But that doesn’t mean I’m not curious.
More than I want to admit.
More than I’ve been in a long time.
Before I can say anything else, my phone buzzes and my sitter’s name flashes across the screen.
With a quick glance at Kia, I mutter, “Sorry, I need to take this.” Then I answer the call. “Hey, Katie. What’s up?”
Her voice shakes as she tells me about her mother having a heart attack, and that she needs to leave for Tennessee later today, which means she won’t be able to watch Elody like she normally does.
“Any idea when you’ll return?” I ask, my thoughts already jumping ahead to how I’ll cover the upcoming week.
“No. I’m really sorry about this. I hate leaving you in a lurch.” Tears fill Katie’s voice. “But my mother’s all alone, and there’s no one else to care for her.”
Even though this complicates matters, I say the only thing I can. “It’s fine. Go take care of your mom. Don’t worry about us, I’ll figure something out.”
She thanks me for my understanding before the line goes dead. It’s like a lead weight has been dropped straight onto my chest. This is the last thing I need when I’m trying to prove stability and consistency to a judge.
A revolving door of nannies won’t help matters.
“Well, that’s some shit timing,” I mutter more to myself than her.
Kia is so quiet that I almost forget she’s sitting next to me until she asks, “Is everything okay?”
“No, not really.” I lift a hand to massage the back of my neck. “It looks like my sitter will be gone indefinitely.”
“Well… if you need help,” she blurts, “I could watch Elody.”
Everything inside me stills.
A list of reasons I should shut down that idea is already forming in my head. Having this woman around even more will only complicate matters. She feels dangerous to the careful balance I’ve managed to find.
But looking at her and hearing Elody’s laughter ring through the cold air makes that impossible. Like it or not, the best thing for my daughter might just be Kia Van Doren.
7
Kia
The moment those words pop out of my mouth, heat floods my cheeks. I didn’t stop to weigh the pros and cons or even think about how the offer would sound. I saw the tension in Laiken’s face when his sitter called, and I simply reacted. Now he’s staring at me like I’ve suggested something outlandish. Like a striptease right here at the park.
His mouth opens and closes before a rough breath scrapes out of him. “No,” he says almost reluctantly. “That’s probably not a good idea.”
Of course it isn’t.
I nod in agreement, even as embarrassment eats away at me. The cold air suddenly has more of a bite as Elody’s carefree laughter rings out across the playground.
“I just meant…” I clear my throat when my voice wobbles. “I don’t mind helping out. I’m kind of between things right now.”
Between things.
Homeless. Pregnant. Terrified.
Fantastic wording, Kia.
Laiken drags a hand along his jaw, fingers scraping over dark stubble. His brows tug together, although not with annoyance. He looks conflicted. Like he’s mentally running through a list and coming up empty.
“It’s a lot,” he says grudgingly. “She can be a lot.”
