As we climb into my Hummer, Evie just shakes her head, and for the first time, I feel embarrassed to be driving it. I know it’s flashy, big, and crappy on gas. And not practical. But all of those things were funny to me before.
I bought it because it makes me fucking laugh.
I don’t feel like laughing as we strap Mia into the massive back seat. This car was not built to carry little girls in it. It’s too utilitarian, too big. Maybe I should have borrowed Jonas’s minivan. But there’s no time and I’m not about to apologize for my wheels to anybody. Even if I want to.
Traffic is light on Sundays, so we pull into the hospital parkade in plenty of time. Mia holds both our hands, swinging between us as we walk. Her constant chatter is a welcome distraction.
“What am I walking into here? I need to know so I can prepare myself.” Evie says.
“Fair enough. You’re meeting with the head of HR, Elizabeth Jones. Based on her excitement, the job in the NICU is yours, Evie. The interview is a technicality.”
Her mouth firms. “How do you have so much pull here? Management doesn’t usually come in on the weekends.”
I point to the crane in the distance. “We committed about fifty percent of the funds to build the new cancer center. They’re predisposed to give us anything we want, just to make sure the donations don’t stop.”
“So, you’re basically blackmailing them into giving me a job?” Her words are harsh, biting.
I stop, taking Evie’s arm to pull her around to face me. “You sure have everything figured out, huh? I can’t decide if I should be offended that you’d think that of me. Of us. Or pity you for not having enough confidence to know that a nurse of your skill set would be an asset to any hospital. All I had to do was tell her about you and she was begging me for the meeting, Evie. But you want to go in there with a shitty attitude and fuck this up? Go right ahead.”
Her mouth tightens, and she won’t meet my eyes.
“Why does it feel like I want a better life for you, more than you do?” Shaking my head, I release her arm. “Let’s go. She’s waiting for us.”
“What did you tell her about me? About why I left my other hospital?”
“Not a fucking thing. I’m not interested in spreading lies.”
Elizabeth is waiting for us in the foyer, shaking our hands happily. No sign of frustration that she had to come in on a Sunday for this.
“And who is this beautiful girl?” she asks, smiling at Mia.
“I Mia. I three!” As much as it would suck for her in middle school, I hope she always says three like that. It’s fucking adorable.
“Oh, my goodness Mia. Three is the very best age!”
The two of them become fast friends, chatting and talking as we ride the elevator up. Stopping a floor before the HR offices, Elizabeth brings Mia to a daycare room.
“We have a twenty-four-hour daycare for the staff here. Do you think Mia would like to play while we meet?” She asks Evie. Evie looks undecided but finally agrees to let Mia play. The second she hears her mom’s approval, Mia bolts into the room, joining the other kids.
“I’ll wait right here with her,” I reassure Evie. “We’ll see you when you get back.” She nods, and they head back to the elevator.
I occupy myself watching Mia through the daycare windows. It’s a bright, cheerful room, and it’s clear by the smiles on the faces of the caregivers and kids that they’re being well taken care of.
How did I go from never thinking about kids two months ago to spending so much of my time worrying about Mia’s well-being? I never thought I’d have kids. I never fucking wanted any. They’re too breakable and this world is too mean. Then Becca and Holly became part of our family and things changed.
Suddenly, I can imagine having Mia in my life every single day. I already know I’m gonna miss her when she moves on.
Because I’m pretty sure Evie is going to bail on us. Whatever she’s got going on in her head, whatever has happened to her in the past, has made her defensive. And I don’t know if she’s gonna give us enough time to earn her trust before she takes off.
I wish I could just snap my fucking fingers, and Evie would know who we are. I get that it’s stupid that I care so much. I don’t know this woman. Why can’t I get her out of my fucking head? It’s not like she’s some bombshell. She’s way too thin, for my taste at least. She’s grumpy, she’s argumentative, and she’s annoying as fuck. But she’s also a really wonderful mom. And clearly, judging by the fact that she helped Holly escape, has a strong moral compass.
I need to get out of my head, so I move through the hallways near the daycare, cataloging all the security cameras I can find, and studying the security procedures. Within about half an hour, I can already tell we’re gonna have to make some serious upgrades. If Mia is going to be in this daycare, she needs to be far more protected. All the kids do.
I pull out my phone, opening our family text.
Me:Security around the daycare at the hospital is too fucking loose.
Holly:Is Evie interviewing now?
