Page 86 of Child of Mine

The next morningwhen I wake up in Lilah’s bed curled around her, it takes me a moment to remember what happened the night before. Lifting my head to peek over her, I find confirmation.

Asleep, fully clothed, and on top of the covers, Henry’s body is barely contained by the other twin bed in Lilah’s room. Easing up to a sitting position, I take in Lilah’s little tear-stained face. After we waited her out last night, her demands that we leave finally faded away, and she fell asleep curled up on the chair cushions. Henry scooped her up and carried her to bed, with me locking up behind us. Exhausted but unwilling to let her out of my sight, I only vaguely remember lying down beside her. I don’t remember what happened next, but it makes my heart stupidly happy that Henry stayed with us.

It’s like we all survived a wintry nor’easter together. A storm that brought us all a little bit closer together. I do hope the worst of the storm has passed. There will likely be more tantrums along the way as we pack up books and then pack up the apartment. Moving can be an adventure, too, though, and I’ll do my best to foment that feeling. In the midst of working several jobs.

Henry snores softly, reminding me that I now have a partner to help me. It’s something I never really missed, but now that he’s here, I don’t want to let him go. When a voice in my head whispers,Maybe you don’t have to, it’s not Quinn or Izzy—neither of whom has chimed in for days, it seems—it’s just me. My own voice.

Bella making choices for herself.

Chapter 18

“Last week onAll His Children: Rochelle promises to give Kayla all the help she can, even offering hand-me-down clothes from her own child. Nevertheless, she agrees that Kayla should tell Dave. Meanwhile, Irene proposes to Rob, pushing for an elopement. He agrees if they can have an ‘open marriage.’ Apparently, this pair doesn’t need the same thing from marriage that others do.”Soap Opera Land, August 1989

HENRY

Standing in the gate area waiting for my mom to deplane, I catalog all the ways this visit could go wrong. My mom takes up a lot of space in a room, and I fear that it’ll make both Lilah and Doris shrink away. Not just from her, but from me. On the other hand, she’s a charmer, and her bustling, bossy energy may be just what we all need right now.

My mom never met a stranger, so I’m not surprised to see her deep in conversation with a younger woman as she steps out of the jetway. After I manage to get her attention, she gives her new best friend a big hug and, probably, a few final words of advice.

Just a warm-up for what she’s going to dish out for me, I’m sure.

“Hey, Mama,” I say, stepping into a hug of my own. After breathing in her familiar floral scent, I take her carry-on bag. “Did you check a bag, too?”

“I did,” she says, hooking an elbow in mine and letting me steer her toward the baggage claim. “I just didn’t know what kind of weather to expect. Plus, I had to bring some presents.” She looks around pointedly. “Delilah didn’t come with you?”

“No, it’s almost bedtime for her.”

“I just can’t wait to meet her.”

As we navigate the various tunnels and bridges and highways to get from Logan Airport to my place, I fill her in on the bookstore closing and how Lilah is upset by it.

“Oh my word, that is sad. Well, I’ll just have to buy up those books so she can have them close by. I’ve got plenty of savings, and this is just the thing I want to spend it on. Plus, you owe them child support, Henry.” Digging through her enormous handbag, she says, “I wrote down how much.”

“How do you know how much I owe?”

“Oh, you know my friend Luanne’s husband is a lawyer, so I asked him about it.”

“How many people know our business now, Mama?”

“Just a few close friends.”

“Mom, Bella is very private. She was a celebrity—”

“I know; it’s very exciting. I have friends who are huge fans. Do you think you could get her to sign a few photos?”

“This is what I’m talking about, Mama. We haven’t told many people that I’m Lilah’s father yet—”

“Well, why not? Are you ashamed of her?”

“Of Bella?”

“Of Lilah.”

“No.”

“Well, then. No need to hide.”

“Mama, you know Bella and I are not married. We never were.”

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