12. Lucy
twelve
Lucy
Sloane’s eyes cut to me as she pours coffee over ice in her tumbler. I shoot her an uncaffeinated glare and reach for the carafe. “What?”
She smirks as she stirs her drink with her straw. “Who were you talking to on the phone last night?”
I frown as I sip my warm coffee from my travel mug. I’ve already taken my basal dose of insulin, but I haven’t done my bolus dose yet. So, I stop myself at one sip until I have time to add up the carbs in my entire meal and take my bolus dose of insulin to cover them.
Setting my coffee on the counter, I open the fridge and search for something quick to eat so I can make it to the preschool on time. “What do you mean?”
She raises a brow. “I mean, I heard you all giggly on the phone last night, and I want to know who you were talking to.”
My eyes widen, and I fumble the Greek yogurt container, nearly dropping it inside the refrigerator. “I was not giggly.”
She laughs and points at my face as I feel my cheeks heat. “Yes, you were. Were you talking to a boy? Do you have a boyfriend? Who is it?”
I roll my eyes as I pull a spoon from the silverware drawer, grab the jar of peanut butter, and pick a banana from the fruit basket on the counter. “My goodness, Sloane. Chill, would you?”
I avoid meeting her gaze as I use my app to calculate how much insulin I need for breakfast. She sips her coffee and sets it on the counter. “I will not chill. This is a big deal. You haven’t had a boyfriend in ages.”
I purse my lips and nod as I dial my insulin pen to the correct dosage. “Thanks for that. But I don’t have a boyfriend.”
Her eyes narrow as they roam my face. “Yet.”
I shoot her a glare when I finish my bolus dose. She smiles and waves as she backs out of the kitchen and makes her way to the front door. “Have a good day, beautiful sister.”
“You too,” I call after her. When the door swings shut, I add, “Busybody.”
“Well, hello, sweet Quinn.” Naomi’s eyes widen, and her brows rise as she looks around the coffeehouse behind me. “I didn’t see Nate come in.”
I shake my head. “You won’t. He’s working tonight.”
She frowns as her eyes dart between my face and Nate’s niece, perched on my hip.
I chuckle and help her fill in the gaps. “I’m babysitting for him.”
Her eyes narrow as they dart to my face, and I feel like I’m being examined. “You are babysitting for Nate. I thought you two didn’t get along.”
I roll my eyes and sigh. “I couldn’t pass up time with Quinn, so I’m dealing with Nate.”
She smirks and nods. “So, the two of you are burying the hatchet after all, huh?”
I shoot her an impatient look, but she continues, raising her voice an octave and leaning over the counter as she addresses Quinn. “Who knew you’d be such a good peacemaker, baby girl?”
Quinn smiles and laughs at Naomi’s expressive face.
I draw a deep breath, unable to contain my smile at Quinn’s unbridled joy.
She had a rough day, and it’s nice to see her grin and dimples again.
As her hand bunches my shirt in her fist, holding on for dear life, I tighten my hold around her waist, pulling her close so she knows I’ve got her.
Eventually, I convince Naomi to take my order so that I can join my friends and she can tend to the line forming behind me. I’ve already calculated my bolus dose of insulin using the nutritional menu on the Willow whoever is closest wins a treat purchased by the other two.
As we continue our study of the book of Hebrews, I can’t help but wish we were studying Job or how to handle grief and loss in a Godly way.
I know Quinn is not mine, but I’ve always loved her like an honorary niece.
Violet would bring her to the apartment when she spent time with Sloane, and we’d play together while they talked.
I’ve been part of the lives of a lot of children in my years of working at the preschool, but I’ve never loved a child the way I love Quinn.
Seeing her hurt like this is breaking me apart. I wish there were something I could do to help her.