“We’re fine. Say goodnight, CJ.”
"Nye," a tiny little voice said. Lisa and I stared at each other, all awkwardness and anger were forgotten.
“Did he just say a word? Like an actual word?” I asked her.
"Yeah," she laughed, and it was a real one.
“Has he done this before?”
"No." She shook her head, still smiling. "I mean, he babbles a lot, but no words."
"Hold on. I'm gonna grab my phone. Let's see if we can get him to repeat it." I ran down the hall to my bedroom, grabbed my phone, and got back to the nursery just in time to see Lisa rocking CJ again with a finger to her lips. His head rested heavily on her shoulder, and his eyes were closed. She gave me an apologetic look and mouthed the word "sorry" as she leaned over the rail of his crib and laid him down. Her smile faded when she stood up to face me.
“Hey,” I reached up to rub my hair. “Do you wanna talk or something? I feel like things have been weird between us all week.”
“Actually, I should go back to bed. We’re going ring shopping tomorrow, remember?”
"Hey, Lisa—" But I was interrupted by the door to the bathroom that connected hers and CJ's bedrooms closing.
The next morning,I found Lisa in the kitchen wearing her running gear. CJ was still asleep.
“Good morning.”
“Hey.”
“On your way out?”
“Yeah. Headed to your family’s for breakfast?”
“Yup… You know you can come, too.”
“That’s okay. I’m gonna meet up with Sasha after my run, but I’ll meet you downtown?”
“Sure.”
“Bye.” She turned and walked out of the door.
“What’s wrong with you?”My sister had caught me daydreaming after breakfast at our parents’ house.
“Huh? Nothing.”
"Something." Kimberly shot Adam a look, and he took CJ out of his chair.
“Come on, little man. Let’s go see what Pop-pop Reggie is doing.”
Mom was in her study, and Dad was in the sitting room.
“I think I did something bad,” I said once we were alone.
I told her about Susan Charing’s idea, my conversation with Lisa last week and her reaction.
“Have you talked to Dad about this?”
“No.”
“You should.”
“Probably. But what should I do about Lisa?”
