10. Eli
Eli
Iknew as soon as I brought Wren home that my apartment was not going to work for us.
It made me have a damn near panic attack.
Thankfully, after talking with my mom, she told me that she knew of a perfect home that just went on the market—a family we’d known forever was selling.
And the best part is that it’s only a couple blocks from my mom’s house, so I can take Wren for walks there easily.
It will also be convenient for our schedule that we came up with for when I have to work.
Once I go back after my paternity leave, my mom is going to be my full-time help with Wren.
She retired from her teaching career last year but still does part-time work at the library.
She is going to change her library work hours around to fit with my schedule.
When I’m on shift for days at the fire station, I will drop off Wren on my way there and my mom will take care of her, keeping her overnight, and I will pick her up on my way back home when I get done with work.
My typical schedule is twenty-four-hour shifts every other day for five days, then I get four days off.
Thank fuck we get family and visitors up at the station all the time, because I already feel a ton of anxiety about being away from Wren so much. Mom promised me daily visits when I’m on shift and I am going to hold her to it.
When I saw the Savelli house, I knew right away that it would be a perfect place for me to raise Wren.
It has plenty of room, I have always loved this street, and when I found out that Kendra was going to be my neighbor, it was the cherry on top.
I knew her nana’s house was on this street but honestly didn’t know which one it was until my mom casually mentioned that her friend Stella Clark from the library used to live there.
“No,” Kendra says to me. Her wild blonde waves with streaks of pink are piled up on top of her head in a bun. She is wearing messy overalls with nothing on underneath but a bright green lace, cropped tank top of some kind. There is a line of clay haphazardly wiped across her left cheek.
It is adorable. Hot. Distracting as fuck.
“No?”
“You cannot be my new neighbor. It has to be someone else.” She almost chokes on the words.
“It’s me. Well, not just me,” I say looking down. “Me and Wren.”
“Wren,” Kendra says on barely a whisper.
I walk slowly toward her, crossing my new backyard, our side-by-side driveways, and so many lines.
“I’d like to introduce you to my daughter,” I say, stopping right in front of her frozen form.
Her bright blue eyes, shining in the morning light, dip down to take in my baby girl fully for the first time.
Kendra’s breath hitches. Her hand is clamped over her heart.
Wet eyes cast up, finding mine, and Kendra whispers, “Congratulations, Eli. She is really beautiful.”
Swallowing the boulder in my throat I say, “Thank you.”
We stand there, trapped in a web of our own history, odd newfound loathing, years of bickering with each other, and so many unanswered questions.
“I’m really sorry, um, about that night at Sutton’s. I was a real dick.” My apology is lackluster, long overdue, and I hate myself for not giving her more. She deserves so much better.
“Don’t worry about it, you have more important things to focus on than my hurt feelings, Eli. I’m over it,” she claims, unconvincingly.
“Can we talk about it?”
“No, I said it’s fine. Let’s just move on, okay?” Her eyes dart around, looking anywhere but at me.
“Sure, if that’s what you want,” I say, resigned. Wren starts to cry and I adjust her in my hold, resting her on my shoulder, patting her back softly.
Kendra’s eyes are like saucers, her attention drawn like a magnet as she watches me maneuver fatherhood.
“Sorry, she’s probably getting hungry. I should get back over there and make her a bottle. I’ll see you around, neighbor.” I give Kendra a wink as I walk away, but I don’t feel anywhere close to my carefree self.
Kendra is right, my focus does need to be on Wren . . . but there is something I’m missing with Kendra and can’t let it go. I am like a dog with a bone, but unfortunately I think I’m going to have to dig up the past with Kendra to find what I am looking for.