“She’s actually here this weekend because the Mavs have a home game. And she’s good. Still a smartass who can always connive exactly what she wants out of her big brother, but good.”
Maria reaches out to run a soft finger over Izzy’s cheek. “Sounds like not too much has changed since the last time I saw her.”
“Yeah.” I laugh. “She might be an adult now, but she’s still the same old Winnie. I’ll have to get the two of you together sometime. I know Win would love to see you.”
Truth be told, I’m sure it was taking everything inside my sister not to pry with more questions regarding Maria and the baby. Of course, those will certainly come the next time I see her.
Maria’s smile is soft but genuine. “The feeling is very much mutual. I’d love to see her again.”
I reach out and grab the baby carrier from her hand, and once I’m certain Izzy is lying safely on her back between two couch pillows, I stand up to start strapping it on.
“Uh…?” Maria’s eyes are wide and white. “What are you doing?”
I chuckle, nodding down at my torso as I clip the buckle at the side. “Putting on the carrier.”
“You’re going to carry her?”
“Yeah. Why not? Give your back a rest.”
I finish doing up the straps and then open the front wide to ready it. I bend down to scoop Izzy up, and once again, Maria’s eyes take on a saucerlike quality as I load the baby into the carrier and fold it up to secure it.
After checking to make sure Izzy’s head is supported properly, I assure myself that she’s getting enough air in the space in front of my chest and give all the straps one last tighten.
“You ready to get our walk on, Ri?”
“Let’s do it.” Maria stands then too, swinging the diaper bag backpack over her shoulder before I can stop her.
“Hey, no,” I say, reaching for it immediately. “Give me that too.”
“But you’re already carrying Izzy.”
“So?” I retort with a shrug. “You carry them together all the time, don’t you?”
“Well, yes, but—”
“But nothing. One in the front, one in the back. It’ll balance me out.”
“Remy…”
I raise my eyebrows as I wait for her to lick her lips a couple of times.
“I…thank you…” She pauses again, but eventually continues. “Thank you so much for rushing over here today and for everything you’ve done for me so far. Like, seriously, I feel human again, and that’s because of you. But you don’t have to do all this for us. It’s Saturday. I’m sure you have things to do and places to be—”
“You’re right, Ri. I don’t have to do it. I want to do it. And right now, the things I have to do and the places I have to be are taking a walk in the park and carrying all of your shit like the pack mule God intended when He made these big, huge muscles of mine.”
She laughs at that, and finally, a carefree smile breaks loose. There’s the girl I remember.
“All right, Mr. Muscles. Fine. Carry my stuff. See if I care.” She holds out the backpack for me to take, and I swing it up and onto my back gently, so as not to jostle Izzy too much. Her little eyes are looking sleepy again, and if I play my cards right, I have a feeling she’ll be back to baby dreamland by the time we step outside.
“Come on, ladies,” I say, ushering Maria forward and putting a soft hand to her back. “The park awaits.”
Maria’s smile is noticeable as she glances back over her shoulder at me, and I give myself a mental pat on the back for helping to put it there. It’s empowering—being able to be the thing that someone needs when they need it most.
In the past, I’ve mostly taken that role for my siblings, but this…I don’t know…it feels even better.
Since it’s only a short walk across the street from her apartment, it doesn’t take us long to reach Central Park. It’s pretty busy, but no more than I’d expect on a Saturday in early fall. The crowd isn’t cloying or suffocating, just present.
The sun feels warm, and I roll up my sleeves to let some of it soak into my skin.
After Maria snags one of Izzy’s hats from the backpack on my back and secures it on her little head, she follows my lead and does the same, rolling up the sleeves of her sweater and letting the sun hit her skin. She even closes her eyes occasionally and turns her face up into the warmth.
I watch, involuntarily enthralled by the sight of her face so at ease. She’s truly one of the most beautiful women I’ve ever seen, and I don’t even mean that in the affectionate, subjective way that can happen when you care about someone.