“I’m guessing she was premature.”
“Yes sir she was and they told me then that her lungs weren’t fully developed.”
There was such misery in her voice and I knew from her tone that she was blaming herself. I put my arm around her shoulders to offer comfort and she relaxed a little.
By the time he left we had a much better outlook on things. “Aren’t you happy I didn’t listen to you? Now we don’t have to worry anymore.”
“Thank you.”
“Say that again.”
“I said thanks for the specialist, as to the other stuff…” I walked away and left her talking to herself.
She called me a very unkind name under her breath. “I heard that, I’m keeping score. One of these days your ass is going to pay the price for your mouth.”
I left her and went to sit on the bed with Amber who was finally awake and playing with the stuffed animals her uncle had bought her. Her uncle, huh.
I didn’t have the first clue what to say to the little angel so I let her take point. That’s how I ended up playing teatime with bears and one bossy little bit of a thing.
Shit, she’s her mother’s daughter. “Not like that uncle Evan, do it this way.” Where the fuck did Gavin find bears that wear diapers?
Her mother the sneak was sitting off to the side snickering at the way her daughter ordered me around like a lackey.
She had no fear the little one. She was sweet and open and her disposition made what she was suffering all the more heartbreaking.
When she grew tired and crawled into my lap I thought I’d break down in tears. I looked over her head at her mother who looked torn.
I guess she didn’t expect her child to accept me so readily and I have to admit to being surprised myself.
I’d always heard that children were very perceptive. Could she sense my earlier feelings towards her? I hope not.
Now as I held her little body in my arms my heart hurt and I felt shame. I pulled her little frame into my chest and held her close, being careful of the tubes.
As I held her my mind cleared of everything else and nothing mattered but getting her well enough to go home.
I wanted to see her out of this place and running around my apartment wreaking havoc on my hardwood floors.
My apartment, more like my bachelor pad. I’m gonna have to do something about that. That reminded me that I didn’t even know where they lived.
I’ve been playing it so safe that I hadn’t found out a damn thing about her. All my energy had been focused on breaking down her defenses.
I fell asleep sitting up on the bed with Amber in my arms and woke some time later to find my annoying brother and his girl in the room talking to Gia.
They were speaking in hushed tones so as not to wake us and I saw there were more toys and balloons in the room.
“Hey bro, you’re up. Mom’s gonna be here soon.”
“Mom?”
“You should’ve expected that after you called her for help.”
I grew nervous as hell. I haven’t had a chance to talk to mom about this yet and I wasn’t sure how she was going to feel about my interest in a widow with a child.
I’m not in the habit of going against my mother’s wishes but if she didn’t approve I’m afraid this would have to be the first time.
12
Iwas worried for nothing because when mom showed up she was there more to see the architect of our company’s daughter than the child of the woman I was in love with.
