Chapter 6
Chapter Six
PAIGE
Earlier
I’ll tell Trevor at the Fourth of July party. It feels like a celebration, and telling him while the fireworks shoot off in the background sounds like a dream.
The Wells family—a family I’ve worked with for years—has a little girl named Abigail.
I was originally supposed to watch her for five hours a day, Monday through Friday.
A large chunk of that time, Jacob would be in different summer classes and camps.
Mrs. Wells, the cornerstone of local gossip, has made it clear that she wants me to socialize her daughter with adults and children alike, so I make it a point to meet up with a couple of people each time I get her, and Abigail and Jacob get along alright.
She’s young, so he’s mostly indifferent, while she enjoys pestering him.
It was a comfortable schedule that gave me a ton of time to enjoy the summer with my son.
However, when Caroline went back to work and then left, I had to sit down and sketch out a better schedule. Now, I watch Abigail three days a week.
Today, I had to come in early, and I am in desperate need of time with an adult I don’t work for.
Paige
please tell me you’re free for coffee today.
Becky
I’m a teacher. It’s summer. I LIVE for random unplanned shenanigans and caffeine.
you’re combining the two. I don’t want to go to coffee with you, I Need to.
“Jacob, do you want to have breakfast with Aunt Becky, Abigail, and your momma?”
He side-eyes Abigail, then asks, “What is my other option?”
“Hmm …” I consider the options for only a moment before the perfect solution arises. I lift my phone and send another message.
Paige
wanna FINALLY go with me to get coffee with Becky, Abigail, Jacob, and I?
Jacob will want to eat with us if his favorite aunt is there too. I see the three dots appear and disappear a few times before she answers.
Beth
I’d love some time with the kiddo. Momma is out, doing something, and Dad is at work
Paige
And the coffee?
Beth
I don’t want to ruin the vibe
Paige
Jesus, Beth, No! I’m telling you, she’s a marshmallow, you’ve only ever seen the sassy side of her.
Beth
I’ll hang with my beautiful nephew, if that’s an option?
Damn damn triple damn. “Jacob, what about going to hang out with Aunt Bethany at her place?”
“Yeah! That’s a great idea!”
Paige
ok ok. I can drop him off soon. See you in ten?
Beth
perfect.
I pushed too hard. Dammit.
Paige
Bethany is watching the boy, but I do have a toddler with me today.
Becky
I’d be disappointed if there wasn’t.
She is so ridiculous.
I pull up to Bethany’s house while Abigail chatters about her favorite animals being penguins in the back.
Jacob jumps out of the car and runs up to Bethany, giving her a massive hug before running past her into the mausoleum that is the Whitaker house.
I hop out of the car and give her a hug, which she returns awkwardly before spinning around and chasing him, true laughter trailing behind the two of them.
“Are you ready, Ms. Paige?”
I check in the back seat to see the joyful girl staring at me. “I’m ready, Ms. Abigail.”
The drive to the coffee shop is uneventful, and I can see Becky at our favorite booth when I walk into The Tea. I’m not two steps into the place before she’s yelling out to me. “Took you long enough!”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah.” I sass back. I point to the line for coffee, and she rolls her eyes but nods as she takes a sip of her drink. I turn to my small friend and kneel to her level. “Wanna go see Ms. Duchamp, darling?”
Abigail shakes her head. “No, thank you.”
“Okay, ma’am. Would you rather stand in line with Ms. Paige or sit with Ms. Duchamp?”
I already know the answer, but I’ll give her the choice. “Hmm.” The tiny copy of her mother taps her lips in contemplation. “Ms. Duchamp, please.”
I nod my head in pretend seriousness. “Okay, darling.” She nods somberly in response before dancing off to sit across from Becky.
Her face brightens as the tinkle of Abigail’s soft voice starts talking about penguins again.
“I hope she talks about peacocks.” Jill’s peacocks would be something they could agree is fascinating.
At the counter, I notice Doris moving without the usual pep in her step. “Hey, Doris! How are you this morning?”
“Oh. Hey, there, Paige, darling. I’m just fine. How about you? How are you doing with everything happening with you?”
I barely resist the urge to cover my belly with my hand. “I’m doing great. Can I get a caramel macchiato with oat milk, please?”
Doris tips her head to the side, inspecting me, then nods and selects a cup. “I’m assuming you want a large, like Becky over there.”
“Did she ask for it in drip yet?”
“No, hun. It’s summer. That’s a fall, winter, and spring request for her.”
I snort. “Good point.” The whir and clinks of the best drink in existence being made fill the silence between us.
