Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 84114 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84114 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
“Good,” I say with a solemn nod, because it seems like what a guy in charge would say.
Winnie straightens with Grayce on her hip. “We brought food. Lasagna in the oven, two more casseroles for your freezer, chopped salad, and there’s bread warming.”
“That’s really nice,” Maddie says softly.
I study her critically. Her eyes are shiny, and I can tell she’s overwhelmed. I feel it too—the movers carting boxes past framed jerseys on the wall, Lucky’s shoes by my door, Winnie humming as Grayce pats her cheek. My pristine, quiet life replaced by chaos.
“How about a tour?” I ask Maddie. It’s a good time since Winnie has the baby.
She nods and I point toward a short hall. “That leads to the primary suite. If you’d feel more comfortable there, we can arrange a switch out.”
“No,” she says quickly, almost harshly. “The guest room is fine, and I assume it’s near the nursery.”
“Yeah… upstairs.” I head up the staircase, Maddie on my heels.
The back bedroom door is propped open and two movers are on the floor working to put together the base of Maddie’s sleigh bed. We step inside, skirt around the men and enter an attached bathroom. “This is a Jack-and-Jill bathroom.” I walk through it to a bedroom on the other side. “And this is where Grayce will be.”
I’m happy to see it’s all set up, and I’m touched that Lucky and Winnie also hung the artwork that was in her nursery back in Chicago. Gray had picked it out all himself and those were items that easily fell into the “We’re taking that” category as we packed.
Maddie steps inside and looks around—everything ready to go. Crib anchoring the large wall, her changing table on the one perpendicular. Winnie even unpacked framed photos of Gray and Grayce that were in her nursery back in Chicago, arranging them on top of the tall dresser. Maddie’s eyes land on the little white bookshelf stacked with books. I learned very recently that reading to babies is important and over the past five days, I’ve witnessed Maddie reading books to Grayce, even though she doesn’t understand them. But I guess it’s just like learning a language—you’ve got to hear it first. The more she hears, the faster she’ll learn.
“This was unbelievably kind that they set this up for us,” Maddie murmurs, her fingers touching a music carousel on the dresser.
“Lucky and Winnie are the best. They’re going to be the first to jump in if we need help—”
“I won’t need help,” Maddie clips out, the fight flaring in her blue eyes.
“Didn’t say you did.” My voice is tinged with hardness. I don’t like my good intentions being trampled on. “I’m just saying, they’re here for us should the need arise.”
Before she can retort, because I see she wants to, I step into the hallway and cross to the room I’d set up as an office area. In addition to my desk and computer, it’s filled with what looks like all of Maddie’s personal boxes, all clearly labeled and organized so I know she’ll be able to find things easily until she can unpack.
“I’m sure we can get this all unpacked tomorrow,” I muse.
“I don’t need help,” Maddie says, peeking her head in the doorway.
“Of course you don’t,” I mutter under my breath, but she shoots me a glare so I know it was louder than expected.
“Yo,” Lucky calls up the stairs, and I turn that way. “Is it okay to give Grayce a bottle?”
Before I can answer, Maddie pushes past me and heads for the staircase where Lucky is peering up from the bottom. “I’ll handle it.”
It’s said in such a way that indicates she wants Grayce, and she wants her now. It’s almost a panicked feeling. I can see by Lucky’s expression, he recognizes it as well. Maddie is overwhelmed and needs grounding.
I follow behind, Lucky stepping aside to let Maddie past. When I reach him, he leans in and murmurs, “She okay?”
I shake my head. “She’s not okay with any of this. If she had her way, she’d be back in Chicago with Grayce and I’d be nowhere around.”
I find Grayce in Maddie’s arms as she feeds her a bottle while Winnie leans against the counter, chatting away. “You should have been here an hour ago. I walked in and the high chair was half done. Lucky tried to skip a step, so I confiscated the Allen wrench.”
“I’m filing a grievance,” Lucky mutters, then leans in to kiss Winnie on the forehead. “You’re maligning my manliness.”
Winnie rolls her eyes, opens her mouth to jaw back at him, but Lucky cuts her off with a kiss. Her eyes go soft and dreamy, and I glance over at Maddie, who’s watching the interplay. There’s no softness there, just skepticism. I’m guessing she’s not a believer in true love, although I can’t say I really am either.