Total pages in book: 63
Estimated words: 61542 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 308(@200wpm)___ 246(@250wpm)___ 205(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 61542 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 308(@200wpm)___ 246(@250wpm)___ 205(@300wpm)
“It doesn’t come naturally to a lot of people,” I say. “I can see you care about William, but fitting a child into your life isn’t going to happen just like that.
“When I was pregnant with William, I read a bunch of parenting books. I already knew how to keep a baby alive from my time in the maternity ward, but I wanted to make sure I was giving William the best life I could provide.”
Adam gazes at me with eyes full of affection. “You’re an amazing mom, and that’s one of the reasons why I love you.”
“You . . .” I pause as I let his words sink in. “You love me?”
“I do,” he says without any hint of hesitation.
“Um, I . . .” My sentence hangs in the air as I fumble for the right thing to say. A few seconds pass, and I scold myself in my head for starting to speak in the first place. Obviously, I should’ve stayed quiet.
“You don’t have to say anything back,” Adam says. “I just want you to know that.”
My heart’s beating fast. I’m glad Adam’s letting me off the hook because I’m not prepared for that conversation.
“I’m sorry,” I say. “I just . . . I haven’t . . .”
“Don’t worry about it,” he says, smiling. “I don’t want to put any pressure on you. I just want you to know how I feel.”
A smile plays on my lips. “Thank you for telling me. It makes me happy to hear that. Really. I just—”
“You don’t have to give me a reason. It’s okay, Katie.”
“No, I just want to say that . . . I really like having you around, and not just because you obviously care about William,” I say. “You make me happy.”
Adam’s smile spreads wide and grows into a big, ear-to-ear grin. “You have no idea how happy it makes me to hear that.”
The corners of my lips pull up into a smile. He means it; I can tell. And it makes me even happier.
“Maybe I just need a little more time,” I say.
“Take all the time you need, kitten.” Adam puts his hand on my head, pulls me close, and plants a kiss on my forehead.
Katie
I never thought I’d ever say this, but . . . It’s kind of nice to do a little deep cleaning around the house.
Normally, I always have to clean with William in the house and often in the same room as me. That basically means that I clean some things up, but William messes some other things up. In the end, the house is no cleaner than it was when I started.
But today, Adam’s offered to take William out for a short drive around the neighborhood, just to get him out of my hair for a bit.
I was hesitant at first because of his track record with being clumsy or careless around William, but Adam insisted he was going to be super attentive. Also, William does like car rides; they calm him down and often put him to sleep.
Besides, Adam’s been reading all the books I recommended, and he’s even been listening to audiobooks on his morning drive to work and afternoon drive to my place.
So, before letting Adam drive away with William, I installed the car seat myself and placed a bunch of toys for William to play with. I also put a bag with some diapers and clothes on the backseat, just in case, although Adam’s still struggling with changing William.
I told Adam to come back in half an hour, max, and to come home as soon as William starts crying or screaming. It’s only thirty minutes. It’s probably going to be fine.
I check the clock hanging on the wall. I’ve already cleaned the stove and the kitchen sink, and there are a few more minutes left. I forget how easy and quick things can be when I don’t have to split my attention.
People say women are better at multi-tasking. I’m pretty sure that’s a skill developed out of necessity. In pre-historic times, Oogha the ape-woman probably also had to watch her little one while she swept her cave with palm fronds, and that’s how I can do pretty much the same thing.
This is nice. It’s been so long since I even had the space in my brain to think about something other than what’s immediate, what’s here and now.
Maybe letting Adam babysit William once in a while isn’t such a bad idea after all . . .
Adam
Ah, damn it.
I stare with disbelief at the big, yellow Labrador taking a nap on the pavement. I rev the engine, but he doesn’t budge.
The dog looks old and tired; it’s possible he’s got hearing problems. Or dead.
Obviously, I can’t just honk to test my theory.
I glance at the backseat. William’s sleeping soundly, his breathing deep and regular. Katie was right; after being strapped into his car seat, William dozes off pretty much immediately.