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Eight
Robin bought Nova duplicates of everything she would have purchased for Becky if the need arose. Lightweight jeans for the summer and fall and spring, shorts, T-shirts, mostly in pinks and purples because those colors excited Nova the most, socks, underwear, pajamas, shoes. She added a detangling hairbrush and spray to the cart. It would definitely be needed. She’d have to make sure Nick knew how to handle Nova’s hair from the beginning.
Toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, other kid-friendly toiletries followed.
She hit housewares next. Family-friendly dishes would be needed. Her kids couldn’t go a full day without someone dropping something.
She doubted Nick had anything like that in his office bedroom. Crazy man. He was forty-seven years old. What had he thought he was doing?
He couldn’t live in the office forever.
Next was the bedding.
It took longer than she’d anticipated. Nova wanted to look at each one, eyeing them like they were the finest silk. “I’ve never had my own blankets before. I just slept on the couch with the scratchy brown one.”
“What about in your bedroom?”
“Noah had a bedroom. And so did Mommy. I sleeped on the couch.”
“You didn’t have a bedroom or a bed?” She was truly trying not to make assumptions about Nova’s mother and the conditions they had lived in. But…the picture she was getting from Nova’s comments…it wasn’t good.
Neglect, mostly. From what Nova had let slip, her mother spent most of her time sleeping in her bedroom, while the kids were in the living room. Or with a variety of boyfriends. She’d had so many that Nova didn’t remember their names.
“No. Will I at my new daddy’s? I can sleep on the couch. If I can be with Noah again. I don’t mind.”
“Yes. I’m sure you will have a bedroom.”
“Can it be pink?” There was such hope in her eyes. Robin wished she could just snap her fingers and have the perfect room magically appearing somehow.
“I think pink is a perfect color for a little girl’s room. But it might not be pink right away. Daddy will have to paint it pink when he can.” She’d tell him that herself. She strongly suspected Nick would see that it was done as fast as possible.
“I think that would be ok. I’ll take good care of my bedroom, Robin. I promise. I’ve always wanted one, like Sophie and Cammie at school. They said I was too poor to have my own room.”
“They sound like boogerheads, this Sophie and Cammie. Let’s pick out your blankets, then we’ll pick out sheets. And get you some really squishy pillows.” She was going to buy this kid the best pillows she could possibly find.
By the time they were back in the car, she was exhausted. So was Nova. It was in her eyes. But unlike Becky, who would have been in full-out whine mode, Nova just got exceptionally quiet.
Nick texted her an address.
“Oh good. Daddy’s found the perfect house. It’s in town, near the school and park, it looks like. That will be good.” Not that far from the one Robin lived in now, for that matter, either. Five blocks. “And I’m only five blocks away. You can come play with Becky sometimes. She’d really like that.”
That might just come in handy for Nick. He would need a break once in a while. Every parent did.
Nova just slipped one finger into her mouth and looked out the window.
Robin could easily feel the tension rising. The fear.
The store had been a good distraction. But now?
Nova had to face the father she didn’t know anything about. In a place she knew nothing about. Without the one person who had been her constant security.
Nova had to be terrified.
Why wouldn’t she be? Robin would. Moving back to Masterson had been terrifying itself—and her best friend was already living here by then. Doing it as a kid…she made Nova a silent promise.
She was going to help this baby, however she could.
“It’ll be ok, Nova. I promise. Your daddy is a good man. One of the best I have ever met. He will take good care of you. No matter what.”
