Bennett was deep in conversation with their friends when Mitch’s phone buzzed.
He pulled it from his pocket. “Hey, Darla. What’s up?” He paused and wrinkled his brow. “Are you sure?”
Immediately, a look of concern filled Shelly’s face. “Is Daisy okay?”
Ivy pressed a hand to her sister’s arm, hoping this wasn’t anything serious.
Mitch raised a finger. “I thought Shelly brought the diaper bag in when we dropped off Daisy. Have you looked in the kitchen?”
“No, I thought you took it inside,” Shelly said.
Mitch shook his head as he continued speaking with Darla. “If you’ve looked everywhere, it’s probably not there. Maybe we forgot to bring it inside with us.”
“We should go back,” Shelly said, biting her lip. “Daisy needs her diapers and baby food and clothes. And her binky and panda. She’ll be upset without them. I was afraid it was too early to leave her overnight.”
“She’ll be okay,” Ivy said, trying to soothe her.
Mitch frowned at Shelly and went on. “She is? Sure, if you don’t mind.”
Growing agitated, Shelly reached for the phone. “I’ll tell Darla we’re leaving now.”
“Sounds good. Thanks.” Mitch tapped the phone and hung up. “Relax, babe. Darla has extras of everything there. She can call Louise to pick up anything she might need after the laundry closes.”
Shelly pressed her fingers to her temple. “I wish I could’ve talked to Daisy. Is she upset?”
“Not at all.” Mitch grinned. “She’s happily eating berries. Darla is a pretty cool grandmother to Daisy. She’s got this.”
Ivy smiled and put an arm around her sister. “I know how hard it is to leave your baby girl alone the first time, but Daisy will be fine. Darla raised a son, remember?”
Slowly, Shelly nodded. “I just wanted Daisy to have everything she needed. What if she can’t sleep in a strange house?”
“She knows Darla’s place, and she can sleep anywhere now,” Mitch said, kissing Shelly on the cheek.
When Shelly looked doubtful, Ivy said, “You can trust Darla to care for Daisy. She loves her and wouldn’t let anything happen to her.”
“I guess you’re right,” Shelly said, taking a sip from her glass.
A moment later, Emilie joined them again. Taking Shelly’s hand with a wink, she said, “You should see my garden. Come with me.”
“Go,” Ivy said to Shelly with a reassuring look.
As Emilie led her away, Mitch turned back to Ivy. “Thanks for reassuring Shelly. She wanted to come, but I could tell that letting Daisy stay overnight was a big stretch for her. I didn’t expect that. I miss the kiddo, too.”
“It’s another first,” Ivy said, fondly recalling when her daughters were that age. Although her sister had always been spirited and carefree, she had grown into a concerned mother now.
A few minutes later, Ivy spied Shelly gripping her phone, so she started toward her.
Frowning, Shelly asked, “Be sure to get the right size diapers.”
Ivy could hear Darla’s gruff voice scratching over the phone. “If I run out, I’ll pin a dishtowel on Daisy. I’m kidding, of course. Go have a good time.”
Click.
Shelly stared at the phone. “I can’t believe she hung up on me.”
“That was the second call within ten minutes. Daisy will be fine. Darla and Poppy practically fought over who would babysit.”
“I just wanted to tell Daisy good night.”
