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“Do you have more kids?” I ask, glancing around as if I’m about to be ambushed by more of the very thing I’m trying to leave behind.
“Nah. I just have Evelyn, though I won’t say never to more. Kiersten just has Cedric for now, but the way those two can’t keep their hands to themselves, I’m betting she’ll be pregnant again in a month or two. By plural, I included your dog child because she’s just perfect.”
The heaviness wafts away, and I smile. “Thank you. I didn’t mean to crash in on your efforts, though. I plan to work too.” I hold up the cleaning caddy in my right hand.
Cami drops Ghost’s leash to allow her to explore and hooks me through the elbow. As she drags me away, Rhett’s fingertips drift along my lower back until he’d have to physically follow to keep them intact. The look in his eyes is a mixture of heat and concern as I turn to share a content smile over my shoulder.
I’ll think about that later.
“If you want to lend your efforts to the task, I won’t be the one to stop you. But I will make sure you are properly liquored while you do it. If you drink, that is. If not, ignore me. No pressure whatsoever,” Cami says as she tows us to a halt at the kitchen island.
“I’ll have a drink, sure.” I can’t even remember the last time. When we were trying to have a baby, I cut out anything that might even remotely hurt my chances, even if it was just in my head and not proven by science.
“Wine, seltzer, vodka soda, or something stronger?” She waggles her eyebrows.
“Have a strong one for me.” Kiersten pouts.
“I keep telling her she has options.” Cami rolls her eyes.
“We don’t pump and dump in this house. My milk is liquid gold, thank you very much.” Kiersten looks at me. “I only have a drink if someone’s babysitting and the little man has a bottle.”
At the mention of the baby, my attention drops there. “I think that’s inspiring. The things mothers are willing to do for the sake of their children’s well-being.”
The silence raises my head just as the two women exchange a look. I’m guessing this isn’t the only time they’ve had to make sacrifices for their kids.
Cami clears her throat. “What can I get you?”
“Seltzer is great. Thank you.”
The crack of the can punctures the quiet, and I glance around the nearly empty room. This one appears to be fully packed up and ready to be cleaned. “Mind if I start here? You two can sit and keep me company.”
“Psh. Give me a sponge. We can take turns holding the baby.” Cami ties her hair into a messy bun.
There will be no baby holding for me. Helping with Tommy at my client’s house was one thing. I couldn’t get started until his mother came back. But this one is snuggled right where he belongs in his mother?
?s arms.
I fill the sink with my cleaning solution to start wiping down the cabinets and fridge. “Do you want to take the cabinets or the stove?” I ask Cami, who stands at the ready with a pair of yellow rubber gloves on as she drinks her own canned seltzer.
Her face contorts into a grimace. “Cabinets, please. I hate cleaning my own oven, and I’m scared of what hers looks like.”
“Then you’ll love to see how easy it is when I do it. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think an oven exists that doesn’t need a little elbow grease, but I have the secret weapon.”
We set out to our tasks. Cami takes over the sponge from the sink and wipes out all the open spaces while I work on degreasing the hood fan, stovetop, and oven. We make quick work together even with time spent giggling like girls and enjoying our drinks. I discover Cami is a paramedic with Kiersten’s husband, Nathan, and Kiersten is a 911 dispatcher. The three of them have been friends for over a decade.
It doesn’t take long for a familiar pang to remind me I’m alone in this world. I don’t have a tribe or a girl gang. I didn’t even leave friends behind. They all drifted over the years as they settled down and started families while I was steps behind.
Sitting in this room with two women who are clearly good friends brings another longing. I vow to myself I will find this in Arrow Creek if I settle down here or somewhere else. A solid friend or two to keep me grounded.
I make a mental note to thank Rhett again for bringing me along. For reminding me that all hope isn’t lost for my life at twenty-five. That I can find things to fulfill me even though I can’t have what I thought mattered most.
“Are you just super well-stocked on cleaning supplies and knowledge?” Cami breaks us out of a silent moment and leans her hip against the edge of the counter she just scrubbed.
“I used to run a cleaning business back home. I’m hoping to start one up here to help me get settled in.”
“You know, this isn’t so bad. When I set out on my own and moved here, I never would have thought of cleaning houses for income. It’s genius!” Cami rinses her sponge in the sink.
I rub my forearm across my forehead. “If I can build up enough clients, it should be a pretty steady career.”
