“So, adopt a young child from another country,” Katelyn suggests. “I’m always seeing those ‘save the children’ ads that are meant to make you cry, especially when you’re already an emotional mess while watching TV.”
“That might be easier than what Liam and I did,” Josie says.
“You haven’t spoken much about that time.” I add.
She shakes her head and offers a quick smile. “It was hard, ya know. I had the room ready to go. I had heard his heartbeat and seen him on the monitor. She kept telling us that she didn’t want him. She wouldn’t even look at the screen during the ultrasound. Then Aubrey calls one day and he’s no longer mine, and I’m pregnant.”
“Like it was meant to be,” I say, but she shrugs.
“He’s in Betty Paige’s class so I see him all the time. I always wonder if he would smile more if Liam and I were his parents.”
“Why do you say that?” Katelyn asks.
“His dad bailed when he was almost two and from what I hear around town, he doesn’t pay child support. Meredith tries…”
“But it isn’t the lifestyle you and Liam would’ve given him?” I ask.
Her lips go into a fine line as she nods. “I hate thinking about it because I have no doubt in my mind that Meredith loves him, but… I don’t know. If I hadn’t had Paige, I don’t think I would’ve done it again. The heartache was too much even when I knew I was having my own. I missed the son I thought I was getting, but that doesn’t mean it won’t be right for you and Jimmy.”
The mood seems to turn somber and I can’t help but feel as if I caused this. “What do you say we go and get some ice cream?”
“Ice cream?” Katelyn looks confused at the notion.
I shrug. “It makes everything better, at least that’s the line Eden uses on me when she’s hurt, upset, or knows that she’s done something wrong.”
Josie laughs. “She gets that from Noah. This one time I had asked him to watch Paige while I ran to the store. He was glued to the television, watching some highlight show or whatever. It was my fault for not making sure he listened to me.
“When I came home, Noah had this big bowl of ice cream waiting for me. He handed it to me with a smile and went and unloaded the groceries from the car without asking. That was where he went wrong. When he came back in, I asked him where Paige was and the color drained from his face. He told me my mom was there and that they were upstairs. Turned out that Noah let Paige color… all over herself with a Sharpie. He panicked and called my mom to come help.”
“Did he get in trouble?” Katelyn asks.
Josie nods and starts laughing. “After I finished the ice cream.”
We leave the room laughing, but I still feel awkward after the adoption conversation. It’s something I should bring up to Jimmy and see how he wants to proceed. Maybe Katelyn is right and we should look at adopting from another country. We could give a child a decent life here.
After quick showers, we’re walking back toward our hotel when we come across a stand selling shaved ice. “It’s my favorite,” I say as I step up and order one. The girls quickly follow suit. “You know, I always want to do random jobs. I keep telling Jimmy that the next time they go on tour, I’m going to get a job working in a food truck or at the county fair.”
I glance at Katelyn and Josie, they seem slack jawed at my confession. I shrug. “What?”
“Why would you want to work in a greasy, hot truck?” Josie asks as if the idea is disgusting.
“Why not? Think of the people you’d meet. Besides, I’m bored at home. Jimmy is always with Harrison, and Eden is in school.” I take my shaved ice and thank the man. I start eating mine while Josie and Katelyn wait for theirs. “Katelyn, aren’t you bored?”
She looks at me and smirks. “Yes, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to join the carnival.” She laughs.
“Why don’t you apply at a florist?” Josie asks.
“Why don’t you move to Cali and bring Whimsicality with you?” I counter.
She looks from me to Katelyn and shakes her head. “Our home is in Beaumont.”
There’s a bit of finality in her voice, the way she tells us that’s where their home is. Sometimes I wonder if she’s mad at us for leaving. With Harrison being from Los Angeles and Jimmy living there when he moved over from England, it made sense that they’d want to move back. Liam had only been there for ten years and Josie was established in Beaumont.
When they finally have their treats, I stick my very blue tongue out at them. It feels good to be a bit childish to lighten the mood.
8
Josie