“Yes. We’ll leave church at noon on Friday and come back around six on Saturday evening.” He must have read her mind because he sent her a sympathetic smile. “Don’t stress it. I couldn’t ask you to leave Alice overnight, and I know you’re probably working.”
“Actually, I have off. During the summer, the diner is busiest during the week for lunch and that’s when I’m scheduled. On the weekends and evenings, tourists often go to the fancy restaurants scattered in the mountains with the picturesque views.”
“What about Alice?”
She hesitated, still unsure of that aspect. “I have to think about it. Phoebe’s offered to take her for a night and give me a break, but I’ve never taken her up on it. I know I can trust her, but it’s a matter of convincing myself that I can leave her for a night.”
Elijah reached over and patted her hand, then jerked it away at the first sensation of touch. “It’s okay. You were the first one to come to mind, but I’m sure I can find someone.”
“Can you give me a day to think about it?”
He grimaced. “I don’t want you pressured, but I need an answer tonight. If I have to cancel, nine a.m. tomorrow is the latest I can cancel and still get the deposit back.”
“Let me call Phoebe and ask if she’d like Alice for the night. If she’s good with that, I’ll do it.”
Visible relief covered his face. “You are awesome.”
“Can you keep any eye on Alice while I grab my phone from the living room? She never has problems, but I don’t leave her unattended while she’s eating—even for a minute.”
“No problem.”
She hurried to the living room and grabbed her phone from the coffee table. Lifting it to call Phoebe, she noticed a missed call from Lara’s mom and a voicemail. She dialed in and listened to the message.
“Hi Trixie, this is Gina, Lara’s mom. She went into labor this morning and we’re on our way to the hospital. She’s asking for you and wants you there. We’ll be at Farthington General if you can meet us there. I’ll have my phone with me as long as they allow, but if I don’t answer, the front desk will have permission to give you any information on her.”
Plans ran through Trixie’s mind. Of course she’d be there, but she couldn’t take Alice. Phoebe and Jessa were at work, and Mom had taken the day to visit her aunt two hours away. She could call one of the ladies from church—any one of them would be happy to watch Alice. Or…
She returned to the dining room and paused in her tracks. Elijah had moved his seat to sit in front of Alice and ran her slice of bread through the air like an airplane. Thoroughly entertained, Alice giggled loudly and asked for more every time Elijah stopped.
Tiny explosions went off in her heart. If she ever did have another relationship, it would be with someone like Elijah who treated her daughter with tenderness and love. Maybe one day she’d have a relationship with him. One day …
Refocusing on the current issue, she cleared her throat to get his attention.
He spun around, a tinge of red on his cheeks and a boyish grin. “Alice and I were playing.”
“So I see.” Her wide smile hurt her cheeks.
“Did you get hold of Phoebe?”
“No, I had a missed call and got distracted. Lara’s mom called and they’re headed to the hospital.”
His smile faded. “She’s not due for another two weeks, is she?”
“No, but thirty-eight weeks is still considered full-term, so there shouldn’t be any complications.”
“That’s good. Are you going?”
“She’s asking for me and I’d like to.” She wrung her hands. “Is there any way you could stay here with Alice? If not, I can call one of the ladies from church, but I’d like to get there as soon as possible.”
“Sure. I’ll call Pastor Gray and tell him I won’t be coming back in. Considering the circumstances, he won’t mind and can add Lara to the prayer chain.”
“Thank you so much.” She popped into the kitchen and grabbed a magnetic notepad from the fridge, scribbled down phone numbers and instructions. “Alice will go down for a nap around one-thirty. She’ll fight it but will fall asleep after several minutes of fussing so don’t let her fool you. When she wakes up, there’s a sippy cup of milk in the fridge for her and I’ll set some of her snacks out on the counter.”
His face tightened with an air of uncertainty. “Is she still in diapers?”
Amused, she suppressed her laughter. “Yes. I’ll change her before I leave, but everything you need is in the nursery and there’s also a basket by the sofa so you don’t have to go upstairs if you’re down here already.”
He sucked in a breath and released it. “It can’t be that hard, can it?”
