Page 49 of Entirely Yours
The thought crosses my mind that I’d marry her right here, right now, and that’s when I know I’ve actually gone insane.
Thea walks over to help Chloe on her mission, looking at me the entire time as if she’s trying to communicate something to me that I’m obviously not picking up on.
“Hey, Chlo,” she starts. “Have you ever wanted a baby brother or sister?” Thea winces slightly at her wording.
Chloe pauses and seems to really think about her answer. Finally she shrugs. “Not really.”
“Right…” Thea continues. “But what if you got a baby brother or sister?”
Bent down in the dirt, Chloe begins to put sticks together in an attempt to make a tiny shelter. “Would it live with us?” she asks.
I can tell Thea is struggling by the pleading glance she sends my way. Sitting in the dirt next to Chloe, I say, “Most babies live with their grown-ups. I had a lot of fun with my siblings, I’m glad I have them.”
“What’s a sibling?” Chloe asks.
“You know how Ben is my brother?”
“Yeah, he’s your twin.” Chloe looks up, dirt smeared across her cheek. “I think I’d like a twin. Can I have a twin, Mama?”
I love four-year-old logic. “A twin would have to be born at the same time as you. But…” I look up at Thea, who nods.
Kneeling down next to the two of us, she says, “Chlo, Mama has another baby in her belly. You get to be a big sister.”
“Cool!” Chloe says in quite the about face.
“It is… cool. Do you have any questions?” Thea prompts.
Chloe stands up and puts her hands on her hips. “Yes, I do.”
We both look at her expectantly.
“Can I have a snack?”
“Thanks for stopping by on your day off—really just finishing touches at this point.”
Cole has become somewhat of a friend since Ben introduced us. She can be incredibly hard to read, but I’m taking her presence here as a positive sign.
“Does the place have a name yet?” she asks.
The million-dollar question.
“I’ve had such a hard time deciding. It feels like naming a baby, you know?”
Cole laughs. “I do not know, but you do. I’m sure you’ll come up with something.”
“Whirlwind Dance Studio is what has been sticking out to me lately… I feel like it encapsulates this whole experience really well,” I confess.
“Oh, yes. I like it,” Cole encourages. “The place really does look great. Not going to lie, it was giving a little more crack den than ballet studio beforeyou took over.”
She’s not wrong. The studio was falling apart when I got the keys. Between that and early pregnancy disdain for doing anything other than sleep, it’s been slow to open. Today Cole is helping me apply a film to the windows that will let light in but prevent my dancers from getting distracted by people walking by. A surprisingly difficult task due to the size of the front windows.
Dad is watching Chloe and Jules is at work. I can tell he’s at the point in the school year where he’s ready to be done. There’s still a lot to do next door at the coffee shop, and from what it sounds like, his seniors checked out a while ago.
I don’t often feel the age gap between Jules and I—having a baby will force you to grow up quickly, and seven years doesn’t really feel likethatbig of a gap—but when I think about the fact that Jules could have beenmyteacher, I get a little… okay so maybe it turns me on just a bit.
And I’m pretty sure I’ve officially entered the horny stage of pregnancy. A wet rag could probably turn me on right about now.
“Earth to Thea,” Cole interrupts me.
