Page 78 of Zone
I pull my cousin (uncle?) into a big hug, and he recoils at once. I know his neurodivergence means he hates being hugged, but I’m so relieved to see him after everything that’s happened, I can’t help myself.
“I came as soon as I could.” He raises his shoulders, doing his best to disentangle himself from my arms. “Your mother said you weren’t doing so well, but your manny seems to think otherwise.”
“Stan, this is my cousin Edward.” I motion between the two of them.
“Stanley.” Stan’s face is annoyed, but Cricket, by contrast, is clean and happy sitting on his hip. “Cousin… uncle… decorator. I’m going to need a list of approved visitors, Mr. Bradford. It’s impossible for me to abide by your instructions when unidentified individuals are coming and going all day long.”
“Does this mean you don’t need me?” Edward turns his stony expression on me.
I look from one annoyed male to the other, and relief bursts through my lips on a laugh.
“No. Eddie, I definitely need you.” Reaching out, I put my hand on my manny’s shoulder. “Stan, I’m really sorry aboutthis, but I can probably let you off the hook now. I wasn’t sure how soon Edward could get here.”
“I see.” His brow arches. “And the young woman was…?”
My lips part, and I glance around, only seeing the clean rug, the decluttered kitchen, a new baby toy in the center of the room, and a stack of folded laundry on the table.
“Is she still here?” My chest rises, and I really want to discuss all of this with Melody, in particular what I just learned from Stacia.
Every time I think about how she came here and stayed with me all night and helped me, when most people would’ve run away screaming… especially after that greeting at the door when I was covered in shit and pretty much at the end of my rope.
I must’ve looked like a wild man.
And she didn’t run.
I’ve been thinking about a verse I started writing a few days ago. I was just playing around then, but now it feels so much more meaningful.
“She came and went about an hour ago,” Stan clarifies, pulling me back to the present.
“She left?” I take out my phone, but there’s no message.
My shoulders drop, and I look out the windows at the twilight sky.
“Mr. Bradford, if you no longer need me, I’ll clock out now.” He turns, ready to hand off the baby to me. “Miss Christine has been bathed, and she had her BM today.”
I hold out my hands, my chest tightening briefly as I wait to see what she’ll do. This morning when I left, she didn’t want me to go, but now, looking at what a true professional baby handler has done, perhaps she’s changed her mind.
“Ba!” Her blue eyes light up, and she holds out her chubby arms.
My heart swells with satisfaction, and I put my hands onher little waist, smiling as I lift her and say it back to her. “That’s right! Ba!”
I give her a little shaky shake and she squeals, patting her hands on my face. I kiss her chubby neck, then I do it again, turning her side to side in my hands. She squeals louder, and even emits a baby belly laugh. That makes me laugh, and I kiss her little cheek.
She smells really good, and there’s not even the faintest trace of shit smell in my apartment.
“If your situation changes, let me know.” Stan pulls a leather messenger bag onto his shoulder like some updated, ultramodern Mary Poppins. “I have other clients, but Miss Christine is an easy child. Now that the place is somewhat organized, I can be flexible with my schedule.”
“Stan, you’re getting a bonus for today,” I say loudly, slapping him on the back. “This place looks better than it did last week.”
“Of course.” He clears his throat, then starts for the door. “I look forward to hearing from you again.”
“I’ll call you, but as long as Eddie’s here, I should be okay.” Stan leaves, and I turn to my cousin. “Man, you should’ve seen me yesterday. I didn’t think I was going to survive this.”
Edward is unimpressed. “Your mother said you were struggling. Although, I don’t see any signs of desperation. You have a skilled sitter, and he said she’s an easy child.”
“Wait til she craps her pants.”
“Your manny said she’d already done that today.” Edward stands in front of me, holding his hands in Cricket’s direction.
