“Okay, if you’re sure,” Annabelle said, still looking doubtful.
“I’m sure. You look tired, sweetie. If you want to take a nap, we’ll sit with your brother a while.”
“No, I’m okay. Seeing you and Billy is making me feel better.”
“I felt like that about you and Branna when it all went down with Brian. You two were like my lifesavers.”
The words were not spoken to make a statement. They were, in Macy’s eyes, the simple truth, and Annabelle felt humbled that she’d helped this woman, even in a small way, when she’d been going through her own nightmare.
“I don’t know if I’m helping him, Macy.” Annabelle sucked in a deep breath as she felt the fear and uncertainty rise inside her again. “The Doctors McBride both say I am, and I know I’m not alone, but it’s hard watching him suffer, and not being able to help him.”
“I know. How about we sit outside after I’ve visited with him and have a chat about everything? Or nothing, if you want to,” Macy said.
Annabelle grabbed the hand Billy waved at her and kissed it before she nodded. “Yes, I’d like to do that.”
She made the coffee and listened to the voices to make sure Cooper’s didn’t rise. When she carried the tray of mugs in minutes later, she was in for another surprise.
“Coffee, excellent, I need some of that,” Macy said, getting out of the chair and taking it from Annabelle.
Billy was sitting on Cooper’s lap staring up at him, and the look on her brother’s face was so different from anything she’d seen for a long time that she had to clench her teeth together to stop her jaw from dropping.
“Cooper thinks Billy is the cutest kid he’s ever seen. I said he may revise that opinion at three a.m. when he wakes up screaming.” Macy nudged Annabelle into the seat she’d just vacated and handed her a coffee, then took hers and sat on the bed beside Cooper.
For twenty minutes the three of them sat and talked like adults. The conversation was polite and the entire time, Billy was happy to sit on Cooper, who in turn didn’t say a lot but held the boy close.
“You’re getting tired now, Cooper, so we’ll leave, but we’ll be back to see you soon, I promise.” Macy gave Cooper’s forehead a kiss. “Annabelle and I are going to sit on the front porch now, so you just holler if you need anything.”
“See ya, little man.” Cooper’s voice was a rasp as he brushed his lips over the baby’s cheek.
“I’ve never see him like that before. Well, not since he’s come home, anyway.” Annabelle fell into the seat beside Macy on her front porch.
“He’s angry, hurting and confused, Annabelle, but he’s also been behaving badly from what I hear.” Macy handed Billy to Annabelle, who turned him sideways and let him snuggle in to her. He was tired, his little body growling heavy, and his eyelashes began to flutter as she rocked him. Holding him felt so good, and she wondered what it would be like to hold her own baby, Ethan’s and hers…
Dear God, where had thought come from?
“I love our little boy, Macy. Thank you for coming here today with him, because he’s brought me some peace, if only for a few hours.” She kissed his head, inhaling the smell of baby.
Annabelle wasn’t surprised when Branna pulled up. It was just something they did for each other, always knew when they were wanted or needed.
“I brought wine.” Branna took the steps in one leap and then produced the bottle.
“I’ll get the glasses and something to remove the cork.” Macy was on her feet and heading back inside in seconds.
“You doing okay, Belle?” Branna bent to kiss Billy’s cheek softly. He was asleep now, mouth open, little pudgy hands relaxed. She then kissed Annabelle on the forehead and stroked a hand over her head.
“It’s been a hard few days, Bran, really hard,” Annabelle said, looking into her friend’s forest green eyes.
“Okay, well, that’s why I’m here, to hear all about it.” Branna took the glasses from Macy and then poured the wine after she’d opened the bottle. “But we can only have one glass.”
The first sip was like nectar, Annabelle thought. She held the next in her mouth, briefly enjoying the subtle blend of flavors before swallowing.
“Why can we only have one glass?” Annabelle said, looking down at the slumbering baby. She almost envied him because his biggest worry was where his next meal was coming from. He was loved unconditionally, fed or diapered when he cried, hugged if he fussed. It really was a dream life.
“Because I said so,” her friend said, and that was pretty much that.
“So tell me, now that we’re all settled, about these few hard days. Other than Cooper, that is,” Branna said, pulling her seat closer so they were sitting in a circle.
Could she tell them about Ethan? She wanted to, needed to understand and make sense out of the emotions she felt whenever she thought about him.
