“We’re having this conversation a little late,” she one-tones.
I begin to grin. “Sounds about right.”
We both look down at our daughter whose eyes are big and curious.
“I want her to know she’s number one,” Isla mentions.
“That’s not even negotiable for either of us,” I agree.
Isla leans her head against my shoulder as we continue to watch our daughter lying there with the world moving around her. “We got lucky with her.”
“Yeah, we did,” I nearly whisper.
I got lucky with you too.
We continue to walk slowly back to our house.
“Vaughn, I’m happy we can talk openly about this stuff. Well, the parenting stuff. It makes one aspect easier.”
“Me too.”
We’re still avoiding the us factor like the plague, but it makes sense for now. I’m just tiptoeing us into the inevitable conversation. This is probably the tables turning. She was the one afraid to tell me about the pregnancy for all those months; now I’m the one afraid to share how I feel. More empathy hits me for the whole situation of the last months since November.
I’m going to take the easy road out right now.
“Want to go grab some cherry cobbler with vanilla bean ice cream?”
Isla’s face turns appreciative, as if I uncovered the key to her soul. “Ooh, someone just gained points.”
I snort a laugh. “If only this was all as easy as a hockey game.”
Because I only ever do my best to win, and I’m scared that I may lose all of this.
22
ISLA
Standing at the front door, I take the cow that plays nursery rhymes in one continuous loop and throw it outside. However, the toy nearly hits Vaughn as he walks up the front path. He even ducks and looks at me preciously.
“What did the cow do to you?” His lips slant to the side, entertained.
I growl a sound as I hold a wooden spoon in my other hand as if I’m a crazed woman. “I was playing with Nora, and that stupid thing wouldn’t stop playing ‘Merry Had a Little Lamb.’ Even the off button won’t solve the problem, and the batteries won’t come out.”
Vaughn continues his approach to me. “And the wooden spoon?”
“I thought maybe if I hit it enough that it would stop, but it’s possessed and out to give me a headache.” I realize how ridiculous I must sound.
He takes the spoon from my hand before we both assess the damage of a plastic singing cow lying in the plants, although miraculously now quiet.
“Let me guess, Connor and Hadley gave us that gift,” he comments.
“Or Stone. We have options. Yeah, it’s all of their life’s mission to give our child annoying toys.” I’m still a little salty that a toy put me in a foul mood.
Following Vaughn into the house and closing the door behind me, I’m happy he’s back. He came home early, as he said he would try.
The last month has been hectic. Nora grows, Vaughn has meetings, and I’m trying to keep on top of laundry.
Vaughn heads straight to our princess in her bouncy chair. “Hey, sunshine, is Mommy acting a little strange today?” He tickles her belly, and Nora’s response is a bubble popping out of her mouth. Vaughn glances back at me with his eyes wide before returning his focus on our daughter. “Your mom says it’s because of a poor cow, but I think it’s because tonight is the night that you are getting evicted and trying out your big room.”
