Page 10 of Handsome
My mind whizzed. I hadn’t expected to wake up and stare at paintings of sunrises or abstract wall decorations made of wire sculptures with shells.
My shared bedroom in my apartment never had art. And my bed at home wasn’t nearly this springy. I ended up sleeping in my shirt from yesterday because I hadn’t dared touch anything in the room.
I didn’t want to get up, though dawn was near.
I checked the baby monitor and saw Joshua was still sleeping and rubbed my eyes. Since it was so late already, maybe he’d sleep right through ‘til the sun was up.
Last night wasn’t going to be the norm. I’d agreed to be the hired help, so the first thing on my to-do list was to stifle my unrequited longing for Joshua’s father.
Then I called the morgue and made the arrangements. My shoulders sagged with exhaustion, but then I tugged on the jeans I’d tossed on the floor and dragged my feet into the bathroom to brush my teeth.
My heart quickened when I glanced around the marble room. The shower was a glass wall and had two nozzles where water came out. An amazing luxury I’d only seen in a magazine or on a commercial.
However, I finished, and then rushed out. When Joshua woke, he’d need a new diaper and a bottle, and both of them were still in the diaper bag.
I was sure they’d buy formula today, but I raced down the stairs and found my way to the kitchen.
The chef in the white hat was at work, and he directed me to a shiny silver refrigerator marked "bottles." I could see my reflection in it, so it was probably new, but I opened it and found—breast milk. My mind raced. My sister had stopped trying to pump at six weeks and settled on formula. I worked for weeks before I found nipples and formula that worked for Joshua and didn’t cause him a stomachache. So I grabbed an empty bottle from one of the bags and added the breast milk.
As soon as the bottle was warmed, I grabbed a diaper from my bag and headed for the stairs.
I’d barely made it to the dining room when I ran into Cyrus’s mother. He called her Maman, but that probably wasn’t her name. And with everything that happened, I swallowed, unsure what to call Mrs. Norouzi.
She smiled at me and said, “You’re up early.”
I held up the glass bottle I bought for Joshua as I said, “Just getting a bottle before Joshua wakes up.”
She turned to walk with me and asked, “May I join you?”
Hopefully there was no quiz on names. She walked in step with me as I said, “Of course. He needs the glass ones because he couldn't get enough suction with the plastic to get enough to eat. Hopefully he loves the breast milk, because the poor little guy gets gassy, and I feel so sorry for him.”
“I bought a subscription last night, so he’ll always have the best,” she said quickly. She linked arms with me and said, “Parvis and I planned to go to the Panama Canal. If you or my son need our help, we can change our plans.”
Cyrus’s father was Parvis. I’d remember that.
Then, as we reached the top step, Cyrus said, “We’ll be fine, Maman. Tell Pedar I hope you both have a wonderful time.”
I lowered my head quickly. I shouldn't gawk at him. My sister never mentioned she’d chosen the handsomest man she ever met, not that I’d have believed her.
And I was the new hired help. This was the first job in my life that I needed to keep, so I wasn't about to fuck it up on the first day.
I moved to leave, but his mother held me tight as she said, “With all our sons now fully grown, my husband and I spend all our time together, but the long trip will be fun.”
The zip in my veins wasn’t good, though I knew it was from both Cyrus and his mother. I wasn’t sure when was the last time someone held me like they wanted me close. My customers at the diner hardly noticed I was there, and my roommates and I never associated beyond paying the rent.
I mumbled, “I’m sure a vacation will be great.”
She laughed and said, “You’re sweet. I’m glad you’re here with us.”
We all walked into the nursery. Joshua stretched, already the king of the castle here. I moved toward him, but Cyrus gripped my wrist and said to his mother, “Thank you. I’ll give you time alone with your grandson.”
I handed over the bottle. Joshua would be fine.
And being held by Cyrus sent a thrill zinging through me. No man had ever rocked me to my very core this way, and we weren’t even in bed.
I tugged myself free to stifle the hormonal response that could never be expressed and paused at my door.
Last night clothes had appeared in my room as if by magic, and in my size. I bit my lips, because asking was rude, but then had to ask, “Cyrus, did you order those clothes for me?”
