39. 39
That’s right, I invited all of Miles’ family over—to be kind. I had no idea I’d regret it the second they showed up.
Okay… that’s a bit harsh and untrue, but I’m not imagining it. Miles was about to kiss me. I’m certain.
“Oh, Delaney!” Lucy croons. “Look at this place. You did all this?” She holds her hands to her heart, tears in her eyes. “Sweet girl.” Then she wraps me in a hug I don’t expect. “This is Miles’ dream. His life goal, his—” The tears fall freely now. “But then you know that.”
Levi and Meredith, Coco and Jude holding little Lula, Owen and Annie, along with little Alice, all file inside. They tour about the open space, peeking in every drawer and every cupboard. They ask questions—some that I answer, others that Miles only knows the answer to.
Miles sets up a station just for Alice, and the girl paints the very first masterpiece of the studio.
“Miles, what are you going to name the place?” I ask.
“Oh. Umm, not sure yet. There was so much to do before, weeks and weeks worth of work, I hadn’t even thought about a name yet.”
“And then your fairy-wife swooped in and did all the things,” Coco says, tilting her head my way and grinning at me.
They all grin at me.
They love me; even Levi has nothing grouchy to say to me. But they love me because they love Miles, and if I’m showing him kindness, they’re going to love me.
They won’t find fault with my efforts, not when I’m trying to do something good for their Miles.
“All done,” Alice says, holding up her rainbow and sunshine on canvas.
“Beautiful. Are you keeping it, or is it staying in the studio?” Miles asks her.
I expect her to take it home—like any kid, surely she’ll want it for herself. Then again, I haven’t been around kids all that much.
“It could be the first painting we hang here,” he tells her.
Okay—I’m changing my vote. She’ll leave it.
“Can you give it to Walt when he comes?” She lifts her bright blue eyes up to her uncle, and I dissolve—just a little. I’ve never wanted children. And I still don’t… at least, I think I don’t. But this is better than a Hallmark commercial.
“Sure,” Miles says. “I can do that. We’re supposed to have his makeup lesson tomorrow. He’ll be excited when I tell him to come to my studio.”
Alice pumps her fist, dancing in a circle around her uncle. “He’ll be so excited! Can I come?”
“You’ll be in school, silly,” Coco tells her.
Alice tosses her head back. “Ughhh, Mama! Not if you take me out for this very special, one-time occasion. That would be so smart of you, I think.”
Ahh—she is a normal kid after all. A smart one, but normal.
“We should grab some tables before the food comes,” I say to Miles.
“I can help him,” Jude says. And then the man hands me his baby.
His baby.
As in the child he co-created.
Why would he do that?
I look around the room to see who else is seeing this. Has the man gone crazy? But everyone is talking and laughing and… no one looks appalled to see me holding the little girl. I’m doing a not-so-terrible job, I might add. I’ve got one arm around her back and the other just under her chubby thighs and bum. She’s sucking on her own fist, her other hand swinging wildly.
Huh.
Lula grabs a fistful of my hair and tugs—it doesn’t hurt, not really. Her lips are pink and pouty, and her hair a curly brown—a little like her uncle’s. She’s so pretty—like, beautiful. Have I ever noticed how pretty this baby was before? Are all babies this pretty? Her eyes are as blue as her mother’s, and she seems to sing as I jostle her.
Maybe she likes the noise my bounces create because she’s smiling and her singing only grows.
I watch her little face, feeling the soft skin of her chubby legs. Then I hum with her. Her sapphire eyes flick up to mine, and her grin only widens.
Whoa. My heart thumps in the strangest way. In a way I have never ever felt before. Something in my gut stirs, and I just want to keep that smile on her face.
Lula sings and I sing along with her, making up the tune as I go. She loves it.
It isn’t until Miles and Jude return with a long table that I realize the room has gone quiet. That it’s not just the baby and me.
I’m too busy having a mind-boggling moment with a one-year-old to have noticed sooner. Miles’ family watches the two of us, listening to our song. I’m used to being listened to… but the baby part is all new. I shut my mouth up quick.
I swallow, but my mouth has gone dry; it’s like sending sand spittle over my sandpaper tongue. When Miles walks by, I pass Lula off to him, shoving my hands into my pocket and telling myself the whole thing was a freak incident.
“Hey, baby girl. Who’s having a birthday?” he says, and his tone is so light, so child-like, it makes my chest bloom like an onion from Outback Steakhouse. “You, that’s who,” he tells her, and I am lost watching the two of them.
“Wait until you have one of your own,” Lucy says from beside me.
I jolt on the inside but somehow keep my composure.
“They change everything and make everything else in life seem futile.” She smiles as if she’s giving me great news. I refrain from blurting that I won’t be having one. She wraps an arm around my shoulders. “Although, my children by marriage are loved just as much, just differently.”
I stare at her, trying to make sense of her words. Me? Is she talking about me? “You don’t know me very well,” I say, unable to stop myself.
“And yet, I love you.” She smiles and it reminds me so very much of her son. “Thank you for making Miles happy, Delaney.”
“He deserves this building,” I say.
”He does. But it”s more than the building. He”s lit up since you”ve been here. Somehow I missed it before—when you dated in secret. But these past couple of weeks, it”s like a light has turned on inside him. That”s you.”