Chapter 38
"...and Papa Bear said to Baby Bear, "'Who's the cutest baby of them all?'"
Alani's sweet, breathy giggle rang out as I did my usual tickles on her little pooch of a belly. She then stilled, her face turning red before I heard the unmistakable sound of a wet fart. She gave one final little grunt before she flashed me her full gums and resumed kicking.
I grimaced as the smell hit me. "Uh, oh, stinky." I lifted her but couldn't resist giving her belly one last kiss, eliciting another giggle from her.
I climbed the stairs to my room just as I heard my dad come out of the bathroom.
"Hey, Dad." I adjusted Alani in my arms, keeping her poopy bottom away from me.
"Hmm?" My dad turned to me with red-rimmed eyes. "Oh, hi, honey."
I paused, my brow pulling down as I swept over my dad. He looked pale, and his chest was moving a little too fast for my liking. "Are you okay?"
He smiled at Alani, who was frantically trying to escape my clutches and leap into her grandad's arms. "I'm okay. I'm just gonna head to bed early. I've got a terrible headache."
"Yeah, you don't look well."
"I'm just going to take some Advil and head straight to sleep."
"Will you be okay for tomorrow?"
My first wedding shoot since having Alani was tomorrow. It was in St Louis and dad was watching Alani for me, as he often did when I had a job. It was a Tongan wedding, and as a Polynesian myself, I knew how big Island weddings could be. This one had four hundred and twenty guests, so I was beyond thrilled when they picked me as one of their photographers. I hoped it would increase my profile, particularly within the PI community.
"Yeah, sweetheart, I'll be fine." He reached out and jiggled Alani's hand, but his smile didn't quite reach his eyes like it usually would when he interacted with his granddaughter.
"Okay, hope you feel better."
The next morning, I woke at 4 AM after a restless night fraught with nerves for the upcoming day. I needed to pack, triple-check my gear, and drive into St Louis. The bride wanted me at her hotel at 9 AM, so I wanted to allow plenty of time for traffic or any other issues that may arise.
I knocked on my dad's door before opening it. "Dad?"
He groaned and threw an arm across his face. I padded closer before gasping. "Dad! You're burning up."
"Christ, Frankie," he groaned. "I'm sorry, but I feel like shit."
I rushed to my bedroom for the thermometer. His temperature was very high, but thankfully, it wasn't high enough for him to go into hospital.
"Fucking Trevor was at poker sneezing and coughing all over the place. I think I've caught his cold."
"This feels more like the flu than a cold. You're sweating bullets."
I rushed to the medicine cabinet in the bathroom and grabbed some headache pills before snatching a few bottles of water. I placed it on his bedside table and stared down at my sick dad in worry. "Dad, you can't watch Alani."
He licked his dry lips, keeping his eyes closed. "I know, baby. I'm so sorry. Can you get someone else?"
I worried my lip, a feeling of dread sinking into my stomach. "Nellie is in Chicago for the week."
I ran through the list of people nearby that I knew and trusted and came up blank. I didn't have anyone I trusted to watch Alani, and it was too late, or rather, too early, to find a random sitter. But even if I could find someone at such short notice, and at 4:30 AM, I couldn’t trust just anyone to watch her, let alone a stranger.
My last option was to find someone in St Louis where I was headed; and the only person I could think of and trusted, who had also met Alani, was Sene. He was also the second oldest of eight, so I knew he had experience caring for young kids. I was also completely desperate.
"Frankie?" Sene's husky voice came through the line, and I thanked my stars that he'd answered. "What's up, what happened?"
I quickly explained my situation, trying to keep the panic out of my voice. "Is there any way you can watch her? I wouldn't ask if I wasn't so desperate."
"Ah, shit, Frankie. I'm sorry, but I'm on shift." His voice was heavy in regret, and my heart sunk a thousand feet.
Tears sprung, and I frantically blinked them away. I would have to cancel. There was no one else I trusted with Alani. She was too important for me to leave with just anyone, and her safety would always come first.
"Let me see what I can do. Don't cancel the job yet, Frankie."
But I wasn't listening. I couldn't see what other option I had other than canceling. I could see my reputation tanking already. It didn't matter that I had a legitimate reason; the bride and groom would have to spend their morning frantically trying to find another photographer. They could be as understanding as they liked, but I knew my name and number would not be passed through the grapevine.
The least I could do for the couple was find them an alternative photographer. I couldn't phone them to cancel until I had a solution ready. I picked up my phone and scrolled through my contacts in a blind panic. I was just about to dial one of my contacts in St Louis when my phone suddenly rang in my hand.
