After All - Romancing Manhattan

“What else happened today?”

“So much. I didn’t find out about the phone stuff until just before you arrived. And trust me when I say, I don’t feel guilty for invading her privacy by going through her phone.”

“Nor should you,” he says, his voice calm again, as he sits across from me with his wine. “She’s twelve, Nora. And you’re here taking care of her. You didn’t invade anything.”

“I got a call from the school today.” I walk him through the day’s events, telling basically the same story I told Carter earlier this evening.

When I’ve finished, he sets his wine aside and leans his elbows on his knees.

“I can’t believe she was going to strike you.”

“She was so mad,” I murmur, shaking my head in disbelief myself. “I’ve never seen her like that.”

“Well, you did everything right.”

“I don’t know if I’m cut out for this,” I admit and stand to walk to the wall of windows and stare out at the city. “I mean, I know that Carter’s a package deal. I’ve been around for a long time. I guess I just didn’t realize how different it would be to fill a parent role, versus helping and picking up the slack when Carter needed me as his assistant.”

I turn to look at Finn. He’s so calm, so collected.

“Obviously I’m doing something very wrong because Gabby’s done nothing but show me that she can’t stand me being in her life for the past week. I don’t know what happened. It’s like a switch flipped, and she’s just angry all the time. That little show she put on at Maggie’s during dinner yesterday is just the tip of the iceberg.”

“It’s a phase,” he says.

“What if I’m not cut out to be a mom?”

There. I said it. The one sentence I haven’t been able to admit out loud.

“I think all parents, biological or otherwise, ask themselves that very question every day,” Finn says with a kind smile. “Parenthood is tough. And Gabby’s a joy in my life, but she’s not easy.”

“No.” I sit again and feel tears threaten.

“Have you voiced your concerns to Carter?”

“No way.” I shake my head and pull a pillow into my lap, gripping it tightly in my fist. “I don’t want him to think that I’m second-guessing what we have. It’s just, I worry that I’m not good at this. That I’m not what Gabby and Carter need.”

“I think it’s been a really rough spell, and that things will get better. You need to be honest with Carter. And Gabby, for that matter. The way she’s behaving is absolutely not okay, and it’s extreme, even for her. Carter will take care of it tomorrow. In the meantime, get some sleep.”

“After that text from Jacob’s Ladder, I’ll be sleeping on the couch with a knife so I can cut his dick off if he tries to get anywhere near that little girl.”

“There, now. I think you’re great parent material. He won’t get in here. Gabby didn’t give him the code to the elevator, and unless he’s Spider-Man and can scale skyscrapers, he can’t get up here.”

“Thank God. What is she thinking?”

“She’s not,” he says simply. “That’s the problem. She’s intent on acting out. We’ll get to the bottom of it.”

“I hope so. Thanks for stopping by. I feel better.”

“It’s my pleasure. I’m ten minutes away, even with traffic, so you just call if you need anything else before Carter gets here tomorrow.”

I nod and walk him to the door. Finn surprises me by pulling me in for a strong hug.

“You got this, Nora.”

“Thanks.”

I haven’t seen hide nor hair from Gabby all morning.

Which, if I’m being honest, hasn’t hurt my feelings in the least.

Despite Finn’s encouraging words last night, I slept on the couch. Not just in case anyone tried to get in, but in case Gabby tried to get out.

At this point, I wouldn’t put it past her.

I heard her go to the restroom about an hour ago, but aside from that, she hasn’t left her room. It’s been blissfully quiet.

Carter should be home in a few hours.

So, I dress, waiting to shower until he is home, and there’s an extra pair of eyes on Gabby. It’s sad that she’s betrayed our trust so immensely that I can’t even go take a shower without Carter being here.

I’m in the kitchen, about to make a sandwich and take it in to the little girl when Carter comes walking through the front door.

It’s ten thirty. I wasn’t expecting him for a couple of hours yet.

The relief is instant and overwhelming.

“Hey.”

He holds up a finger. “Where is she?”

“In her room.”

He lets his bags drop when he stands and marches swiftly to Gabby’s room.

“I have more to tell you,” I say to his retreating back, but he’s a man on a mission.

Gabby’s going to get it.