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“That’s ridiculous, and I’m not agreeing to it.”
“You’re not agreeing to child support?” she asks. I know she’s purposely misunderstanding me. She’s so damn stubborn.
Well, she needs to get over it. I am going to take care of my son.
“I’m not going to let you kill yourself to pay for everything while I just sit back and watch. Let’s just interview the candidates and see if one works out. Then, we can go from there,” I say reasonably.
“Fine,” she agrees easily. Too easily.
“I don’t like the sound of that fine. You’re just going to find something wrong with every single candidate,” I say accusingly.
Her mutinous expression tells me that she’s about to argue with me. Except she doesn’t. The briefest of smiles starts to come through.
And then she starts laughing.
She’s giggling as she says, “Of course I was going to find something wrong with them all.”
My eyes narrow suspiciously. “Now you’re not?”
“No, now I’m not. A nanny, even temporarily, might be a good thing. However, I don’t intend this to be a permanent thing.”
If I were keeping track, I’d say that’s one point for me.
I put on my most charming smile. “Good thing you came to your senses. The first candidate will be here at five o’clock tomorrow evening.”
Liz rolls her eyes in response and leans back on the couch. “I give up,” she grumbles.
“That’s what I like to hear. Now, I want you to go take a long nap. I’m taking care of Matthew.”
“You and who else?”
“Funny.”
She looks at me, and I can sense her exhaustion in the slump of her shoulders. “I’m not going to lie. I’m tired. You’ll wake me up if you need anything?”
“Of course.”
“Bottles are in the fridge, already made. What else?”
“I got it. Go to bed,” I command gently.
Liz emerges from her bedroom four hours later. I sense her presence behind me, even before she makes herself known.
She’s showered and changed into a loose t-shirt and a pair of black leggings. The nap did wonders for her. Dark circles are no longer darkening her eyes, and she seems more alert.
When she sees Matthew sleeping peacefully in his bassinet beside me, she smiles gratefully. “How is he still asleep?”
“Still? That boy woke up as soon as your door closed and stayed awake the entire time. He just fell asleep ten minutes ago. How is it possible for a baby to sleep so little?” I ask in exasperation.
Liz laughs. “I’m hoping he’ll get the hang of it soon.”
“How was your nap?”
“It was amazing. The best sleep I’ve had in weeks. In fact, I feel so good that I just thought of an idea. What if we go on a walk?”
“A walk? That does sound good. It will do us all some good to get some fresh air. I just need to put on a fresh shirt.”
Because this one has baby spit up on it. I leave that part unsaid.
