Page 131 of A Bossy Roommate

I’ve never appreciated Hattie more than over the last few weeks when she’ll show up at our door, offering to watch the baby while we catch up on sleep or go out to dinner for a date.

Eden is already referring to her as Auntie Hattie, and not just for Ellie’s sake.

On the day Aunt Eleanor’s surprise flight touches down, Eden has a doctor’s appointment. I’ve just put Ellie in her basinet in the living room when the front door opens, and Auntie makes her grand entrance.

“Cartie!Mon amour,” she says, arms wide for a hug. However, when I go in, she completely bypasses me and goes straight to the baby. “Where is she? Where ismon trésor?”

Without missing a beat, she gathers the baby into her arms and cuddles “her treasure” close. Ellie coos, kicking her feet as the faux fur from my aunt’s coat tickles her arms.

In the hallway, I see Hattie dragging all of my aunt’s belongings toward her apartment, where Aunt Eleanor will be staying during her visit. “Here, Hattie, let me help you with that,” I say, quickly stepping forward.

“Oh, Eleanor, my dear! One should be tending to one’s own belongings!” Hattie chimes to her best friend, even as I swoop in to help.

Eleanor waves her off, too focused on the baby to care.

After I help Hattie take everything inside, the two of us can’t help but smile at the scene in front of us. My aunt has made herself comfortable on the sofa, rocking Ellie in her arms. “I knew it!” she exclaims, whipping off her sunglasses that Ellie has been grabbing for and using them to point accusingly at me. “I told you so, didn’t I, Hattie?”

“Neither of us possesses the gift of telepathy, you know, love,” Hattie says, sitting next to her on the couch with a heavy sigh. “You do tend to make quite afewstatements, my dear, so I’m afraid you’re going to have to narrow it down just a tad.”

I sit in the armchair across from them. “What did you say, Auntie?”

“That Eden was pregnant.” She has a smug look on her face. “Iknewit.”

“You couldn’t have known it then becausewedidn’t even know it then.”

“Oh, come on, Cartie, we talked about this. You don’t have to sugarcoat things on my account. I knew Eden was pregnant the first time I met her.”

Hattie and I exchange glances. I have to hide a grin behind my hand and so does Hattie.

“Pardon. Will someone tell me what is so funny?” Auntie asks, annoyed at being left out of the joke.

The front door opens before I can answer, and Eden comes home. “Auntie! Hello!” she exclaims excitedly. “I’m so gladyou’re here. When did you…” She looks between me and Hattie. Neither of us have stopped grinning. “What’s going on here?”

Aunt Eleanor throws up her hand. “Who knows?” she says, bouncing Ellie in her arms. “These two started grinning for no reason.”

Eden comes closer, and I pull her next to me, gently rubbing her back. “We’re laughing because Aunt Eleanor was just saying that she knew you were pregnant when she visited for the weekend.”

Eden bursts out laughing, and it sends me and Hattie into a giggle fit.

Auntie is not impressed. “Pardon? I want to know what’s so hilarious.”

“It appears your calculations may be a tad off, my dear.” Hattie patiently explains it all like a pro, sorting out the tangle of dates and months that connect her surprise visit to the day of Ellie’s birth.

“Oopsie-daisy!” Aunt Eleanor eventually says. “Well, you know, it seems my math skills took a vacation while the stork decided to pay a visit. Forget counting the months, let’s instead celebrate this bundle of cuteness!”

That’s when Ellie starts crying.

“Duty calls,” I announce. Kissing Eden on the forehead to give her a few more moments of rest, I pull away, happy to let her sit there a little longer while I take care of our daughter.

Eleanor hands the baby to me while shaking her head in disbelief that she’s crying.

As soon as I lean over her, she stops and smiles up at me, that beautiful sunshine smile I had witnessed on her mother’s face a moment ago.

“Come on, little lady,” I say, scooping her into my arms. “Let’s go see Mommy.”

After a while, Hattie politely excuses herself, realizing that her feline companions are also longing for nourishment. Once we all wish her a nice evening, Aunt Eleanor sits next to Eden, who cradles Ellie in her arms as she sways gently and sings to her. Auntie joins in with her, seamlessly blending with Eden’s voice and the melody.

I watch them, captivated.

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