I wait at the counter since nobody is waiting in line behind me.
“Oh, can I add an Italian peach creamer for Abigail?” Doris absently nods, grabs the necessary ingredients, and starts the additional drink.
I tap the counter a few times and yawn. Damn, I’m tired. “How’s Patrick?”
“That old man? He’s doing old man things. Refusing to retire from that damn auto shop.” She chuckles. “I’ll tell him you asked about him. It’ll make his day.”
“Oh, goodness, Doris.” I accept the drink from her. “You and Pat need to come over for dinner sometime.”
Face filled with warmth, she bobs her head once. “That sounds wonderful, Paige. Thank you.”
I nod and head over to the table where, sure enough, Becky and Abigail are discussing the oddities of peacocks.
“I’m just saying, why are the males so beautiful? I’d love a dress that color.” Becky is leaning forward, arms resting on the table in front of her, holding a phone out to Abigail.
“I want a peacock dress, too, Ms. Duchamp.”
Becky slaps the table and points to her. “See? You get it.” She waves me over. “Abigail gets it.”
She bounces in her seat. “I get it!” I slide into the booth beside her and pass over her drink. “Mmm. Thank you!”
I thread my fingers around my cup and take a deep drink. “Mmm. So good. So, we need to plan for the fourth! I also want to invite Bethany and Bobby, so maybe she can break out of her shell, and you two can finally stop missing each other.”
Becky smirks. “I think you’re missing the subtle part, Paige.”
“I think the only way I can get her to come is by inviting her boyfriend, so maybe inviting the people who work with him is good, so it’s not as obvious?
” Becky knows that I’ve been trying to drag Bethany into our sphere for ages, so I don’t feel bad about being so obvious about it.
I also want to get a look at how Bobby acts around her and their coworkers.
The accusation from last week swirls around my mind, unchecked.
Mostly, though, I want her to feel welcomed by my friends and her family.
She and Trevor need to get over themselves.
We all could use Bethany’s friendship just as much as she needs ours.
“That’s a great idea! I’ll see if Carter has anyone else he wants to invite. This should be fun!”
Perfect.
“Should be fun,” Abigail mimics, wiping whipped cream from her face.
“So, Friday, party at my place? The neighbors are going to be doing a bigger show than usual.” Since I gave them extra cash to do it.
“Perfect.” Becky picks up her phone and types in a few things. “There. Carter knows.” She taps a few more times. “And I have it in my calendar.”
“Perfect!” Abigail chirps.
Becky leans in a little closer. “You need to invite that h-o-t-t-i-e with a body you work for. Daddy Bright will absolutely brighten our night,” she says, her grin wicked and playful.
“Honestly, that’s a good idea.” He needs to get out of his house, and the baby will be happily cared for by the group.
Becky adds, like an afterthought, “Carri, too, of course.”
“Of course.” I choke the words out, guilt for the unavoidable fib.
I’m locked into Josh’s request to keep things under wraps about Caroline’s disappearing act.
He even asked me to keep it from Trevor.
It makes me extremely uncomfortable. I let Josh know that I already told Bethany, but he requested my silence elsewhere.
There’s a certain confidentiality I need to respect with my employers when we sign our contracts. I hate it.
“Thursday night’s music in the park is in a couple of days! Are you and Carter going this week?”
“Yes! I’m so excited. It’s going to be a full date. Dinner and the works.”
Ugly jealousy fills me at her news. I can’t remember the last time Trevor and I had an opportunity to go on a date. I bat that down ruthlessly. “That’s really lovely … I’m a little jealous.”
Becky pats my hand. “Anytime you want me to watch your cro—your little goblin, I am happy to do so.”
“You have a goblin, Ms. Paige?”
I ruffle Abigail’s hair. “Yes, I do. So does your mom.”
“She does?”
Becky and I look at one another and shake our heads. She’s so cute. We chat a bit longer until Abigail starts to get grumpy, and I need to head back to get my son. I’m dropping her off early so her mom can take her to a birthday party, and Josh has asked me to come in when I can.
“See ya on Friday, lovely!” I call out to Becky as we split up on the sidewalk.
“Later, ladies!” Becky waves, climbing into her SUV.
Jacob is at the kitchen island, playing his game, and I’m holding a fussy Cassian, bouncing him around when Josh comes strolling into the room.
As a private financial consultant and the owner of his own firm, Josh can work from home, the office, or the middle of an ocean.
Lately, he’s mostly been working from home.
I can’t imagine how it feels to be a single parent to such a tiny human.
The idea of going through the early days completely by myself sounds practically impossible. The thought alone makes me shudder.