Minutes pass and no reply. I guess that was the end of the conversation. Minutes turn into an hour yet still nothing. I yawn a little, deciding I better order that pizza before it gets too late. My stomach is growling. I need to eat something. I place the order and sit on the couch. I turn the TV on and start watching some movie. I stare at my phone, wanting it to light up more than I’ve wanted anything in my life, but nothing happens.
The doorbell rings and I grab my wallet before walking to the door. The pizza guy looks upon me with pity as he hands me the pizza box, but I manage. So what if it slides around a little in the box? I’m still eating it. I hand him a couple of dollars for his tip and thank him. I set the pizza on the counter before going back to shut and lock the front door. Opening the pizza box, I grab a slice. I’m a plain Jane guy. Pepperoni and extra cheese is my favorite. It’s hot, nearly burning the roof of my mouth, but I eat it anyway. Three slices in and I’m beginning to get full. I close the box and open the fridge. Before the door can shut, I place the pizza box inside. At least I have a snack for later if I get hungry.
I sit back on the couch and finish whatever is on TV. An hour and a half later, the movie ends and still no reply back on my phone. Maybe Paige doesn’t want to talk to me anymore. Oh well. Another movie starts and I begin watching it. If I weren’t so nervous to drive and had a car, I’d go for a ride, but I’m stuck in this apartment watching God knows what on TV.
My phone finally dings and I look to see a message from Paige. Just when I was giving up all hope, and it’s now almost ten at night, she decides to text.
Paige: Sorry I disappeared. I had a few things to take care of.
Austin: It’s okay. I thought I bored you to death or something.
Paige: No, please don’t think that.
Austin: I’m kidding, I promise.
Paige: Okay, good. What are you up to tonight?
Austin: Watching movies.
Paige: So exciting lol.
Austin: Yeah, tell me about it. What are you up to?
Paige: Just relaxing before I go back to work tomorrow.
Austin: Well, get some rest okay?
Paige: Goodnight, Austin.
Austin: Night, Paige.
She doesn’t type anything else and I turn the TV off and go back to my bedroom. I should get some sleep too. Tomorrow, I’m not doing anything but lying around again. I lead quite the exciting life nowadays. I bet everyone wants to be like me.
Chapter 7
Paige
As soon as Austin and I tell each other goodnight, tiny footsteps fill my ears. I look up from my phone to see Darla walking into my room, sleepy-eyed with her favorite pink stuffed tiger in her hands.
“You okay, baby girl?” I ask her.
“I had a bad dweam, mama,” she sighs.
I climb out of bed and go pick her up. I place her in my bed and lie beside her. When all else fails in my life, I have this beautiful little girl that can brighten anything. “It’s okay. I’ve got you now. You can go back to sleep.”
“Hold me,” she says softly through a yawn. I wrap my arms around her and in a matter of minutes, she’s sleeping soundly again.
The sounds of her snoring lightly makes me yawn. I need to get to sleep anyway. I’ve got a long work day tomorrow.
I felt bad not answering Austin earlier but I was tending to Darla. I don’t know where any of this is going with us, but I won’t tell him about her anytime soon. I just really met him and I need to know who he is and what his intentions could possibly be with me before I truly let him into my life. Darla is my world and I will protect her no matter what. I doubt he’s like Brendan, and I hate my ex left such a sour taste in my mouth when it comes to potentially introducing men to Darla. I close my eyes and slowly drift to sleep holding onto my sweet baby girl.
***
I hand Darla a pop tart and a cup of apple juice as I sip on my coffee. I watch her slowly eat and hate I had to wake her this early in the morning, but work beckons. I hate even worse my mom is awake this early to watch her, but she insisted she keep Darla for the summer before she starts preschool in the fall. It’s so hard to believe a few years ago, she was learning to babble and I was changing diapers. Now, she’s got a whole mind of her own and she’s becoming so independent for only being four years old. Time has flown by way too fast.
My parents keep toys for Darla at their house but she always insists on packing what seems like half of her bedroom. I shake my head, laughing as I pack what she brings me in her small suitcase. Once that’s all done, I step into my room and quickly throw on the scrubs I laid out the night before. I toss my hair into a bun and apply a thin line of eyeliner before being satisfied. Darla is still in her jammies but that’s fine; she’ll probably fall back asleep anyway.
I continue my morning routine of packing her into the car and driving to my parent’s house. I kiss Darla goodbye, wishing I didn’t have to leave her, but I know in a few hours, I’ll be picking her up. I walk back to my car and grab my phone so I can plug the auxiliary cord into it. I barely listen to the radio—I hate commercials. I have more than enough music downloaded onto my phone. I burst into laughter when the first to play is one of Darla’s favorites. A song from one of her favorite cartoons blares across the speakers and I press the button on the stereo to turn it down. Finally something I can relate to comes on and I sing along until I pull up at the hospital. I’m hoping for an easy day, although you never know just what you’re going to have inside those walls. I sit in my car every morning and say a little prayer for the souls inside, some never to leave. It’s a tough place to be but there’s no greater feeling than being able to help someone.