15. Nate #2
As I step through the baby gate, I freeze.
Quinn has her hands on the couch cushion beside Lucy.
Lucy runs her fingers through the dark hair above Quinn’s ear.
Quinn grips the couch cushion so tightly her pudgy knuckles turn white.
She pushes herself up, wobbling as she gets her feet underneath her.
She reaches for Lucy, steadying herself with a handful of Lucy’s dress.
Lucy’s hand hovers protectively behind Quinn, ready to catch her if she falls.
Quinn is standing.
She hasn’t done that since the wreck.
Lucy’s face breaks into a wide, shaky grin. “Look at you, big girl!”
Quinn smiles and reaches for Lucy. “Lu, up.”
I dart across the living room and set Lucy’s snack on the end table as she tries to pull Quinn onto the couch.
Gently, I lift Quinn and set her on the couch cushion beside Lucy, but she climbs onto Lucy’s chest and lays her head on Lucy’s shoulder.
Lucy wraps her arms around Quinn, running a hand up and down her back as she plants a soft kiss on her forehead.
Quinn settles in and relaxes like she’s comfortable and safe… like she belongs. Lucy shifts, and I reach for Quinn. “Do you need me to take her?”
Lucy’s arms tighten around Quinn. “No, she’s fine. I was just getting comfortable.”
My gaze roams Lucy’s face, and I feel my shoulders relax as I notice color slowly coming back into her features. She kisses Quinn’s forehead and sighs, like she’s relaxing too… as though she belongs here with Quinn.
My mind spins as I consider how close they’ve become in such a short time. They had a good relationship before the accident. I’m sure that foundation contributed to their bond now.
But something about them fits.
In the three short weeks since Lucy started babysitting Quinn, she’s transformed this old, quiet house into a home full of laughter.
Quinn started babbling again and showing interest in new toys instead of the same two she gravitated toward when I moved her in.
She’s been sleeping better, and now she’s pulling up on the furniture again.
If I’m honest, it’s not only Quinn that Lucy fits with. Earlier at the party, when Lucy noticed me struggling to keep my composure while Quinn ate her cake, she knew exactly how to be there for me without making me feel weak.
Lucy has become a safe place for Quinn and for me.
And I’m not sure what to do with that.
“You okay?”
My eyes meet Lucy’s, and I clear my throat. “Yeah, fine. Why?”
She points a finger at my forehead and swirls it around. “You’re all frowny.”
I run a hand over my face and shake my head. “Just thinking. How are you feeling?”
Quinn takes a deep breath, letting out a little grunt as she settles into Lucy’s shoulder and closes her eyes. Lucy smiles and continues rubbing Quinn’s back mindlessly. “A little better. Still weak and foggy though.”
I nod. “Should we check your blood sugar to see where it’s at?”
She blinks and averts her gaze. “Not yet. Give it a few more minutes. How’d you know I needed help?”
I shrug. “I saw your car and had a hunch.”
She frowns, but busies herself with straightening out wrinkles in Quinn’s shirt.
My eyes narrow as they roam her face, checking for changes again.
Her cheeks are starting to tint pink, and while I’m grateful to see some color on her face, the sign of her embarrassment has my chest squeezing uncomfortably.
Is she ashamed that she’s having a blood sugar crash?
Is it because she’s low on supplies? Or maybe because I’m the one helping her?
Instead of asking her, I turn and grab the plate of snacks I got for her, offering it with a self-conscious smirk. “I wasn’t sure which snacks would be best. So, I got a little of everything.”
The blush on her cheeks darkens, and she nods. “Thank you.” She picks a strawberry off the plate and takes a small bite. “I’m sorry about this.”
I frown. “About having a blood sugar crash?”
She swallows and sighs. “About bothering you with it. I started to feel low when everyone was leaving. So, I snuck out to my car and tried to handle it before I drove home. But it crashed quickly, and everyone else was already gone.”
“Lucy, look at me.” Her big blue eyes meet mine timidly. “The only thing that’s bothering me is knowing that the right equipment could have made this crash easier on you, but your insurance policy doesn’t cover it. You’re not a burden.”
Tears well in her eyes. She blinks rapidly as she drops her gaze to the plate and nods. She swallows, but her voice still comes out shaky. “Thank you.”
I clear my throat and stand, my eyes scanning the room for the best place to set her snack so that she can reach it easily.
I grab Quinn’s walker and slide it across the floor to the couch.
I set her plate on the walker tray, grab her drink off the end table, open it for her, and put it beside the plate.
When I turn to check on her, her wide eyes roam my face. I swallow and nod. “Are you okay for a bit? I have a few things to put away in the kitchen.”
She nods, and my gaze drops to Quinn sleeping soundly on Lucy’s chest. Reluctantly, I leave Lucy and Quinn on the couch to finish cleaning up the kitchen from the aftermath of the party.