dressers and rummage around in Daniel’s things.”
Cat gave me an understanding smile and patted my arm. This was a new side to her, and it was just as creepy as her constant nagging had been.
“Just call if you need anything.”
I looked at her, feeling grateful. Were the two of us finally getting along? Perhaps it was possible if we weren’t in each other’s faces all the time.
“Thanks, Cat. I know it hasn’t been easy for you these past few months. I—”
“Don’t be silly. It wasn’t easy for any of us. No need to apologize. You just make sure you get back on your feet. Your child needs you.”
I ran my hand over my belly, and a well-aimed kick immediately lifted my mood. My baby! Yes, it needed me, but maybe I needed it even more.
“I’ll be fine.”
Kevin and Marcus carried the sofa in, sweating in spite of the cold.
“Where do you want it?” Kevin called, and I motioned for them to put it down where they stood.
“Here. In front of the fireplace.”
After they finally managed to push the unwieldy thing into position, they wiped their hands on their pants and took deep breaths.
“That’s it. All done,” Kevin declared, as Jenna closed the outside door behind them. The freshly polished hardwood floors were covered in slush, and almost all my worldly belongings were now in piled-up boxes on the floor. The few pieces of furniture from Daniel’s apartment were things he had loved, and their existence made me feel like he was still with us: his secretary desk; his favorite armchair, where he had loved to sit and read; and the dresser he had discovered at a flea market and painted a pale yellow, which was now upstairs in the baby’s future nursery.
“Catherine and I will leave you to it. If there’s anything you need . . . ”
Resolutely, I shook my head. What I needed most of all was some distance from Daniel’s parents.
“Thank you, Marcus, but Catherine and I already discussed this. Go! Don’t worry, and if there’s anything—”
“Then you’ll give us a call!” Cat completed my sentence, pushing Marcus toward the front door.
After they had left, Jenna, Kevin, and I slumped down on the sofa. I was completely exhausted, but the place was such a mess.
“I better wash the floors before they stain from all the slush,” I groaned, but Kevin grabbed me by the wrist.
“You will do no such thing.” He nudged Jenna in the side. “Could you do it?”
“Me? I had a mani yesterday!” Jenna lifted her hands up in the air to showcase her lobster-red nails, and wiggled her fingers.
“Which was a really stupid idea,” Kevin pointed out, making Jenna get off the couch.
“All right, all right. If Smokey insists!” she complained and disappeared into the kitchen.
“Where are your cleaning supplies, Piper?” she called, and I could hear the flapping of cupboard doors.
“To the right, by the sink,” I called back and could hear the water being turned on.
Kevin put his arm around my shoulders, and I leaned against him gratefully. His gray hoodie was lovely and soft, and I enjoyed the heat radiating from his body. When I noticed the black guitar pick around his neck I wondered when I had last heard him play. Must have been years ago.
“Are you sure you’ll be all right spending the night here by yourself?”
I shrugged. I had wondered the same thing, but now that I was here I no longer felt alone. Maybe it was due to the fact that I wasn’t technically alone right now, but I was hoping that the love Daniel had put into this house would make him tangible somehow.
“If you want me to stay, Piper, I’ll . . . ”
He stopped, and I could feel him tense up. The baby was kicking, and I inched up closer to him to relax my back a little. Which the tiny being inside of me seemed to enjoy a great deal. I took a deep breath and tried to stop thinking how comforting it would be to have Kevin spend the night. I could tell that his offer had surprised even him, but I was too
Cat gave me an understanding smile and patted my arm. This was a new side to her, and it was just as creepy as her constant nagging had been.
“Just call if you need anything.”
I looked at her, feeling grateful. Were the two of us finally getting along? Perhaps it was possible if we weren’t in each other’s faces all the time.
“Thanks, Cat. I know it hasn’t been easy for you these past few months. I—”
“Don’t be silly. It wasn’t easy for any of us. No need to apologize. You just make sure you get back on your feet. Your child needs you.”
I ran my hand over my belly, and a well-aimed kick immediately lifted my mood. My baby! Yes, it needed me, but maybe I needed it even more.
“I’ll be fine.”
Kevin and Marcus carried the sofa in, sweating in spite of the cold.
“Where do you want it?” Kevin called, and I motioned for them to put it down where they stood.
“Here. In front of the fireplace.”
After they finally managed to push the unwieldy thing into position, they wiped their hands on their pants and took deep breaths.
“That’s it. All done,” Kevin declared, as Jenna closed the outside door behind them. The freshly polished hardwood floors were covered in slush, and almost all my worldly belongings were now in piled-up boxes on the floor. The few pieces of furniture from Daniel’s apartment were things he had loved, and their existence made me feel like he was still with us: his secretary desk; his favorite armchair, where he had loved to sit and read; and the dresser he had discovered at a flea market and painted a pale yellow, which was now upstairs in the baby’s future nursery.
“Catherine and I will leave you to it. If there’s anything you need . . . ”
Resolutely, I shook my head. What I needed most of all was some distance from Daniel’s parents.
“Thank you, Marcus, but Catherine and I already discussed this. Go! Don’t worry, and if there’s anything—”
“Then you’ll give us a call!” Cat completed my sentence, pushing Marcus toward the front door.
After they had left, Jenna, Kevin, and I slumped down on the sofa. I was completely exhausted, but the place was such a mess.
“I better wash the floors before they stain from all the slush,” I groaned, but Kevin grabbed me by the wrist.
“You will do no such thing.” He nudged Jenna in the side. “Could you do it?”
“Me? I had a mani yesterday!” Jenna lifted her hands up in the air to showcase her lobster-red nails, and wiggled her fingers.
“Which was a really stupid idea,” Kevin pointed out, making Jenna get off the couch.
“All right, all right. If Smokey insists!” she complained and disappeared into the kitchen.
“Where are your cleaning supplies, Piper?” she called, and I could hear the flapping of cupboard doors.
“To the right, by the sink,” I called back and could hear the water being turned on.
Kevin put his arm around my shoulders, and I leaned against him gratefully. His gray hoodie was lovely and soft, and I enjoyed the heat radiating from his body. When I noticed the black guitar pick around his neck I wondered when I had last heard him play. Must have been years ago.
“Are you sure you’ll be all right spending the night here by yourself?”
I shrugged. I had wondered the same thing, but now that I was here I no longer felt alone. Maybe it was due to the fact that I wasn’t technically alone right now, but I was hoping that the love Daniel had put into this house would make him tangible somehow.
“If you want me to stay, Piper, I’ll . . . ”
He stopped, and I could feel him tense up. The baby was kicking, and I inched up closer to him to relax my back a little. Which the tiny being inside of me seemed to enjoy a great deal. I took a deep breath and tried to stop thinking how comforting it would be to have Kevin spend the night. I could tell that his offer had surprised even him, but I was too
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