Page 15 of Jaime
Although we’d only come for a bassinet, it was impossible to not do a full round of the shop.
For some reason, I’d never thought to go to the baby store before. I didn’t know why it hadn’t occurred to me—the place was so fun.
I couldn’t help picking up toys to show her, wiggling different ones in front of her to catch a reaction. When her eyes widened dramatically at a keyring toy made up of rainbow colors, I kept it in hand. A minute later, when we reached the chew toys and a soft-looking giraffe caught my eye, I grabbed that too.
“Hang on,” Ethan said, and I glanced over as he ran back to the front of the store to grab a cart.
When he returned, there was already a blanket set in it, along with another plushie.
I grinned, adding my finds to the collection.
“This is for tummy time, so you can leave her on the floor while she builds her neck and back muscles.”
He pointed at the display, and I took a minute before picking one out.
I’d read about tummy time and a million other things. Google had turned into my best friend when I first got Evie, but with so much information, it was hard to know what the most important things to do were. I did put her on her tummy sometimes but in my bed, where I had to be there every moment, watching her just in case.
Suddenly, I realized how good it would be to put her on the floor and know she was fine. I could probably get a cup of coffee without freaking out.
“Found the bath seats!”
Ethan picked one up, putting it into the cart. I couldn’t help adding a set of floating toys, and we both grinned. At least Ethan seemed to be enjoying himself. I didn’t need to feel too bad about taking too much of his time.
When we reached the beds, it all started to suddenly feel real. Not that having her for the past month wasn’t, but I hadn’t inserted her into my life properly, had I? She had almost no belongings and no space of her own.
Giving her a bed and blankets and toys... It made it feel like she would belong if I did that.
And that was what I wanted.
If I hadn’t been so overwhelmed with keeping her alive, maybe I would have realized that sooner.
“This one is nice,” I said, resting my hands on a gray one. It was half the size of the others, perfect for a baby as small as she was, and there was a mobile clipped to the side that hung over the top with plush stars made of shiny fabric. The bedding set was frilly and white, with small stars embroidered on it.
I placed a hand over Evie’s back, feeling her warmth through the carrier.
“What do you think?” I asked her, then realized she had fallen asleep again.
“It must be very warm and cozy in there,” Ethan said.
I chuckled.
“I guess so. What do you think?” I asked.
“I like it,” Ethan said thoughtfully. “But you can use the full-sized cribs for longer.”
I glanced at them. There was one just like this in a bigger size, but my apartment was so small... I didn’t think it would fit in my bedroom.
“I think I’ll have to move soon,” I said.
He shook his head.
“No, this one will be great until she’s...” He bent forward, reading the sign. “A year and a half. That’s perfect. You should get this if it’s the one you like.”
I nodded. “Okay.”
He smiled and waved at one of the employees.
“One of these,” he said, indicating the crib.
