Total pages in book: 61
Estimated words: 59265 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 296(@200wpm)___ 237(@250wpm)___ 198(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 59265 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 296(@200wpm)___ 237(@250wpm)___ 198(@300wpm)
“I like the way you think. Do you mind?” she asked, holding a heavy-eyed Adelaide out to me so her hands were free to put her clothes back to rights.
I grabbed the cloth, put it over my shoulder, set Adelaide there, and attempted to emulate her father’s burping technique. Within a few rubs, I got a big burp and Adelaide’s squirming legs stilled.
“Look at you. You’re a natural.”
“Stole it from your father.”
“How’re we doing—oh, that’s a picture,” Elsie said, pausing in the doorway, her smile warm.
“She got a decent amount in,” Willa said. “And a good burp. She should be ready for a nap. But she’s super congested.”
“I have a steamy bathroom and a booger sucker ready. Then Grandpa is going to rock her to sleep. How are you doing?”
Willa made a grumbling sound.
“Try to sleep,” Elsie said. “I’m sure Owen is taking good care of you.”
“He is,” Willa said, even though I hadn’t really done anything. She waited until her mom was gone before speaking again. “What do you say about a nice little nap while my family takes care of everything else?”
Her, in bed, cuddled up next to me?
It sounded like the best way to spend the evening.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Willa
It took a solid four days before I felt human again. There was still some lingering congestion, but I felt rested, ache-free, and swallowing my spit no longer felt like razorblades.
Adelaide had been better a day before me—back to nursing her usual amount, breathing freely, and enjoying how much attention she was still getting from my family.
My parents had finally gone home the day before, replaced with Gracie and one of my aunts.
As much as I loved having everyone around to help when I was feeling so crummy, I was excited to get back to my usual routine. Plus, Owen.
Owen, who had been by my side every hour he wasn’t working, who brought me endless tea, medicine, and soup.
He pulled me close to sleep. Woke up to burp Adelaide each time I fed her. Then curled up with me again.
I knew it was early, but I felt the way I was falling, how he was on my mind every spare moment, how my heart swelled each time I saw him holding my daughter.
I once woke up to find him with Adelaide propped up on his legs as he made silly faces at her, getting big, gummy smiles out of her.
I swear my heart nearly burst out of my chest it got so big.
“I can stay,” Gracie insisted as I plucked a sleeping Adelaide out of her arms. “I don’t mind.”
“I’m ninety percent better. You should be back to your life. And back to your man.”
“So you can be back to your man?” she asked. Her smile was a little smug, and I guess she earned it. She’d been clocking me and Owen as a good potential couple for a while.
“He stayed while I was sick.”
“He made you minestrone soup. And broke down all your cardboard boxes in the garage. And ran the dishwasher and washing machine. He’s a good man, Wills. I have a good feeling about him. Not like, well, you know.”
I did know.
And I had to agree with her.
“Does he know?”
“Does he know what?”
“About Adelaide’s father and that whole situation?”
“No. I mean, I wasn’t deliberately keeping it from him. But we went from just client and contractor to… a lot more really quickly. Then I got sick, and…”
“You do plan to tell him, right?”
“Of course. I don’t want to keep anything from him.”
“And you have nothing to be embarrassed about. He was the bad guy here, not you.”
“I know.” Maybe there’d been a time back when the whole situation blew up when I’d been trying to blame myself for what happened. I guess because the person really at fault refused to take any responsibility for his actions and their consequences. That was a long time ago now, though. I was a new person now.
“I know it will probably be awkward, but if he’s going to be a part of your life and a sort of father figure to Adelaide, he really should know the whole story.”
“What story?” Owen asked, coming in the front door to a Golden Retriever who danced around his feet, nails tapping, tail wagging.
“Hey, Owen!” Gracie greeted. “I am heading out. Do you want me to walk Tuna before I go?”
“Actually, I could use some exercise after being stuck in bed for days. You up?”
“Yeah,” Owen said. “Sounds good.”
“Okay. I’m out then. Love you, pumpkin,” she said, rubbing Adelaide’s cheek. “Love you too,” she said to me. “You too, Owen.”
“Back at you,” Owen said. “I’ll grab the bottles of water.”
“I’ll grab the carriage.”
And it all felt so… normal. Domestic. Like we’d been doing it every evening since Adelaide was born.
“I wasn’t trying to change the subject, you know,” I said as we walked. Adelaide was wide awake and watching the sky. Tuna was sniffing every inch of the street.