Julia lifted a perfect brow. “I heard that.”
“She did a great job, too. But then the mother legally surrendered the baby. I think it’s pretty incredible that Ani wants to foster her.” I wasn’t just blowing smoke. I did feel that way. Aniwasincredible, although sometimes I felt that she didn’t believe it herself. And maybe her mom didn’t either.
Positioned as she was slightly behind her mom, Ani rolled her eyes to signal that I was really laying it on thick. I shrugged.
Ani’s mom sighed. “Dr. Lowenstein—Adam—I can see that your head is in the clouds too. Neither of you has any idea what she’s getting into. She’s going to need a lot of help.” I felt Ani prickle as her mother was now exclusively talking to me. “Hopefully, she’ll find caring for a newborn for a few days will flush all this wild adoption thinking right out of her system.”
“Mom,” Ani said, waving her hands in front of her mom. “I’m right here.”
Then a weird thing happened. Arnie walked straight over to Ani and sat down—right at her feet. A show of solidarity.
The dog was in love with her too.
Did I saytoo?
I respected and admired her. But not love. I didn’t do love anymore. I rubbed my chest over my sternum. Because it felt a little strange.
Ani reached down and patted good old Arnold on the head, who had suddenly proven that he was a very useful dog, after all. “Mom, I have to pass a bunch of tests to get the baby. And one of them is tomorrow.”
I did what I am known to do best—act. And turn on the charm, which I have to admit, I was pretty rusty at. I steered her mom away from the table and towards the little living room. “If anyone can make this work, Ani can. Because she’s amazing. But you’re absolutely right. She’s going to need help.Lotsof help.”
I didn’t have to look at Ani to feel the invisible daggers hitting my back.
“Iknowthatmy daughter is amazing,” her mom said. “But she’s also impervious to the amount of work some of her decisions entail.”
“I understand how hard caring for a newborn is, Mom,” Ani said. “I deal with new moms and babies every day. I feel really good about this.”
Ani’s mom cast a worried glance in my direction. Which I deflected because I wanted to make it clear that I was Ani’s ally, not hers. “Maybe you can talk some sense into her,” she said to me.
Ani, with her hands balled into fists, looked like she was about to murder someone, and I wasn’t sure if it was going to be her mom or me. “Great idea,” I said, “but we’re going to need your help. Are you free right now?”
“Of course I’m free.” She tossed up her hands. “That’s why I came over here.”
“Great.” I punched some numbers into my phone. “Julia, would you mind ordering some dinner for us on my ItalianStallion app?” That was the best Italian in town, and they did carryout. “Ani, you can sit down and make a list of all the items you need for the baby. And I—I will take care of the furniture problem. And pick up our food.”
Another incredulous look from Ani.
I shot her a frown. “Oh ye of little faith.” I was great—make thatterrific—at rolling in and taking care of things. Why would she not let me unleash my secret talent?
“Can we talk for a minute?” Ani got up and literally dragged me outside by my shirt. So predictable. Also, Arnie scrambled right after us. Apparently, he didn’t want to be inside with Julia either. I managed to grab the end of his leash because all we needed right now was a lost dog to chase after again.
On second thought, he was getting awfully proprietary. Like he belonged to us or something. What would the McClellans say when they got home in a few days?
Ani reached down and pulled the granola bar wrapper out of his mouth, which he must have skimmed from the counter, and shoved it in her pocket.
“You—are mansplaining again,” Ani said, out in the wild, unkempt yard. She was feisty, angry, waving her hands in gestures not unlike her mother’s. “Jumping into action. Taking over.” She poked my chest. “Andsiding with my mother.”
I couldn’t help grinning. Because she was no longer on the verge of tears, a huge improvement. “I’m sorry, but that situation was getting a little toxic. Your mother wants to understand you. She wants to help.”
“How, Dr. Psychologist, how do you translateOh, Ani, this is sooo muchintoI love you and I want to help you?”
“A cry for help?” I got a glare for that. “Look, do you trust me?”
She folded her arms. “No.” She paused. “Absolutely not.”
“Oh, come on.” I gave her my most charming look. “Let me take care of the furniture problem.”
“No! First of all, it’smyfurniture problem. You can’t just saunter in here with your big muscles and take over.”
