Page 52 of Sean
Jace held out his hands and yelled, “Ma.”
Monica took one step forward, then stopped and clasped her hands behind her back.“Sorry,” she whispered and pointed over her shoulder.“I’m just going over the checklist for tomorrow’s luncheon.I’ll get back to it.”
But Sean closed the distance and thrust Jace into her arms.“He missed you.”
Monica held Jace tight, nuzzling her face into his neck.He felt so good, so right in her arms, she nearly cried.She reveled in the smell and the feel of the little boy who’d stolen her heart.When she looked up, she found Sean studying her with an odd expression.She started to hand the baby back, but Jace tightened his grip around her neck.
“Ma,” he whispered into her ear as he lay his head on her shoulder.
Monica closed her eyes, knowing he was sayingMonicanotMama.Even so, she almost wished that she didn’t know the difference.She could live like this.As the silence grew awkward Monica met Sean’s eyes.“What are you guys up to?”It was lame, but it was all she could manage in the moment.
He waved toward the kitchen.“Mom’s baking cupcakes for the party this afternoon.She needed a platter she’d forgotten to bring home.She sent us to get it.”
“Don’t tell me, let me guess.A pretty piece of rectangular crystal with a scalloped edge?”
When Sean simply raised his eyebrows, she smiled.“I saw it in the pantry, and I wondered who it belonged to.Must be a fancy party.”
“Fancy enough for a one-year-old, I suppose.”He nodded at the little boy still nestled in Monica’s arms.“Today’s his birthday.”
Monica looked down.“Happy birthday, baby.”
Jace didn’t react.In fact, he was fast asleep against her shoulder.
Monica motioned Sean closer.“Out like a light.”
“Rats.”
“Problem?”
Sean’s sigh echoed in the cavernous room.“I had one job today.Well, two if you count picking up the platter.I was supposed to keep Jace out of the house and out from under Mom’s feet for a couple of hours.Since he needed an afternoon nap, I was going to go by the apartment I rented and let him nap in the playpen while I piddled with measurements and stuff.This kid is the catnap king.If I try to buckle him into the car seat, I’ll only wake him up.He won’t go back to sleep, and he’ll be Mr.Crabby when it’s party time.”
Monica took a few seconds to assess the situation.“You have the playpen with you?”
“In the trunk.”
“Go get it,” she whispered, nodding to the back of the room.“Set it up in that dark corner and we’ll lay him down.You can either stay here with me or go about your business.Either way, he gets his nap and you don’t have to go home to Alex in shame”.
***
SEAN STOOD NEXT TOMonica and held his breath as Jace rooted around on the thin mattress of the playpen before settling back into his nap.His eyes remained closed and his breathing evened out.Mom might not kill him after all.“Thanks,” he whispered.
“Not a problem.I’ll be in the kitchen, so I’ll hear him when he wakes up if you want to go.”
“I didn’t have anything important to do.I was just trying to kill some time.”Sean looked at Monica and felt two weeks’ worth of tension evaporate.How could he have ever thought that cutting this beautiful woman out of his life was the right thing?“The feeling was mutual, you know.”
“What do you mean?”
“Missing you,” Sean clarified.“Jace wasn’t the only one who’s suffered the last couple of weeks.”
Monica looked away, but not quick enough that Sean missed the moisture that filled her eyes.
He grabbed her hand and pulled her gently back into the kitchen, where they wouldn’t have to whisper.“Look, I’m an idiot.I overreacted, and I’m sorry.I’ve wanted to tell you that for days, but I wasn’t sure that you wanted to hear it.”He left the subject of the restaurant kiss alone.Every time he thought of it, shame and longing formed a toxic stew in his gut, leaving him with more indecision than direction.Restoring their friendship would have to be enough for today.
Monica dabbed at her eyes.“I have just as much to apologize for.Calling you a jerk was out of line, but after—”
“How’s the fundraising going?”Sean settled onto one of the barstools at the counter.If she was headed to their time at the restaurant, he needed to derail her before she got there.
Monica blinked but she recovered quickly enough.“Really great.I’ve got one more fundraiser next Saturday that should put me over the top.I can honestly say with a great deal of relief that Matthew Wright is a sure thing for our January event.”She stopped and tilted her head.“Why do you do that?”