My brow raised when I spied Drew's number. Curiosity had me answering. "Drew? I'm sorry, but I'm a little busy right now – "
"I know. Let me watch Alani."
My breath hitched at his words. "Wha-what?"
"Let me watch her, Frankie. I promise you, you can trust me. I'll take such good care of her."
"Sene called you," I whispered.
"Yeah. I know how much this job means to you. It could open up so many doors for you. You have to do it. Please, Frankie. You can trust me."
I closed my eyes. Gratitude bloomed within me. Along with uncertainty. "Drew. I can't ask you to do this." It had taken a lot for Drew to hold Alani for that brief moment. How would he be when he spent a few hours with her? Would it break him?
"You're not. I'm offering. Happily and willingly. I took care of my half-siblings when they were young. I may be a little rusty, but I'm sure it'll all come back to me. Plus, Sene is off shift at eleven and coming over to hang with us until you're done. He's on his days off now, so he's good for it."
That made me feel a little better. Not that I didn't trust Drew with Alani. Surprisingly, I did. But it helped alleviate my mom guilt that he would have some help. Alani could be a handful at the best of times. Still, I couldn't believe I was doing this, but I knew he was right. "Thank you, Drew. You've saved my ass."
"No thanks needed. Drive safe."
From then, it was ass into gear packing everything Alani needed and more. I didn't want Drew or Alani to want for anything. It was going to be a learning situation for them both. Thankfully, Alani was good with strangers. She hadn't yet met a face she didn't like.
By the time I packed everything and had Alani dressed and fed, I was seriously cutting it fine. Luckily, traffic still looked free-flowing at this time in the morning.
I knocked on dad's door, peeking my head in to find him fast asleep. I tip-toed in and placed a packet of crackers and some fruit on his bedside table. I looked around for a pad and pen so I could leave him a note.
"Did you find someone?" he croaked, surprising me.
"Yeah. I did." I smoothed his hair back. His head was still hot but not as hot as it had been.
"Don't you worry about anything except getting better. There's crackers by your bed, fruit and plenty of water. I've also got a bowl of ice water here with a towel so you can wipe your brow if you get too hot."
He shooed me away, his strength looking a little better. At least he could look at me this time. "Go, I know how to take care of myself."
My bad luck seemed to run out because traffic was kind to me, much to my relief. Alani snoozed a little on the drive, but by the time I pulled into Drew's apartment, she was wide awake and babbling in excitement at her new environment.
Drew opened the door, looking surprisingly fresh and wide awake. He was wearing a soft grey T-shirt and black sweatpants. I couldn't even admire his hotness because my gut was wrapped in stress, worry, and nervousness.
"Hey, Frankie." His eyes moved to Alani, and they crinkled. Either he was a good actor, or he was genuinely okay with doing this.
"Are you sure this is okay?" I still asked as I strolled into his home. I could barely take in my surroundings as I held Alani close. Was this a smart idea?
"Frankie, I wouldn't offer if I wasn't sure."
"Okay…well." I stared down at the precious package in my arms before I took a step forward and offered her to him. Without hesitation, he took her gently in his arms. I twisted my hands as I watched Alani pull at his shirt before tugging on his ears.
He smiled, not at all put off by her grabby fingers. "Hi, pretty lady. You and I are gonna have some fun today."
I placed her baby bag on the couch. "These are her bottles," I told him, holding a cooler bag. “Pop them in the fridge and just warm them up when needed. There's formula here if you run out. Um… she's eating solids now, so I have some mushy pear and a banana that you can feed her. I also have some dinner here that she may like. Just warm it up and feed her a little bit. I have her diapers and wipes in her bag." I wracked my brain, trying to remember everything.
"These are some books she likes and toys she can suck on. She's teething, but I have some gel here, or if you have a cold carrot, she can gnaw on that."
"Got it."
I searched around, wanting to say more. I needed to leave now to make it to the hotel in time, but my feet couldn't physically move.
"Frankie," Drew gently said. "I got it. You go and get yourself organized."
"Right. Right." He was right. I needed to leave. I forced myself to stroke Alani's soft hair. "Bye, sweet girl. Be good for Drew."
He and I exchanged a look. I let him know that I was leaving my heart in his hands, that I was grateful, and that I trusted him. His gaze was filled with encouragement and sincerity. And Love.
With one last lingering goodbye, I left my daughter in the hands of my estranged husband.