“Well, you have sweet dreams. I miss you, baby. But I know you’re having so much fun with your daddy.”
“I miss you, Mommy.”
I heard her blow him a kiss. He leaned forward and kissed the phone. Then he held it up to me. I took it and saw her still on the line.
“Let me talk to your mom for a minute, okay? I’ll be right back.”
“’Kay.” Andrew picked up the book and started to read while I stepped into the hallway.
“I think he’ll be okay now,” she said. It wasn’t what I expected. I told her I’d protect him from my mother, and I hadn’t done a good job of it. I’d expected her to go at me on it.
“She didn’t say anything bad to him,” I said, feeling like I should address it anyway.
She looked down. “Kids can sense how people feel about them. He thinks she doesn’t like him.”
“I’ll talk to him.”
“Maybe you need to talk to her,” she snapped. Immediately I saw her eyes turn to regret. “I’m sorry…I just…he’s innocent in all this.”
“I’ll deal with it. I promise.”
She nodded. “Thank you.” She looked tired and sad and a lot of what I felt.
“How did you do all this by yourself?”
She smiled warmly. “I had my parents help. But most I learned as I went. I’ve had time to adjust and adapt. You’ll get it.”
“I don’t know. I don’t have even half of what I need.” I shook my head, starting to feel a bit overwhelmed by it all.
“Like what?”
“A booster seat. Toys. All of it. I’ve started a list.”
“You’ll need a car seat if you want to take him in your car,” she said.
“Jesus, how much does one little kid need?”
“I can give you a list, if you like.”
“How will I know what to choose?” I ran my hand through my hair.
“The people at the shop, or maybe you can bring your sister.”
I snorted. “Bri would be useless. I’d probably come home with a ten-foot-tall stuffed panda or something.”
Serena smiled, and I had an urge to reach out to touch her. Not in a sexual sense, but just in a camaraderie.
“Maybe you could take me,” I said.
She jerked in surprise. “Ah…yeah, sure. I’d be happy to help.”
Feeling a bit awkward I nodded. “Good. Great. I should probably go read his book.”
“Give him a kiss for me.”
“I will.”
“Goodnight, Devin.”