Why doesn’t this feel like a life-changing event for either woman?
A baby is a big deal.
“That’s not a problem. Dash can come to work with me for a while. He’ll get fawned all over.” She pats the baby’s back, and he gurgles and kicks his little legs.
“All right. Let me know if there’s anything you need.” Paisley walks away with a wave.
“We’ll be just fine, won’t we, Dash? You’re a good boy, aren’t you?” Fiona turns to find me watching her. There’s a look of panic that flashes across her face, then an emotion I can’t define.
“I’m pretty sure that little guy isn’t going to answer you.”
A smile plays on the edges of her lips. “Not for a few more months at least.” Fiona pauses before climbing back on the table next to me.
That would be precarious in heels with a baby in her arms. I hold a hand out to help her up.
She stands there staring at my hand like I’m a leper.
Instead of taking it, she sits down on the bench instead of the top of the table.
Why wouldn’t she touch my hand? “Am I wrong, or did you just agree to foster this baby?” The words just pop out of my mouth.
“You’re not. Dash is going to live with me for a little while.”
“This isn’t the first time Paisley has walked up to you and brought you a child to take care of.” They seemed way too comfortable.
“Dash is number forty-six.”
WHAT? “You’ve fostered forty-six kids? How? What? Why?” That’s unimaginable.
“None of them were with me long. The majority stayed a couple of days. A few stayed for at most a couple of weeks. I’m just temporary care.”
Temporary? How do you do that when it comes to a child? There’s no way I could handle caring for a child and then having someone take them away. Babysitting is one thing…this is something else. “How can you do that? How can you care for a child like that and then let them go with someone else?”
“Because that’s what they need.”
“What about what you need?” And it’s official, I’m an idiot. Why would I say that to someone I barely know?
“What I need? These kids have nothing. No home. No family. No way of caring for themselves. What do my needs matter when these kids need so much?”
You matter.
The back door of the bakery opens. “Fiona, are you out here? I need to ask you a question.” Everett steps out. “There’s this girl—” He freezes when he notices me sitting next to her. “Oh. I thought you were alone. I can…um…come back later.” Everett stares at me.
“What’s wrong?” Fiona stands up.
“Whose baby is that? Is that your baby?” Everett asks me.
I can see why he thought that. Dash has almost the same skin color as I do. That mixed with those curls, he could be my son.
“No. This is Dash. He’s staying with me for a few days. What did you need to ask me?” Fiona takes a step forward, drawing Everett’s attention back to her.
“I…um…can come back later.” Everett looks like he wants to run away again.
“If you’re having girl problems, you can ask me.” There’s no way I’m letting this kid run away again.
Fiona turns to me, raising a questioning brow.
Now is not the time to think about how sexy that is.
