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My phone dings with a text from Noah. The butterflies she unleashes in me with each message, call, and kiss require a reminder that I’m not a teenager.
Noah: Crossing the bridge into Kentucky. See you soon.
Mondays are normally Rainey and Noah’s day to meet with Dunbar, but this week’s visitation was pushed to tomorrow because of a scheduling conflict with Noah’s work.
Stuffed in their winter coats, Maggie and Rainey run circles around me outside until Noah pulls her car into the driveway. Rainey’s voice now seems a little hoarse, likely from all the talking she did today. I can’t wait to see Noah. The girls and I pile into her car and head to the farm for dinner.
Rainey develops a cough to accompany her hoarseness while we’re eating with my family. Unwilling to risk getting Claire or Rufus sick, which I appreciate, Noah suggests we cut out early. Her confidence to decide on Rainey’s behalf has skyrocketed since I met her.
“I’m going to give her some cold medicine,” she says as we unload Maggie and Rainey from the car. “I’ll probably keep her home from school tomorrow if her cough doesn’t improve. I don’t have any in-person appointments tomorrow, and I need to catch up on my emails anyway.” Noah walks through her decision-making process out loud. Her new self-assuredness is a turn on.
When we check in on Rainey the next morning, she doesn’t sound any better. She’s fever-free, but a nasty cough lingers. It’s a divide-and-conquer morning with Noah helping dress Maggie, while I move even quicker than usual to drop my daughter off and minimize my office tardiness.
I peek my head into Rainey’s bedroom to say goodbye. Noah’s sitting on her niece’s bed, talking her down from an impending tantrum. She’s not happy to be missing school.
“What about seeing my dad?” I hear Rainey ask.
“We might need to move our playdate to when you’re feeling better, baby cakes. We can’t go out while you have this cough. You don’t want to get anyone else sick, right?” Her gentle tone is firm, but full of love.
“Why can’t he come over? We can play here.” Rainey whines, stopping me in my tracks. I don’t want Dunbar anywhere near my daughter, a sentiment I’ve discussed in depth with Noah, who notices me in the doorway. She’s pulled her bottom lip between her teeth, calculating a reply.
“Text me,” I mouth to her as I step inside the room. I ruffle Rainey’s head and tell her to feel better, but she pays me no mind.
“Let me check on it, okay?” She appeases her niece for the time being, but her words make my stomach flop.
I brainstorm the entire way from Liberty Elementary to my office. Telling Noah what she can and can’t do in her own home feels wrong. My need to keep Dunbar away is solely for the sake of my daughter. Maybe Maggie and I could hang out at the farm while Rainey sees her dad.
I give Claire a quick call as I pull into my office’s parking lot on two wheels. I’ve found the workaround for Rainey’s request.
Logan: I’ll take Mags to the farm after school and finish my work there. Rainey and Dunbar can have their visit at the house. Just let me know when you’re done.
Noah: Are you sure? I know you don’t want my brother here.
Logan: I don’t want Dunbar around my daughter. How do you feel about being alone with him and Rainey? Can Izabeth come over?
Noah: I’ll check, but I think she has a work dinner tonight. It’ll be okay.
My confidence in Dunbar is non-existent. I have to trust Noah knows him best and is making the right call.
Noah calls just after 6 p.m., her voice immediately letting me know the visit didn’t go as planned. Rainey’s wails in the background drag my mind toward the worst possible thought.
“Did he hurt her?” I grunt with trepidation. I’ve never intentionally caused physical harm to another human, but I’m not sure I can stop myself if Dunbar laid a hand on Rainey. She’s stolen a piece of my heart, and I’ll be damned if I let him get away with hurting her.
“No. She’s um—she’s okay.” Noah says with a tremble.
“Are you sure?” Claire flashes me a knowing, but fearful look, reminding me thatallthe ears in her home can hear my conversation. I step outside onto the porch.
“She’s upset, but she’ll be ok. We’re both okay. Can you just come home?”
I thank my aunt for dinner and load Maggie into the car without hanging up with Noah. Claire squeezes me tight as we leave. The only thing preventing me from burning rubber is Maggie’s sweet face behind me.
Unsure of what I’m walking into, I instruct Maggie to stay inside the car after we pull into the garage, locking the doors and taking the keys with me.
At first glance, everything seems fine, except for Rainey’s insistent crying. Noah’s sitting on the couch with her niece in her lap, humming and rocking her back and forth.
The destruction of Dunbar’s visit enters my view as I start to take a seat next to Noah. My eyes go wide at the evidence of water on the wall in the dining area, surrounding a spot where something made impact with the drywall. I nearly step on a large shard of glass as I make my way closer to inspect. Peach rose petals and mangled flowers litter the floor, mixing with what remains of the vase the flowers occupied.
The assumption my mind trudges up is excruciating and unfathomable. “I’ll be right back,” I tell Noah, before rescuing Maggie from my car. I carry her straight upstairs to her bedroom and let her know she can play, color, read, or whatever she wants, but she has to stay upstairs. She’s unphased and delighted to be told she can do whatever she wants.
