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More spit bubbles and this time they’re accompanied by some cute little kicks of her chubby feet that get me in the ribs. I don’t mind though. I love when she wiggles her tiny little body.
I kiss her little fist again. “Best friends forever.”
At this, she not only kicks me again but her entire body flails and jiggles in happiness. Plus she laughs. And then I have to kiss her fist again and again, and a bunch more times because how can I not?
She’s my baby boo.
“What are you doing?”
I startle at the voice and look up.
Standing at the mouth of the kitchen — where I’m hanging out with Halo, and of course, doing other unsavory things — is my other BFF, Callie.
Usually I’d be happy to see her. Given that not only is she my BFF, she’s my very first BFF ever since we bumped into each other at a soccer game three years ago. Plus she’s my sister-in-law too. But since I was trying to get away from her, at her house no less, I’m kinda feeling guilty.
“Nothing.”
She frowns, walking in. “You’ve been gone forever. Everyone’s waiting for you.”
Everyone includes my posse of other BFFs. Courtesy of Callie because I met them through her.
“Well, I went to the bathroom.” Then, “I’m allowed to go to the bathroom, aren’t I?”
Damn it.
That sounded super defensive.
And suspicious.
I wasn’t doing anything wrong. It’s just that sometimes I can get a little possessive of Halo and I don’t like to share her, even with her mommy. And now that she’s here, I’ll have to give up Halo.
“What’s going on?” When she reaches Halo and me, she peers down at the little bundle strapped across my chest and runs a finger down her pink cheek. “What’s going on with your aunt, Lolo?”
“Gah. Gah. Ahhh.”
Accompanied by some fierce wiggling and pumping of her fists, trying to leap onto her mommy. Which is something that I knew she’d do so I’m already halfway through loosening the sling wrap from around my body so Callie can go for Halo.
Despite being a possessive aunt, I don’t blame Halo.
Or Callie.
For doing that.
I also don’t blame Halo for giving her mommy the biggest smile as Callie settles her against her chest. A smile that lights up the entire room. And the smile that Callie returns possibly lights up the whole town of Bardstown. And then Halo, or Lolo as Callie calls her sometimes, launches into a series of babbles and coos that Callie nods at like she understands everything.
I just wish I had someone to give me a smile like that.
“Well, Lolo says,” Callie says, looking up at last, “her aunt needs another cupcake.”
Despite myself, I smile. “She’s right. Or maybe she’s giving you a signal that she’s ready to taste your cupcakes.”
“Absolutely not.” Callie shakes her head. “She’s only five months old. No solids until six months.”
Halo blows another spit bubble — this time in protest, I’m sure — and out of nowhere, Callie produces a burp cloth and wipes off Halo’s chin and lips. And she does it all without even looking.
I raise my eyebrows. “Is it because you’re afraid that she’s growing up too fast?”
Callie’s shoulders droop. “She is, isn’t she?” She peers down at Halo again. “I mean, she was just inside me, you know? Like yesterday. She used to kick and punch and,” she smiles, “hiccup. And then she came. She could barely hold her head up. Hardly maintain any eye contact. She was all scrunched up like my little monkey. And now look at her, she’s cooing and her eyes are so big. The other day, she even pointed at a dog in the park like she knew what it was. Like, how? How is she getting so big and smart? Shouldn’t she be pressed up to my chest and just suck on my boobs and sleep? I think she’s growing up faster than other babies.” Finally, Callie looks up at me with the same blue eyes as Halo. “Don’t you think?”
I give her a sympathetic look.
But she sighs dejectedly. “You think I’m crazy.”
Halo coos again, probably trying to soothe her mommy.
Her mommy gives her a little kiss on her chubby cheeks.
“No, I think you’re a mommy,” I tell her, my throat feeling slightly choked up. “Actually you’re the best mommy in the whole world.”
Callie looks up then, her eyes shiny, a small smile on her face. “Thanks. I love you.”
I smile back. “I love you too.”
Then comes a voice from the living room.
“Where is everybody? We need to finish what we started.”
We both look at each other, slightly guilty that instead of doing what we’re supposed to do, we’re standing here wasting time. Actually it’s my fault so I say, “Shit. Let’s go.”
Patting Halo’s diapered bottom, she says, “Yup. Duty calls.”
In the living room, we find everything exactly as we left it: brown leather couches covered in heaps of clothing and accessories, and when I say heaps I mean it. I think I practically brought my entire wardrobe tonight. Then there are shoes littering the hardwood floor, again heaps of them because I also brought almost my entire shoe collection with me too: heels, strappy heels, wedges, peep-toes, booties, high-heeled booties, mid-heeled booties, pencil heels, block heels and everything else that you can think of.
