“No, but he has hives, and his poor little butt looks all raw and red and bumpy.” Charlotte sounds out of breath and panicky as I listen to her describe Thomas’s symptoms.
“Where’s Jonathan?” I ask about her husband.
“He’s in surgery.”
“Okay, I need you to take a deep breath and then flip to video so I can see Thomas.”
“Like this?” She turns the camera onto Thomas, who is lying on the changing table, buckled in and quietly gnawing on his little fist.
“Perfect.” We check the rash and irritation together, and I see nothing alarming. “It looks and sounds like he’s having an allergic reaction to something. Are you still breastfeeding?”
“Yes.”
I ask Charlotte a few more questions. She looks exhausted and stressed to the max, like any first-time mom would be.
“Okay. Listen. You can take the baby to the emergency room for fluids if you feel like he’s lethargic or losing color. To me, he looks fine and happy. Just an upset stomach from whatever doesn’t agree with him. Make a list of everything you’ve eaten in the last 24 to 48 hours and call your pediatrician when the office opens to make an appointment.” I give her a few more pieces of advice, calming her down.
“So, he’s going to be fine?”
“Totally fine. I promise.”
“Oh, thank goodness. I was freaking out. It was so much puke.”
“Babies do that.” I chuckle as some of Charlotte’s color returns and her body relaxes. It’s nice to know my genius sister is human and still needs me.
“I’m so glad I have a sister who’s an amazing pediatrician and can talk me down from thinking the worst.”
“Tell that to Mom,” I grumble.
Charlotte frowns. “Still haven’t spoken to her?”
“Nope.” I’m still ignoring her texts. I’d much prefer to stay in my happy bubble for the time being.
“It will be fine. You know Mom loves you. She’s just stubborn.” I watch Charlotte lift Thomas from the changing table and snuggle him, peppering his head with kisses.
“You sound like Dad.” I sigh.
I don’t know whether my mother will ever understand me.
“That’s ’cause we are both geniuses.” She smiles at me as my chest fills with love and longing as I watch them.
I need to plan a trip north to see them soon. I shift on Nico’s couch, pulling my knees up to rest the phone on them, as my sister and nephew sway side to side.
Charlotte stares at me through the camera and freezes. “Savvy, where are you?”
I spot the art on the wall behind me and move the camera. “Umm…”
“Are you at a guy’s house?” she shrieks, making Thomas flinch and pout.
“Yes.” My stomach dips. Now is the perfect time to tell her. “I’m seeing someone.”
“When did this happen? Tell me everything.” She squeals, grinning into the camera.
“A while ago, I guess. He’s my neighbor.”
At the sound of Nico’s leather shoes shuffling down the hall in my direction, time slows to a standstill, and I freeze along with it, my words dying on my tongue. He pads into the living room, and before I can stop him, he leans down into the camera’s frame, kisses the top of my head, and whispers, “Missed you in the shower,gattina.”
His tattooed fingers trail the back of my neck, giving me goosebumps, as he walks towards the kitchen to make us an espresso before he leaves for the airport. Unable to stop myself, I wistfully watch him move around the kitchen in his charcoal-gray slacks and unbuttoned dress shirt.
