I slowly slide my finger out from between hers, then straighten and leave the room. I walk over to the sofa where Sara is sprawled out, her hair about her shoulders.
"Sara..." I touch her shoulder, and her eyelids snap open.
"Oh, hey." She yawns. "When did you get back?"
"A few minutes ago."
She stretches, then bolts upright. "Shoot, what time is it? I promised Mom I’d be home by ten."
"It’s nine-forty-five."
She rubs her eyes. "I guess I should get going. Good thing I live just upstairs.” She rises to her feet, then peers into my face. "What happened?" She gestures to my forehead.
"Nothing, it’s just a scratch."
"You sure?" She takes in my features. "I can stay, if you want."
"No, that’s all right. You’ve helped me a lot by babysitting her already."
"Any time. She’s a sweetheart. She ate most of her dinner. Then we played, I read her a bedtime story, and she was out like a light."
"That’s good." A wave of exhaustion overwhelms me and I clutch the back of the sofa.
"You sure you’re okay?"
"Sure." I smile. "Hell, I forgot to pay you." I walk around her and head to where I dropped my purse on the table. I pull out a few notes and hold them out to her."
"It was a pleasure. You don’t have to pay me; I love babysitting Avery."
"I insist. You earned it." I push the notes into her hand, then walk to the door and hold it open. "Thanks again for being available on short notice."
After she leaves, I head toward my own bedroom. Too tired to even shower, I simply step out of my clothes, pull on a soft camisole, and slide into bed. I close my eyes, and what seems like only a few minutes later, I’m awakened by a cry from the other room.
Avery!I jump out of bed and race to her room to find her sitting up in her crib. "Hey, baby, did you have sweet dreams?"
She holds up her chubby arms, and I scoop her up and cuddle her.
She settles down instantly, then begins to fuss again. "Time for a diaper change, Bubu?"
I set her down and quickly change her diaper. As I toss the soiled diaper in the receptacle, the doorbell rings.
I glance down at myself, then carry her back to my bedroom. Placing her on the bed, I pull on my robe, then cuddling her in my arms, I head for the front door. The doorbell rings again.
"I’m coming," I yell. I look through the peephole and my breath catches. I take a step back then fling the door open. "What are you doing here?"
6
Seb
She has a baby. She has a baby who looks exactly like her. Blonde hair, big blue eyes, pink lips, and glowing skin. I glance from the little girl in her arms to her, then back to the child, who begins to fuss. My reports had indicated she had a child. Still, knowing about it’s one thing; seeing her with the child is another. And feeling this weird sensation in my chest that tightens my rib cage is something else altogether.
"How did you know it was safe to open the door?" I thrust my chin forward.
"Ididlook through the peephole," she retorts.
"What if it had been someone else? Someone like the guy who chased you yesterday?"
She pales, then tips up her chin. "But it wasn’t, and I recognized you. Although, I’m beginning to think maybe I shouldn’t have opened the door."