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“Hey, he’s fine,” Steve said, seeing Annie’s tears. “Come on up.”
The women went up to the apartment, filing through the door. As soon as the little boy saw Annie, he ran to her, happy to see her.
“Look how red your cheeks are,” Annie said, bending down to pick up her son.
“He doesn’t seem warm to me. But I don’t have a thermometer,” Steve said.
“Thank you for taking him,” Annie said.
“No problem at all. Just add me to his emergency list, Annie.”
“I didn’t add you because I didn’t want to interfere with your job. You said yourself that if I couldn’t watch my own child that you weren’t available either.”
“Annie, it’s fine. I was being a jerk. It’s one of the perks of working for my father. If I have an emergency, I just leave. No problem.”
“Well, since Calista called you, I guess it’s not an issue.”
They said goodbye and left with little Stevie. “You get to walk,” Annie said, putting his feet on the ground. “You’re too big to carry.”
“He’s a big boy,” Maggie said, taking his free hand.
“You guys, maybe going by the new house now isn’t such a good idea if this kid is sick,” Annie said. “I don’t want to expose your kids, either.”
“Yeah, I forgot about that,” Katrina said. “He seems fine, but maybe you should get him home.”
“We’ll walk you back to the dock,” Annie said.
“That’s not necessary! I’m going to stop in Spencers and get dinner. I’m sick of cooking.”
They hugged Maggie goodbye.
“Call us when you get home,” Annie called.
They chatted on the way to Annie’s house. Katrina headed home walking backward while they continued talking.
“This reminds me of when we were kids after school,” Katrina said, laughing. “I’m so glad we still live down the street from each other.”
After they said goodbye, Annie took Stevie into the house and got him on the couch with a sippy cup of water andBaby Einsteinon his iPad. Then she got out her phone and sent Chris a text, outlining her day including Stevie being sick.
Her phone soon beeped with a call.
“Hey! That’s too bad about the little guy being sick,” Chris said. “I guess you can’t come over then.”
“I’d better not,” she said. “But tell me, do you have posters of Britney Spears on the walls?”
Chris barked out a laugh. “Not yet, but maybe, if you don’t move in pretty soon.”
She joined in the laughter, telling him she thought they should just make that a bachelor’s pad for now. It would get her off the hook.
“I don’t want that,” Chris said, his voice clearly distraught. “I’m only here because of you, Annie.”
“Well, you and your brothers.”
“No, you. I love you. I’m sorry things changed so drastically.”
“I know, Chris. It’s all out of our control. It’s not over yet, okay? Let life settle down. We’ll talk later tonight, okay?”
“After we get the truck emptied, I’ll shower and come over, if that’s okay.”
