Page 66 of This Baby Business
Knowing I wouldn’t let anyone else hurt me ever again.
CHAPTER26
Carly
“Where have you been?”
By the time Jill showed up with Grace an hour later, I had been about to call nine-one-one and put out an all-points bulletin on a tall redhead and an adorable baby.
“Take it easy. I figured I’d get my steps in, so we took an extra long walk.” Jill unbuckled a sleeping Grace.
“Let me.” I bent to pick Grace up and carry her into the house.
I walked carefully into the spare bedroom where I’d set up the crib and set her on her back as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatricians. Yep. I knew my stuff. More and more each day.
Grace had the face of a cherub in her sleep, sweet and soft pink cheeks. Enviable long lashes. I spread a blanket over her in case she got cold, and gently stroked her plump cheek with the back of my hand.
I turned and left the room, nearly bumping into Jill just outside in the hallway.
“What are you doing?” Jill narrowed her eyes.
“Putting her down. What does it look like?” I whispered.
I shut the bedroom door and tiptoed into the kitchen, Jill following me. “How did it go today?”
“She didn’t even want to hear about RockYourBaby. I couldn’t pitch it.”
“I’m sorry. Don’t worry, there’ll be other—”
“She wantsme.”
“You?” Jill clapped her hands. “That’s great! Wait. It’s good. Yeah?”
“No, dummy! Not good.” I reached into the cabinet and took down my blender. “I need to sell my mom’s company. And time is not my best friend right now.”
“But…what about their offer?”
I lined up the fresh fruit. Bananas, apples, blueberries.
“It’s not an offer. She’d like me to send a portfolio of all the clothes I threw together for Grace so she’d look cute in the photos. Maybe something would come out of it, or maybe not.”
Jill laughed. “But that’s great. You finally found your niche in the fashion industry.”
I threw in a banana and pureed it. I dumped it out into a bowl, where I mixed it. Later, I’d put it in the small containers I’d bought so that Grace could have fresh baby food.
“I never thought I’d design baby clothes.”
“Sometimes life surprises you.” Jill leaned against the counter. “You don’t hate it, do you?”
“No. Actually, I kind of like it. Weird, I know.”
Jill slid a significant look in the direction of my baby-food making. “And by the way, what the hell are you doing?”
“Making Grace her baby food.”
“I knowwhatyou’re doing. I just wonder why.”
“Why?” Now I turned and went hands on hips. “And you used to be an au pair! It’s the healthiest way to feed a baby. Natural. Homemade.”
