Page 7 of Night So Silent
“Perfect,” he replies. “She sleeps really well, just at the wrong times.” He glances across the room at Brett and lowers hisvoice. “Ev was sleeping most of the night but now she’s reverting and it’s killing Brett. I don’t know what to do.”
I shoot him a look. “Youcould get up with her.”
“TellBrettthat,” Colson grins. “I have a whole shelf of formula in the pantry, but she won’t hear it, not even for night feedings.”
I admire Brett’s conviction, ironclad in science and the power of breastmilk. But Colson’s right, she looks exhausted even while carrying on an animated conversation with Sergei, who’s still holding my suitcase.
“Sergei’s a lifesaver,” Brett declares, then looks up at him. “You’re staying for dinner, right?”
“I’ll accept it as payment,” he nods.
“We’re getting takeout,” she says to me. “We have a really good Lebanese place in town that you’re going to love.”
My mouth is already watering. In my panicked trek through two airports, I forgot to eat anything. And now I’m starting to identify with Ev as she wakes and starts gumming Colson’s chest. Brett crosses the living room, gently lifts her off his chest, and then takes a seat next to him.
“Sorry, baby,” Colson straightens up. “For all my stellar qualities, even I’m no match for you.”
I know Brett, and I know she’s probably drowning in guilt because she also refuses to ask anyone for help. This is the only reason I would ever dream of saying what I’m about to say.
“Colson’s right, you’re a freaking Super Woman. But I know you must be exhausted. Would supplementing with formula help at all?” I ask with feigned ignorance.
“Yes,” Brett sighs as she adjusts Ev against her chest. “I just haven’t gotten up the guts to use it. I don’t know…I know it’s dumb, but it would feel like I’m tapping out, like I failed.”
I know it’s the furthest thing from the truth, but it hurts my heart to hear it all the same.
“You wouldn’t be failing at anything.” Colson presses his nose into her hair. “We need to take care of you, too.”
“What if I did it?” I chime in.
“Did what?”
“I told you I’d help you while I’m here. But clearly, I’m not lactating, so this is the only way I can help you get more sleep. And youneedto sleep. Plus, it’ll probably help Ev sleep longer, too.” At least, that’s what I’ve heard.
And who is Brett to argue? After the last couple of years, with what happened with Bowen and then following it up by giving birth, she needs a reprieve. And it takes her nearly a minute to respond.
“Alright,” she finally agrees. “But promise me that you’ll wake me up if it doesn’t work.”
“Don’t worry, I will.”
Except I totally won’t, because now I’m committed. Ev will sleep, Brett will sleep, and a few days of spotty sleep won’t kill me. I guarantee that this will be the greatest Christmas gift of all.
“Oh,” I chirp as I rise from the sofa and start across the room, “thanks for bringing my suitcase in, Sergei.”
He regards me with a look I can’t read and gently relinquishes my suitcase without a word. Those eyes of his could make the ponderosas outside wither with one glance. I cast him a polite smile and take my suitcase to the foot of the stairs. Once Ev is fed, Colson and Sergei head out the door to go pick up dinner while Brett shows me to the guest room.
“What’s up with Sasquatch?” I can barely contain myself, falling into the same rhythm and snarky exchanges we’ve had since college.
Brett glances over her shoulder. “Who?”
“The lumberjack, the Viking—Sergei?”
“Oh!He’s a beast, right? I hope you got my text when you landed, otherwise that would’ve been kind of awkward,” she giggles.
This is my cue, and I proceed to tell her the saga of my horrible journey across the country, ending with me being dragged a few feet by the blonde leviathan before falling into a pile on the airport floor in defeat.
Brett’s jaw drops. “You didnot!”
“It was humiliating.” I hoist my suitcase onto the edge of the bed. “But it’s me, are you really surprised?”
