The guard called me. “There’s a woman at the gate.”
“Who?” I jumped up.
He took forever to answer back. “It’s the mom.”
“Let her in,” I said. “And send her around back. And don’t scare me like that. Take names.”
I went back to breathing. I probably looked like a sorry mess, but I didn’t care. Mercedes was the only thing that mattered. I got up and checked out my appearance in the mirror again.
I wore two shirts and a tank top, and the sweat still somehow found a way to soak through. This meant, of course, that I was going to have to relearn to tie my bow tie. Then, I‘d have to find a way to control my perspiration, and I still hadn’t checked on everything.
I walked back into the bathroom to retie my bow tie. Then I caught myself in the mirror and saw the sweat welling up on my forehead. There was no way that I could control that. It’d just keep getting worse and worse, and I wouldn’t be able to wipe it away because it’d stain my sleeve. Then it would slide down my face and dry all over my forehead, stinging my eyes.
I slammed my eyes shut and willed myself to breathe, focusing on nothing but the in breath and the soft cloud that fell out after. I could almost see her standing in the shower behind me, cleaning herself off. When I walked out, I looked at the bed and imagined the way she looked when I woke up the morning after I told her I loved her. She couldn’t stop smiling.
I took one last look in the bathroom mirror, then looked down at the counter. The guard was calling. “Hello?”
“Sir, there’s a man at the door with a little baby.”
“What are their names, Rico?”
He sighed and took his time talking to my brother. “Haylie and Andrew.”
“Send them around back, and next time get names.”
“Yes, sir.” He hung up.
My phone started ringing again the second he did. “Hello?”
“Hey.” Her voice was as sweet as cotton candy.
“Hi.”
“So, I was thinking of maybe stopping by the store when I got off. Is there anything in particular you might like?”
“No, don’t do that,” I said, a little too quickly.
“Is something wrong? Are you busy?”
“No,” I said.
“You sound upset.”
“I’m fine. Just head over when you get off.”
“Okay, I’ll see you soon.”
I walked downstairs to see Andrew and Haylie playing in the living room. She’d taken to standing up on the furniture, and Andrew struggled to get her down without making her scream. “Haylie, come here.’’
“No.” She wrapped her arms around her chest.
“Do it.” He stepped closer, and her face clenched up. “Don’t you dare.”
She sobbed.
“No, it’s okay. It’s okay.” He rushed forward and grabbed her. She threw her head back and exploded.
I walked in, trying not to laugh. When she saw me, she stopped crying right away. “Down.” She pointed at the ground. He set her down, and she ran up to me with her arms outstretched so she could latch herself on my leg. “Uncle! Uncle!” She jumped up and down.