Page 149 of The Rebound
My niece.
“Oh my God,” I repeat, touching her nose with exaggerated care.
“She slept the entire way,” Louise says. “Which means she’ll be up all night. Don’t, Abby.”
“What?” I ask as I try to touch her again. “She’ll want to see me.”
“She doesn’t know who you are. And if you wake my child, I will kill you.” The wild look in her eyes makes me think she isn’t lying.
“We’ll steal her when they’re asleep,” Luke says to me.
“Please do,” Louise mutters but her gaze softens as she adjusts the blanket around Saoirse.
“How are you getting on with Mam and Dad?” I ask as I hug Tomasz hello. Our parents flew back a few days ago to spend the holiday at home. Luke and I will be staying with Pat and Susan while we’re here. Me in his old bed and him on the couch.
“As well as can be expected,” Louise says. “You cut your hair.”
“I did.”
“Hmm.”
Luke fights a smile.
“Thank you again for her birthday present,” she says, not so subtly changing the subject. “We appreciate it.”
“It was my pleasure.”
Starting from scratch with my savings wasn’t easy, but Luke and I were being careful, and the first thing I did when things were a little back to normal was set up a bank account in Saoirse’s name.
“Do they still have you working all hours?”
“Unfortunately but I’m getting better at finding balance.” I glance up at Luke, who squeezes my hand. A lot better. The hours at Stewarts were as tough as they were at MacFarlane and I was giving it my all, but I was no longer bending over backward just to keep myself in the game. I didn’t want to. I had no desire to stay dramatically late in the office if I didn’t have to. No desire to give up my weekends or keep my phone on all night. Not when Luke was at home waiting for me. Not when we had so much time to catch up on.
“And Luke, how’s the… ah, crap.”
Louise sighs as Saoirse stirs, blinking sleepily awake. I clap my hands as Tomasz takes her out of the stroller.
“Give her to me,” I say, holding my arms out.
Louise shakes her head. “Abby—”
“I didn’t wake her, so I get to hold her.”
“I give you an hour before you’re fed up,” she warns but doesn’t say anything more as I coo at her daughter.
“You know me,” I say, bouncing her. “We play on the phone. Yes, we do.”
She blinks at me, confused but pliant with a “let’s see where this goes”expression.
“Do you have everything?” Louise asks, eyeing the crowd. “We better go if we want to get back before Christmas is over.”
“It’s grand, Louise.”
“The roads are a nightmare,” she says as Tomasz takes our luggage cart. “When you’re the one driving, you can set the schedule.”
I continue to sing nonsense words at Saoirse as we follow them back out into the cold.
“You’re good with her,” Luke says, slipping an arm around my waist. “What?” He laughs when I give him a look.
