Mr. Big Deal (Mr. Big 4)

Candace arrived around two o’clock,driving a deep green Jeep. I stood on the steps and watched her get out of it, removing a bag from the back seat.

“You got a Jeep? Is it a rental or something?”

“You are looking at the proud new owner of a Jeep Wrangler Sport.” She held out her hand, pretending to be a showroom model. “Check out the Sarge green color. It has all the bells and whistles.”

“It’s gorgeous,” I replied, laughing at Candace’s enthusiasm.

“It’s my first car, sweets,” she said and ran her hand over the hood. “I call him Sarge, and I love every inch of Sarge. I should because it’s costing me a small fortune to park him.”

“He’s handsome. Come in and have some hot tea, or would you rather we spend some more time admiring Sarge?”

“Hot tea sounds perfect,” she said and carried the bag into the house behind me.

“How’s my little man?” she said and placed the bag down, holding out her arms to Leif. “How’s the little Viking?”

I handed Leif to her and smiled when I saw her kiss his head. “He’s doing fine. He had the sniffles and a bit of a fever, but he seems better now.”

“Oh, that’s too bad. I guess you have to get used to that. Kids get every bug that comes along in the first few years.”

“What’s in the bag?” I asked, pointing to the paper bag with string handles.

“It’s a present for Leif. Bring it into the living room.”

I followed Candace into the living room, bag in hand. We got seated on the sofas and Candace pointed to the bag. “Open it and see.”

I did, reaching into the bag to pull out a wrapped present. “What is it?”

“It’s his first Star Wars toy.”

I unwrapped the present and saw that it was a stuffed Baby Yoda.

“Every kid needs a stuffed Baby Yoda, don’t you think?” Candace asked.

“Oh, my God. Of course, they do,” I said with a laugh.

“I saw it in the mall yesterday and knew that Auntie Candy had to buy it for my little man.”

I removed the Baby Yoda toy out of the box and then handed it to them. Leif reached out for it, which was one of the milestones to look for with babies his age. Candace and Leif played with Baby Yoda for only a moment before it went into Leif’s mouth.

Candace laughed out loud at that. “Every boy needs a Baby Yoda toy. I can’t wait for him to watch his first Star Wars movie.”

I smiled and watched them together, glad that I had a best friend who was as excited about my baby as I could have hoped. For the next couple of hours, we sat and shared Leif between the two of us, and then, when it was time for his afternoon feed and nap, Candace insisted on burping Leif. She walked around the room with Leif on her shoulder and patted his back. When he finally let out a big burp, we both smiled.

“Good job!” Candace said and wiped his mouth off with the receiving blanket.

“Yes, he has a very good burp,” I replied. Then, I took him from her, changed him and put him down for his afternoon nap.

I closed the door to his room, and then went downstairs and spent the rest of the afternoon with Candace, talking about the job offer and refusal, and about what was going on with Luke and the intrigue around the merger with Hanson.

“I’m so glad you said no, and that Luke said no to Hanson. I can’t imagine losing you guys. I mean, I know you will probably leave at some point, but not so soon…”

“Me as well,” I replied.

I was glad. I couldn’t imagine upending my life and leaving, for either Houston or Brussels.

There would be time for that in the future.

I wanted to appreciate what I had here and now, and I intended to do just that.