Page 83 of Unbreakable
On it babe
I got hometo Jeanine holding Bella and walking her around the kitchen. Alice and Greyson thundered through the kitchen to head straight for the TV, something I’d promised them in the car while I assessed the situation with Bella. She had that bounce you use when kids are really tiny and you’re just trying to get them to sleep. Jeanine’s shirt had a damp spot on it, her hair was up in a lopsided ponytail, and she looked miserable.
“Aw, my girls,” I said.
“Her ear hurts,” Jeanine whispered.
I grimaced. “How are you?”
Bella woke from her nap on Jeannie’s shoulder with a start, wailing out a “Mommy!”
Like she anticipated the flood, Jeanine speed-shuffled to the sink as Bella unleashed a tide of puke, a splatter as it hit J andthe floor. Jeanine patted Bella’s back. “It’s okay, sweet pea. Let’s try and get it in the sink,” she said as she leaned over the sink.
I stifled a gag, coughing to try and stave it off. Jeanine shot me a death glare over Bella’s head as she vomited into the sink.
“I’m sorry!” I said. “You know I don’t do good with puke.”
“No one does, Dylan,” she grumbled. “Some of us just have to.”
That made me feel sicker, because she was right. “So she throws up when she gets a cold?”
Jeanine’s jaw feathered. “Yes,” she said tersely, then blinked hard. “She swallows snot, I think, and it upsets her stomach.”
“Poor thing,” I said. Bella seemed done throwing up for the moment, so I held out my hands. “I’ve got you, sweetie. Let’s go get you cleaned up.”
“I want Mommy!” Bella said, clinging to Jeanine.
“Mommy needs a break, baby. I’ve got you.”
“Is Mommy leaving?” Bella wailed.
Jeanine’s eyes filled with tears as I took Bella out of her arms. “No, baby. Mommy’s not leaving,” she said.
After I gaveBella a bath and Jeanine got a shower, I left J to rock Bella. “I was planning to take over, but I need to get food on the table for the kids,” I said.
“It’s fine, I get it,” Jeanine said, lifeless behind her eyes.
I kissed both of them on the top of the head. “I’ll relieve you as soon as I’m done cooking.”
I scrambled to cook a box of mac and cheese for the older two, popping the appetizers I’d gotten into the oven for Jeanine. Thank god I hadn’t overestimated my culinary abilities and just got a frozen thing I needed to heat up. I poured her a glass of herfavorite white wine. I left Alice and Greyson to start eating while I ran the wine and appetizer up to Jeanine.
I walked in to find them both asleep in Bella’s rocking chair. I jogged into our bedroom to put the appetizers and wine on Jeanine’s nightstand. Then I carefully pried Bella off Jeanine and put her down in her crib.
I scooped Jeanine up much the same way, carrying her to our bed.
“What are you doing?” Jeanine grumbled.
“Putting you in bed. You’re exhausted.”
She sighed. “I am. But I was promised something special tonight, meat on the bone, etcetera.”
I frowned, studying her. “I don’t want it to be an obligation, babe. The point is for it to be fun for us.”
She threw up an exasperated hand. “When will we not have a sick kid? When will I not be tired?”
There was a crash downstairs, followed by a “Mommy!” Jeanine moved to get up, but I held her back.
“You stay here. I’ve got it.” I put the plate and wine glass in her hands. “I’ll go manage that, and when dinner’s ready I’ll come get you. But we’re not eating until the kids are in bed. I don’t want any interruptions.”
