Page 72 of Single Dad's Fake Bride
I nodded, following her back to the living room where Janet was examining one of Eloise's drawings with what looked like genuine interest.
"You should go, Mom," Sadie said. "You need your rest."
Janet started to protest, but Eloise jumped up from the couch. "Will you come back tomorrow? I want to show you my room and my book collection."
"We'll see, sweetheart," Janet said, but her voice was warmer than it had been all evening.
I walked them to the door, helping Janet with her coat while Sadie gathered her purse. The cool October air carried the scent of fallen leaves and the promise of winter.
"Thank you," Janet said quietly, and I realized she was talking to me. "For dinner. For… all of this."
"You're family now," I said simply, and Janet grunted gruffly as Sadie walked her out the door and down the sidewalk to a waiting black sedan. I stood waiting, hovering on the threshold for my new wife to return. It made my heart ache that she was actually putting down the line in the sand, but I had to respect that.
If something was going to develop between us, it would happen naturally, and my pushing it hard simply because we were officially married would only make Sadie draw back. As much as I wanted to rush, I had to be patient and hope for the best.
"Sadie! I mean, Mom," Eloise called from the door. I hadn't even seen her come up behind me, too busy focusing on how beautiful Sadie looked as she walked back toward the house with crystalized air puffed out around her face as she breathed in the cold night air.
"Shh, honey, the neighbors," I chided, but Eloise was already running, snatching Sadie's hand and dragging her back in the house.
"Mom… can I call you Mom? Or do you want me to call you Mommy?" Eloise was jabbering again, and I saw the emotional torment in Sadie's eyes as they passed us. "Let me show you your room. I know you were here, but you probably didn't see the bedroom.”
Eloise dragged Sadie toward my room and threw open the door, and I saw the deer-in-headlights expression on her face as Eloise flipped on the lights. "You'll sleep with my dad, but he snores. So you might want to get ear plugs and?—"
"Hey there, little bird," I said, scooping Eloise up into my arms. "It's been a long day and we have a big weekend planned. I think it's bedtime."
"No, I want Mom to tuck me in." She reached for Sadie but I turned around, forcing Eloise's chest to mine as I backed up thehallway so she couldn’t see Sadie's face. I had to get this kid away from Sadie so she could breathe for a second.
"On the left," I mouthed dramatically, jerking my head toward the guestroom door, and the look of relief on Sadie's face made my heart pinch. She was happy to have her own room, perhaps sick in the stomach at the idea that Eloise expected us to sleep together.
And I didn't know which was worse—that she'd be under my roof without being able to touch her, or that she was relieved for it to be that way.
18
SADIE
The phone rang at eight thirty on Saturday morning, and I answered it from my bed before the second ring could wake the house.
"Sadie, honey, I hope I'm not calling too early." Mom's voice sounded tired, with that raspy quality that had gotten worse since the home health nurse had moved in three days ago.
I sat up against the headboard, pulling the blanket around my shoulders. The guest bedroom Harrison had given me faced east, and morning light streamed through the gauze curtains. "No, Mom, I was awake. How are you feeling?"
"That's actually why I'm calling." She paused, and I heard her cough—a wet sound that made my chest tighten. "I made an appointment with Dr. White for Monday morning. I've been having some stomach pain, and Martha thinks I should get it checked."
Martha was the home health nurse Harrison had arranged within hours of our marriage becoming official. She had moved into my old bedroom at the apartment and had twenty years of experience with patients recovering from alcohol dependency.
"What kind of pain?" I asked, swinging my legs out of bed. The floor was cold against my bare feet and my bladder screamed to be relieved.
"Nothing too serious, sweetheart. Martha says it could be related to the medication adjustments, but she wants to be safe. You know how nurses are."
I did know. Martha had called me twice this week with updates on Mom's progress, and each conversation had been thorough and professional. If she thought Mom needed to see the doctor, there was probably a good reason.
"Do you want me to come with you to the appointment?"
"Oh, no, honey. Martha's driving me, and you have your new family to think about now." The word "family" came out in almost a slur that made my throat tight. "How are things going with the rich man and his daughter?"
I walked to the window and looked down at the back yard, where Harrison had set up a small garden bed for Eloise to plant whatever she wanted. She'd chosen mums and marigolds, and the first green shoots were already pushing through the soil. As late as it was in the year, I was surprised anything could germinate, but the cold-hardy plants surprised me.
"Good," I said, which was mostly true. "We're all figuring out the routine."
