Page 136 of My Little Doe
“Mama is sick and needs to take care of herself,” I said.
“Oh, okay,” she said. Then she shrugged her shoulders and ran inside.
Quinn looked at me, eyes wide. I knew he wasn't sure what to make of how she handled that. Aspen normally didn’t dwell or ask questions when mother wasn’t around, so I shouldn’t have been shocked.
Callie was sitting on the couch with a book in her hand when we walked in. I gave her a half smile. Aspen walked around the living room, taking everything in.
“I guess it’s a good thing I’m gonna be moving to Louisiana very soon,” she said.
“Do you not like kids? Is this not okay?” I asked.
“No! No! I love kids, and this is fabulous. I just meant so that she can have her very own room,” she said.
Aspen had wandered around the house and made her way back into the living room. “Where will I sleep?” she asked.
“What do you think about the couch for a few days?” Quinn asked.
“Yeah, I sleep on the couch at home,” Aspen replied.
“Well, I was thinking, once Callie moves, you can have your very own room. What do you think?” he asked.
If I hadn’t already fallen completely head over heels, that moment would have done it. He spoke to her gently, as if he’d known her all her life.
“I like that. Can I have toys, too?” she asked.
“Of course!” he said.
She wrapped her arms around his legs and hugged him tightly. Sadly, this wasn’t new. She often hugged anyone who spoke kindly to her or gave her attention. That was why I watched her so very closely when we went places or when people were over.
Quinn looked over at me, unsure of what to take of this. He slowly reached his hand down and patted her back.
“What’s your favorite movie?” he asked her.
“Jurassic Park!” she yelled.
“I think I have that,” he said.
“Yay!” Aspen screeched.
“Zay and I are gonna make dinner, okay?” Quinn asked.
“I’m starving,” she said.
“Me too, little bug. How about we hang out and watchJurassic Parktogether?” Callie said.
“Yes, yes, yes!” she yelled.
Then she climbed onto the couch next to Callie and cuddled into her. An ache hit deep into my chest. I didn’t know what the last six months had been like for her, but from the way things looked, I knew that the next few months might be hard.
I joined Quinn in the kitchen. He reached into the fridge and grabbed the pack of chicken breasts.
“What happened?” he whispered.
I stepped closer to him, grabbed the potatoes he had in a pan, and started peeling them.
“Paxton and that girl were there, passed out, needles on the ground. The house was a complete mess. My mother was in her room, passed out drunk,” I said.
“That sounds awful to walk into,” he said.
