AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Stirling
Nudge her, please!
Twenty minutes later my phone rings. It is a glorious sound.
CHAPTER19
Magdalena
As great as it is having Mom helping me with the babies, I can’t stop wishing I was sharing these moments with Stirling, which freaks me out—just a lot.
“I’m heading out in an hour for a little while. Brilliant Crystal’s Buffet of Clothes, Jewelry & Accessories is having a sale and I need … something brilliant. Call Stirling. Talk while I’m out.”
“Fine. But only because I happen to have already decided to call him this morning.” I point to my phone, as if Mom can see my calendar, where I did type in, ‘Call S and apologize’ at 10:15 AM.
At 10:15, I dial.
“You answered,” I say, truly surprised.
“Who else would answer?”
“I mean … never mind.”
“How are you? And the babies? All healthy and happy?”
“Healthy. Not so sure about happy, though. Did you want to come over and meet them?” I hold my breath since he doesn’t answer right away.
“When were you thinking?”
Before I answer, Kassandra releases an ear-splitting wail from her bassinet. “Anytime is good. Or bad, depending on your appetite for experiencing the sounds of the supernatural, up close and personal.”
“What do you need?”
What do I need? I need to apologize for freaking out and pushing you away. “Just your patience?” I say.
“I can do better than that,” he says. “See you soon.”
I’m amazed at how much relief I feel. Even Kassandra’s screeching sounds less intense, just knowing Stirling is on his way over for a visit.
He arrives twenty minutes later. I buzz him up but when I open the door to let him in, he asks me to go to the bedroom so he can set up a surprise.
“Stirling, you being here is surprise enough for me. I honestly don’t think I could handle a surprise.” I lean in close so he can hear me over the crying. I want to kiss his neck but he steps back.
He looks over my shoulder at where I’ve just placed Kassandra in her rocking bassinet. “Leave her with me. Take a breather. Cover your head with a pillow or something. I just need five minutes.”
“What are—”
“Shush. I’ll come and get you when I’m ready.”
He looks so relaxed. I can’t understand how he’s not wincing and whinging at the sounds coming from my daughter. No sane person would willingly subject themselves to this.
I do as he asks and head back to my bedroom, which is now equipped with two small cribs and bumpers on two sides of my king size bed. Baby clothes and diapers are stacked on the floor since Mom wants to build the nursery furniture herself, but hasn’t gotten to it.
I open my closet door and pull out Stirling’s backpack, which has most of the things he left behind four days ago; all the things I’d packed in my hissy fit. It makes me sad to consider giving it to him, so I empty it on the bed and put everything back exactly where he left it.
“Knock, knock.” Stirling pokes his head in the door just as I’m dropping his empty bag back in the closet. He’s cradling a baby in his arms. A quiet baby. “Did you change him?” I ask, since Mr. Chill was in an orange footie and is now wearing the same color as Ms. Vixen.
He shakes his head.
