitchen sink and I lift her, holding her around the middle with one arm and washing her hand gently with soap from the dispenser next to thesink.
“Thanks,” she says brightly when I've set her down and dried her hand. “Want to playLEGOs?”
“Um.” I look toward the hall, knowing Aubrey is somewhere down there. The blow dryer turned off a few minutes ago. “Are you all ready forschool?”
Shenods.
“OK, then. Lead the way.” I hold out myhand.
Claire takes me down the hall, to the very place I was afraid to venture. She pulls me into her room, where the LEGO dragon sits on her whitedresser.
We're sitting on the floor, one of the Elves preparing to board the flying dragon, when Aubrey walks in. She's dressed in black slacks and a black and white polka dot button up shirt. It has fabric bunched at the the collar, a lanky bow falling into the valley her breastscreate.
“Claire, you need to brush your teeth, baby. I put the toothpaste on the brush for you.” Aubrey leans against the doorframe.
Claire sighs in protest, but with my help she stands. When the sound of her electric toothbrush starts, Aubrey says, “I’m sorry I was short with you when you showed up. I was surprised you were here and a littleembarrassed.”
I get to my feet. With her heels on she’s only a couple inches shorter thanme.
“Embarrassed ofwhat?”
She runs her fingers through her hair, eyes flicking off to the side. “I didn't want you to see me all wet-dog likethat.”
Wet-dog? That's the last thing I would've called her. Gorgeous, definitely. Tempting, absolutely. Maybe I can ask if we can screw all this nonsense and give in again?The words pile up inside me, heavy, but they stay there, an anvil on mychest.
“I wouldn't describe you as wet-dog,” I mutter. It's the best I can do right now without terrifyingher.
“And when...ifyou move in with me, you're going to have to get used to having wet hair in front of me. Among otherthings.”
Aubrey shifts uncomfortably, her eyes guarded. We say nothing, then suddenly she straightens, like a puppet whose string was pulled. She looks back over her shoulder, to the bathroom across the hall. “Ready, love?” She throws her question across the few feet ofspace.
I don't hear Claire's answer, but I guess it was affirmative because Aubrey steps away. Claire walks out, a swipe of frothy toothpaste on her chin. With one thumb I wipe it off, realize I don’t have easy access to a towel, and rub it into my scrubs. That’s what I’ve seen parents in my office do, but it’s not usually toothpaste. It’s most often snot, followed by food crumbs. I thought it was gross, but now I get it. Although maybe I’ll make it a point to buy more tissues. Snot might be a little too far forme.
I follow them to the living room, where Claire's backpack, lunchbox, and water bottle sit on the end of thecouch.
Aubrey looks through her purse while I gather Claire's things. The family photo on the end table catches my eyes and makes me realize John hasn't made an appearance thismorning.
“Where's your dad?” I ask on our way out thedoor.
“Hunting,” Aubrey bites her bottom lip after she says it. Worry clouds her eyes for a briefmoment.
