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“How about we pick up a pizza on our way back to the shelter after Katherine drops us off?” he asked, hoping to grab some more time with her before being forced to leave her side.
She straightened. “What about talking to the chemistry teacher?”
He took a quick glance at the clock and cringed. His day had started before the sun had rose. “I’ve been working for eleven hours. It’s time to take a little break. All our problems will still be there tomorrow. Besides, that baby of yours is probably really missing her mama.”
She relaxed into her seat. “I miss her, too It’s like I’ve been missing an arm all day.”
Owen faced the front and watched the first drops of rain trickle down from the sky. If the rain didn’t stop soon, he’d have one more problem to add to all the rest.
A vise squeezed his heart. He had a sneaky suspicion that when this mess was sorted out, his biggest problem would be how to deal with his feelings for Marie and how he’d let her walk away.
The danger of the day combined with Marie’s bone-crushing need to see Nora kept her focus out the window as Owen drove her back to Safe Haven Women’s Shelter. The warm pizza he’d picked up along the way sat on her lap, the combination of garlic and pepperoni making her mouth water.
Owen parked Katherine’s SUV in the driveway and shut off the engine. “I’ll carry the food. I texted Mrs. Collins and let her know we were on the way and bringing dinner.”
Marie unclasped her seatbelt and winced. The fullness of her breasts reminded her she wasn’t the only one who needed fed. The few hours she’d been away from Nora had been the longest she’d gone without feeding her daughter since her birth. She’d left formula with Mrs. Collins in case Nora was hungry while she was away, but that didn’t do anything to help the growing ache in Marie’s chest.
“I need to check on Nora then I’ll meet you in the kitchen.” She waited for him to grab the square box from her lap then hopped out of the vehicle and bounded up the steps to the front door.
Her heart almost burst from her body to find Mrs. Collins waiting in the foyer, Nora nestled in her arms. “Hi, there. I figured you’d need to see this precious one as soon as you arrived.”
Marie gathered Nora close and pressed her lips to her forehead. “Hey, baby girl. Mommy missed you so much.”
“She missed you, too, but she was a perfect angel while you were gone.”
Marie beamed with pride. “Thank you for watching her. I’m going to feed her really quick.”
“Take your time,” Mrs. Collins said as the door opened, and Owen stepped inside.
“I’ll be right back,” she called over her shoulder and hurried up the stairs. The warmth of Nora’s body seeped through her T-shirt. She cuddled Nora close, savoring the feel of her baby in her arms. Words couldn’t describe how much she’d missed Nora, but at least her daughter hadn’t been in danger. Hadn’t been in the room when her father showed up and shot a man.
She’d been safe and warm, enjoying her time with a houseful of women who adored her.
Once in her room, Marie closed the door and settled into the rocking chair. She adjusted her shirt, placed Nora in her favorite eating spot, and melted against the back of the chair as the pressure that had filled her breasts slowly released.
Nora’s head moved and silly sounds gurgled from her mouth as she devoured her evening meal.
Tension relaxed the tight muscles in Marie’s neck. Any doubt that Nora had been properly taken care of all floated away. Her daughter was happy and stress free. A perfect bundle of joy in a world filled with chaos.
But she wouldn’t think about any of that chaos now. Not while looking down at Nora’s full cheeks and pert little nose. This was their moment, their time, their experience. She wouldn’t let in anything that would take away from it. Like Owen said earlier, it’d all be there waiting for them later.
When Nora turned her head away, Marie lifted her and smoothed her hand over her little back until she burped, then righted her shirt before heading back downstairs. She pushed open the swinging door to the kitchen, and her heart warmed at the scene she stumbled into.
Mrs. Collins sat at the head of the table while Owen bustled around the kitchen—carrying a stack of napkins in one hand and a pitcher of water with the other. The pizza box sat in the middle of the table, the lid wide open to show off the deliciousness inside.
“Have a seat,” Owen said, sliding out a chair.
The gesture was so small, so simple yet something so large. She’d never had a man pull out a chair for her.
“Thanks,” she mumbled, heat flaming her cheeks.
“Can I, uh, hold the baby while you eat?” Owen cleared his throat, his eyes wide and filled with hesitation, as if unsure if he should even ask the question.
She struggled not to lift her brow in surprise. Bill had never held his own child, only complained about her cries and the money it took to keep her in diapers. He’d never shown an ounce of concern or even mild interest in Nora.
“Are you sure?” She asked. “Might make it harder for you to eat.”
He wrinkled his nose. “I already stole a slice. Mrs. Collins is expecting another guest this evening. It’ll be better if I’m gone before she gets here.”
