“Oh, my,” said Lottie. She pulled Baby Ginny away from me, and then laughed a little, and resettled the tiny thing in her arms.
“I’m sorry,” said. “I’m not very used to babies. Let me try again.”
“Sure,” she said, in a motherly way.
“Hey, little baby,” I said. “Did you enjoy your silver spoon? Your Uncle Alex picked it out especially, and it was the only thing—” I stopped, having learned that for some reason talking about Alex almost dying wasn’t the right thing to say. “It was the only thing he brought with him, especially for you.”
She looked at me with deep blue eyes, which must be a Westmore thing, and her expression was so serious, she made me laugh.
“She does that,” said Mama Lottie. “So serious. Like a judge or something. But I think she likes you.”
I had a feeling that if I stuck around, eventually the baby would be put into my arms and I’d be expected to hold it safely and not drop it. Not dropher. Baby Ginny was pretty cute, and I knew if I got the chance, I’d hold her and protect her from anything I could.
“Come sit back down, Lottie,” said Nate. “And let me hold the baby.”
We all sat back down, and the baby was handed around, and Jasmine called for fresh coffee and for the wrapping paper to be cleared away. Tim ran upstairs to bring his laptop back down. I used it to fill out the online application for a brand new passport, gave the confirm number to Mr. Westmore Senior, and turned my attention to Alex.
“Are you wiped out yet?” he asked.
“Oh my god, yes,” I said.
Our heads were bent together and everybody’s attention was on each other, which gave us a little pocket of privacy.
“You really want me to come with you?” I asked.
“Yes,” he said. “I think you’d like it and I sure would will enjoy your company.”
He meant it. I’d learned that much about him, that he said what he meant and he meant what he said. He walked the walkandtalked the talk, and everything about him was upright, steadfast, and kind.
“When do we leave?” I asked.
“In a couple of days, after Dad gets that passport expedited.”
“He can do that?” I asked, astonished. Well, rich people could do what they liked, couldn’t they.
“He knows people,” said Alex, and left it at that.
“Maybe we could get another soak in before we leave,” I said.
“At least one,” said Alex. “Every night if we can.”
“I know people,” I said, pretending to be mysterious as I pointed with my chin at Jasmine, who was busy talking to two members of staff at once.
Alex laughed and he looked like he wanted to kiss me or hug me. I’d be up for either, but later, when we were alone. I still wasn’t used to the wholesome camaraderie of the Westmores, and besides, I liked to enjoy my kisses in private.
“We’re going to step out and get some fresh air, guys,” saidAlex standing. His expression said he wanted me to stand, as well, so I did.
“Come back in time for lunch,” said Nate. “We’re going to that Italian place your mother liked last year.”
“Mazzola’s,” said Tim, sounding like he had started salivating at the mere thought of the place.
“We will,” I said boldly, cause I was always up for Italian food, day or night.
“We will,” said Alex. He winked at me and I guess he was figuring out how much I loved food. “We’ll get noodles in Japan,” he said. “We’ll go to the busiest crosswalk in the world. We’ll have a great time.”
“I’m already having a great time,” I said, and if that wasn’t the purest truth, I don’t know what would be.
We left the small dining room, made our way through the quite busy restaurant, and found our way to the front exit. When we opened the front doors to the hotel, a blast of cold air met us that was refreshing. I cupped my hands together and blew on them.
