Page 52 of Triplet Babies for my Ex's Best Friend

By the time I’ve found Oliver’s shoes, convinced Captain not to steal one of them, located the right jacket, found a different jacket because apparently the first one is “too itchy,” and double-checked that I have my phone, keys, and enough dignity left to function in public, I’m already sweating.

“Do you need the blue plane?” I ask as Oliver heads toward the door.

“Yes.”

“The whole time?”

“Yes.”

“Emotionally, I support that,” I say. “Practically, I predict you’ll ask me to carry it in six minutes.”

“I won’t.”

Captain noses my hand.

“You,” I tell him, pointing at Captain, “are staying here.”

The betrayal in his eyes is immediate and theatrical.

Oliver frowns. “Can’t he come?”

“Not this time,” I say. “I’m still learning how to leave the building with one child and my dignity. I’m not adding a golden retriever to the equation.”

Captain huffs like this is deeply unreasonable.

“I know,” I tell him. “You’re very hard done by.”

Five minutes later, I’m in the elevator with a child, a tote bag, and the distinct sensation that if anything goes wrong, Ethan will somehow know.

The doors open onto the lobby.

And of course…

“Addy!”

I close my eyes briefly.

Diane, naturally.

She appears from nowhere, or perhaps from the exact corner of the lobby where women like her wait for narrative developments.

She’s holding a coffee cup and wearing the expression of someone who absolutely didn't just happen to be there.

“Well,” she says brightly, eyes flicking between Oliver and me. “Look at you already settling in.”

“We’re heading out for supplies,” I say.

“Supplies,” she repeats, in the tone of someone who knows this means information.

Oliver, traitor that he is, says, “There’s no good food.”

Diane gasps. “Oh, dear.”

I point at him. “Thank you for your discretion.”

He shrugs.

She crouches slightly to Oliver’s level. “And how are you doing, sweetheart?”