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9
Caiti
Dodgingquestions from a nosy sister-in-law after three years apart is a game of chess. Staying three moves ahead is impossible when I’m rusty from disuse. I use her upcoming nuptials to my advantage and steer us far away from the topic of my baby daddy. At least for the time being until we can all settle in.
Dane seems to relent on keeping us near and agrees to meet me at the end of the block each day to help me drive back to his place for some father-daughter time. The intention is twofold. He spends time with his daughter and assists me with driving through panic. As terrified as I was to make the drive back to Evie’s, knowing he was behind me somewhere eased my irrational fears.
This sudden turn of events is unwelcome at best.
Escaping Colorado was supposed to provide some clarity. Should I make the move permanent or simply establish a contingency plan should something happen to me? Factoring panic into this situation throws a rusty wrench into my plan. Decision-making is on the backburner.
But I refuse to lie down and accept it.
Each morning while Ophelia sleeps, I take my car around the block by myself. I drive in circles until the fear is replaced by boredom. Then I allow myself to return home, only to practice when Dane shows up in the afternoon. I don’t know how much it helps, but I'm not giving up until I feel safe driving again.
I turn into the second driveway that leads to the two small houses Rhett had built for Evie deep on their property. The two now live in the main home, and I’m grateful for the quiet space. A part of me considers paying them rent and moving into the tiny house full time. There’s space for Ophelia and me, and once she starts having sleepovers with her dad, I’ll have more than enough. The seclusion suits me just fine.
Rhett’s Jeep idles near the house. Evie stands beside the door with Ophelia on her hip, a black umbrella overhead blocking the drizzle. My baby girl shows off her teeth in a wide grin at something Rhett says. What’s going on here? I couldn’t have been gone for more than half an hour.
A text stalls me from exiting when I park beside Rhett.
Unknown: Good morning, beautiful. I hope a rainbow brightens your day.
I flashmy gaze to the gray sky. That’s a coincidence, right? It rains all the time in Colorado where he should be. And snows. And hails. And sleets. Maybe he’s speaking in metaphors or fucking poetry. There’s not a chance in hell he could have followed me here.
Shaking off his reoccurring intrusion, I exit the car. “Everything okay?” I ask and pluck my girl from her auntie.
“You’ve been avoiding me.” Evie’s fierce glare nearly incinerates me. “So I’ve recruited Rhett to watch the kids while we go dress shopping.”
“I’m sorry. Dress shopping for what?”
Her shoulders straighten. “For my wedding.”
“Oh. Of course. I’m sorry I’m spaced out. The client files I’m currently working on are a bunch of medical jargon that steals my brain function.” Which isn’t a lie. The files do give me a headache. Except I haven’t started any work yet today. The truth is, as glad as I am to be here, with so much going on, the wedding is pretty far from my mind.
Evie loops her arm with mine. “No matter. I don’t need your input. I just need your measurements.”
“Is this the part where I have no say in what sort of dress you stuff me into for your wedding?”
“Yep.” Evie grins. “Give the baby to Uncle Rhett so we can be on our way.”
Uncle Rhett climbs out of the car and opens the back seat to release his son Tommy. The sweet boy is very much a kid and not the toddler I used to hear stories about. “Hand her over.” Rhett scoops her beneath her armpits and into the air over his head, releasing from her a fit of squeals.
“Uncul Wet play?”
“Of course, beautiful.” He turns to me. “Do you mind if we take her to the p-a-r-k? Dane will meet us there.”
Remembering her desire to go on the swings cinches my heart, and I trust Evie’s fiancé implicitly after the way he took care of her when she was homeless. “Oh, not at all. You guys have fun.”
Evie loops her arm in mine and starts leading me away. “He already installed Tommy’s old car seat in the Jeep. He’ll never admit it, but he’s excited to take the two kids out on an adventure by himself.”
I shove my keys into her hand at the crook of my elbow. “You drive,” I call and scurry to the passenger side before she can protest.
Surface small talk fills the car on the short trip back into town. I still haven’t gotten my flow back with the woman I once considered a sister, and conversation from my end remains stilted.
“Thank you for dragging me out. It’s nice to see something other than Ophelia and my laptop screen.”
“Don’t thank me. I’m just glad you’re here.” Evie maneuvers the car to a curb in front of a brick store. Three women loitering around the exterior flail wildly in our direction.
“Do you know them?” The confusion in my tone gives away my solitary disposition. I’ve never been on the receiving end of such a greeting.
“You’ve already met Cami. She was the paramedic. Her partner Nathan’s wife Kiersten is the blonde.”
“So they’re what… a thruple?”
Evie snorts. “Oh, God no. Law would lose his ever-loving shit if Nathan put his hands on Cami. Nathan was the other paramedic from the day you arrived.”
“And who’s Law?” All the names swirl in my head.
“Law is Cami’s husband. The other brunette is Cami’s daughter, Evelyn.”
I study the two brunettes with matching grins. “They look more like sisters.”
Evie unlatches her seat belt and hands my keys over.
“Thanks.”
“Cami had her young. She was only sixteen or so.”
“No wonder they look more like sisters.”
“You’re going to love them. I know they made me feel instantly welcome here, and I hope they can do the same for you.”
Evie holds too much hope in her eyes for me to quash during such a momentous occasion. Most people only choose their wedding dress once in their life. Myself included. I’ll do whatever is necessary not to storm on her happy day.
“I’m excited!” Faking an emotion is a practiced skill at this point. I’m happy for my sister. Summoning up the appropriate amount of external enthusiasm is a challenge I refuse to back down from.
“Me too. I’m so glad you’re here.” I catch the shine in her eyes before she blinks, and it’s gone.
The group on the sidewalk is no less fervent on our approach. Hugs are dished out, and I’m also swept into three different pairs of arms. Cami’s hold lingers the longest.
“You look so much better,” she says beneath her breath.
“No small thanks to you. You really helped keep me calm,” I admit while admonishing myself for any lingering embarrassment.
“I’m glad you could join us so I can meet you in a non-professional capacity. I’ve heard so much about you.” Her exuberance is infectious. “This is my daughter, Evelyn.”
The youngest of the group waves from beside her mom. “Nice to meet you.”
“It’s nice to meet you too.”
The remaining woman on the sidewalk rests a hand on her rounded stomach. “Hey, I’m Kiersten, and because my husband can’t seem to keep his hands to himself, this is buns number three and four.”
Gasps mingle with the chirping birds.
“What?” Cami’s remark lands first, followed by her daughter. “You’re having twins?”
