“I’m impressed,” I say. I look back out into the storage room where Bug is unboxing napkins. “And I’m surprised Bug even works at all.”
“You mean because she’s in a position to inherit a crap-ton of money?”
I shrug.
“You won’t find a Montana kid who hasn’t had to work and pay their dues. Chris, Allie’s dad, was never one for silver-spooning his kids.”
Somehow knowing this makes me like Allie even more.
“Would you like to hold her?” Ava asks Amelia.
Amelia’s whole face lights up, ignoring my protest. Jordan is so tiny. And Amelia… well, she drops things like her hands are made of butter.
“It’s okay.” Ava waves me off. “She’ll be fine.”
Ava has Amelia sit in the large office chair then places Jordan in her lap. It looks awkward, and Jordan squirms, her little arms flailing about. But as soon as Amelia speaks to her, she calms and looks up.
“Hey, little baby,” Amelia coos in the same motherly tone I use on her sometimes. “You are a cutie-patootie.” Amelia looks up at Ava. “Does she like Dr. Seuss? I could read to her.”
“Well now, I don’t exactly know. I haven’t read any Dr. Seuss books to her yet. But I’m sure she’d love it if you wanted to bring one by sometime in the future.”
Amelia’s face lights up even more as she asks, “Can I Mommy? Can I?”
I don’t have the heart to remind her that we’ll be gone before the end of the week. “We’ll see, baby.”
After a few minutes of Amelia fawning over her, all the while my ovaries reminding me there’s still plenty of time to replicate this scene with a little brother or sister for Amelia, Jordan starts crying.
Carter chuckles. “That’s our cue to get out of Dodge and grab some breakfast.”
“It’s time for her morning nap,” Ava says. “You guys head on out and order.” She turns to Amelia. “Thanks for holding her. You did a great job.”
Amelia beams. “That other lady said I was a good babysitter.”
“Other lady?”
“We had dinner at Allie and Asher’s last night,” Carter explains.
This brings a huge smile to Ava’s face. “We?”
I don’t miss how the way she says it is totally different than how Carolyn did—with amusement rather than disdain.
Carter tugs on my elbow. “Come on, let’s go order those croissants.”
“And a donut?” Amelia suggests.
I smile and inhale deeply, loving the incredible smells. “And coffee.” I turn to Ava. “You have the best coffee I’ve ever tasted.”
“Thanks. Hopefully it’ll keep you coming back for more.” She winks at Carter and then turns her attention back to Jordan.
Why do I get the feeling it’s not just Allie who’s interested in setting Carter up?
~ ~ ~
Our bellies full and my addiction satiated, we’re heading back home.
Home. Did I seriously just call it that? After only six nights of being there?
Amelia skips along playfully while holding Carter’s hand. At the corner, she looks up at him reverently. She’s getting attached. To him. To Christian. To Bug. To this town.
