She went into the kitchen. Josh was standing there holding the baby and warming a bottle of formula in a pan of water on the stove. He looked like he knew what he was doing. The baby lounged contentedly in his arms. Lisa’s mind wandered into forbidden territory.
“Good morning,” said Josh.
Lisa was too flustered to say anything, and her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. She hated herself for being so ridiculous around him, but there was nothing she could do about it except pretend it wasn’t happening, so she went about her business and ignored him. Maybe he wouldn’t notice. Josh took the bottle out of the pan and put it on the cabinet. The baby tried to squirm away.
“Do you mind holding her for a minute?” he said.
Lisa turned around. To her secret delight, he was smiling again. She felt helpless. Why did he have to be so charming? It shouldn’t be allowed. He was impossible to refuse, but she hesitated. She didn’t know anything about babies. She felt bitterly disappointed. Sabrina wouldn’t approve of her. It was hopeless.
“I don’t know how,” she said to Josh.
“It’s easy,” said Josh. “As long as you don’t drop her, she’ll be fine. Here, let me show you. She’s fussy right now because she’s hungry, but I don’t think she’ll spit up on you. She drools a lot, though, so be careful. Her name is Yvonne.”
While he spoke, he handed the baby to Lisa as if he were doing her a favor, and she found herself holding the wriggling creature against her chest. Yvonne began to wail in a shrill voice. Lisa made a few cautious adjustments and managed to get a tight grip on an arm and a leg, after which Yvonne stopped struggling. Lisa hoped she hadn’t damaged her, but Josh didn’t seem worried. By the time he finished preparing the bottle, Lisa didn’t want to give Yvonne back to him.
“She likes you,” said Josh.
“Do you take care of her a lot?” said Lisa.
“Not really, but I told my parents I’d watch her for a while so they could enjoy their breakfast without having to worry about her,” said Josh. “They have a lot of catching up to do with your parents. They all used to be friends when they were in college.”
“I didn’t know that,” said Lisa.
“Apparently, my dad and your dad lived in the same dorm for a couple of years,” said Josh. “I guess they didn’t keep in touch after they graduated, but I don’t know why. It’s funny—until last week, I didn’t even know about your family.”
Lisa was thoroughly enjoying the conversation and wanted Josh to continue talking, but she heard a gasp and looked over her shoulder. Sabrina was standing behind them with a vague expression on her face as if she were gazing beyond them into a future in which she had no part. Her appearance was so eerie that it frightened Lisa. What if Sabrina dropped dead in front of them? It would be convenient, but she didn’t want to see it.
“Mom, are you all right?” said Josh.
“I’m fine,” she said. “I’m sorry, Josh, I didn’t mean to startle you. I was just thinking how nice it is to see you and Lisa with a baby.”
“Yvonne is a very cute baby, if that’s what you mean,” said Josh.
“It’s not,” said Sabrina.
Lisa thought she would die from embarrassment. She gave Yvonne back to Josh to communicate that she didn’t share his mother’s opinion of the situation. Josh’s face was bright red. Lisa suspected Sabrina had a habit of making awkward remarks. She hoped Sabrina would leave, but Sabrina put her hands on her hips and watched Josh as he busied himself with the task of feeding Yvonne.
“Josh, you’re not doing it right,” she said.
“What do you mean?” he said.
“She’s all squished,” said Sabrina. “How is she supposed to digest her food like that? She’s a baby, not a basketball. You can’t just tuck her under your arm and expect her to be okay. I know you’re trying to help, but you’re just making things worse, like you always do.”
“Mom, it’s fine,” said Josh.
“Don’t argue with me, Josh,” she said. “When I need your help, I’ll tell you. I want you to have a normal life. Go watch television or text your friends or explore the beach. Do whatever you want. I don’t care. Just be as happy as you can.”
Before he could protest, she snatched Yvonne out of his arms and gave her the bottle, but her hand shook as she held it. Lisa wondered if Josh had noticed the disintegration of his mother. She risked a glance in his direction, but he was staring off into space. The tension that existed between him and his mother made her feel so uncomfortable that she edged past Sabrina without bothering to excuse herself and retreated to the dining room. She wasn’t particularly hungry, but she poured herself a bowl of cereal. Veronica made a face and nudged Stephen.
“That’s the cereal I told you about with the little brown seeds in it that look like bugs,” she said. “I actually found a bug in it once. I don’t know what kind it was, but I could see its tiny hairy legs.”
“Veronica, why are you so annoying?” said Lisa.
Veronica shrugged. “What were you doing with Josh?” she said.
“I wasn’t doing anything with him,” said Lisa.
“Are you sure?” said Veronica.
Lisa was furious, but before she could reply, Richard put down the newspaper. His brooding eyes made his face look ominous.
“They’re a nasty bunch, the Hamiltons,” he said.
“That’s a name I haven’t heard for a while,” said Lisa’s father.
“Consider yourself lucky,” said Richard. “The world is better off with-out them. Unfortunately, some of the idiots who live in this town don’t seem to agree.” He pushed the newspaper across the table toward Lisa’s father and leaned back in his chair. “Hamilton Estate has been declared a historical landmark.”
Lisa’s father glanced at the article.
“Who cares if it’s a historical landmark or not?”
