There’s a muffled wail from upstairs, and we both look up at the ceiling. Beth smiles. “Sounds like she’s unhappy,” she says. “Might be time for another feed, if she’s crying so much.”
I groan, thinking of the bug report waiting for me upstairs. It’s too much. There’s no way I can get the errors fixed by tomorrow morning if I have to spend all night stressing over Cami.
“Look,” I say, feeling terrible. “What’s your overnight rate? I’ll triple it if you can just come upstairs and look after her tonight. We don’t have a guest room, but our sofa is super comfortable. I just…” I sigh. “I really need to work tonight.”
She smiles sweetly. “It’s fine. I’ll help. You don’t need to pay me.”
“Of course we’ll pay you—”
She shakes her head. “You’re clearly overwhelmed, and I’m your neighbor. I don’t mind helping you out. And I think I’d quite like to have a favour to call in with you guys.” She grabs her phone and toes on a pair of slippers. They have little bunny ears on them. They’re adorable. “Maybe when the next season ofLove Islandcomes out, I can come up and watch it on your huge wide-screen telly, or something.”
“Beth, if you help us with this kid, you can use our TV whenever you like.”
Her eyes sparkle. “You know it’s on six nights a week, right? For two straight months?”
“Don’t care,” I say honestly.
She gives me a little smile, locking her door behind her. “Lead the way.”
When we make it back up to the room, Beth quickly warms up a bottle and starts feeding Cami. The baby goes quiet as soon as she gets the teat in her mouth, drinking happily, her big brown eyes looking around the room. She’s the picture of health, and I feel like a total idiot. I leave Beth cooing softly to her and head to the laundry room to find some clean bedding.
Seven
Beth
Cami takes her bottle really well, then starts making that slack, dopey face babies get after they just ate, so I settle her back down into her carrier and rock it as her eyelids flutter closed. I feel so sorry for her. It’s ridiculous that she’s had to spend all day in this thing, and now she’s sleeping in it at night, too. No wonder the poor thing is grouchy.
Although I guess the car seat is the least of her problems.
I watch Cami squirm in her sleep, her little hands clenching, and my heart aches.
Her mum just left her. After six months, she decided that she’d had enough. What was the last straw that made her give up on her own child? Not just give her up—abandon her on a freezing cold doorstep.
I shiver, suddenly realising how chilly it is in the big lounge. I hadn’t thought to throw on a hoodie or a dressing gown when Jack yanked me out of my warm bed. I’m just in my thin little tank top and pajama bottoms.
A horrible thought occurs to me. I look down.
Shit.
I’m not wearing a bra. You can see my nips clear as day through the tissue-thin white fabric. I just followed Jack back to his flat with my headlights blaring. Heat rises to my face. I look around for a blanket or something, but someone must have cleaned up since I left this evening, because the place is pretty pristine.
A door opens down the hall, and Jack reappears, hefting a pile of pillows and folded up linen. I cross my arms over my chest.
“It’s not much,” he starts, leaning over the sofa and tucking sheets over the couch cushions.
“It’s fine. I can sleep anywhere.”
“Still. I feel so bad for putting you out here.” He plumps up some pillows. “Especially since there’s not actually anything wrong with her.”
I shake my head. “Freaking out when you have a new baby is completely normal. You’re only worried because you care about her. Trust me; I’d be a lot more pissed off if you were acting like she didn’t matter.”
He hums and drapes the sofa with a soft-looking comforter. “There.” He straightens, surveying his work. “That’s as good as it’s gonna get, I think.”
“It’s perfect. Thanks.” I hesitate. “Hey, um, do you have a jumper or something I could borrow?” I wave my hand over my tank top. “Um, I forgot to grab something.”
He blinks a few times, dazed-looking, then nods. “Yeah. Yeah! Sure, come with me.”
I give Cami one last quick glance. She’s curled up peacefully, so I stand and follow Jack down the hallway.