A young girl wearing wings that were almost as much of a work of art as Alice’s came over to her. “Hi, I’m Holly. Would your little boy like some wings?”
“What do you think, Leo? Do you want to be a butterfly?” Leo had already spied the felt pens on the table and was reaching for them from the stroller. “I think that’s a yes.”
“Awesome. When he’s finished coloring, Alice will hot glue any ribbons, sequins or pom-poms he wants.”
“He’s a boy!” a voice declared. A sandy-haired kid with the same nose and smattering of freckles as Holly slid into the chair next to Leo. “He won’t want pom-poms!”
“Boys can like pom-poms. It’s important that he decides what he wants, not us,” Jess said, smiling at the boy. “Your design’s pretty cool.”
“It’s not a butterfly,” he said firmly. “It’s a redback spider.”
Leo, who was scrawling green all over the material that was stretched over wire, picked up a red felt pen and handed it to the boy. “Wed.”
“Do you want me to help?” Hunter looked at Jess. “Can I? I’m Hunter.”
“Sure.” She sat back and relaxed.
Jess loved watching Leo play. She got pleasure from his total absorption in the activity and seeing the world through his eyes. His joyful delight was hers and she cheered for him whenever he achieved his goal, whether it was building a tower, driving a truck through sand or running around in a sequined cape. Lately, she’d been playing with him a lot more, because apart from his time at daycare, these days the two of them were pretty much on their own. She’d tried to continue with playgroup, but she’d stopped going when she realized the other women were actively removing their children from Leo’s orbit and he was essentially playing on his own.
The clusters of people in the tent modeled the bay’s response to her. The mothers sitting at the craft tables with their children studiously ignored her. The dads said “G’day” or nodded hello before being silenced by their wives. Right now, her only social contact was Patrice and Jess was trying hard not to lean too heavily on her. She was also working hard on channeling patience.
History had taught her that eventually some of the town would thaw and that would provide an opening to establish new friendships. When the softening came, it wouldn’t include the friends she’d shared with Libby. Those women took their cues from the doctor and Libby’s antipathy was now set like concrete.
Holly joined Hunter in helping Leo, suggesting color combinations. The three of them worked together, filling in the wide wing span. Leo beamed under the attention of the older children, lurching between instructing them on where to color and doing whatever they asked. It was the same behavior he’d shown with his half-sisters. Sisters he hadn’t seen in months because their mother was denying him access.
The thought sent oxygen blowing across the embers of Jess’s anger and flames licked. Libby had no right to break family bonds by preventing Leo from having a relationship with his sisters. Jess had expected better from Nick. Sure, he’d back paid the child support payments he’d withheld during the paternity test impasse and each week his money dropped regularly into her account, but that was the extent of his support. Instead of fighting for his son, Nick was rolling over on every single demand from his dictator wife.
The child-sized chair Jess was sitting on pushed her belly up against her breasts, making her feel full and uncomfortable. She rose and stretched but it didn’t totally rid her of the sensation, which had been coming and going recently. She did a quick calculation of her cycle. Day twelve. She shouldn’t be bloated this early in the game.
“Daddy, I want to be a fairy!” a little girl’s voice said behind her.
Jess stilled, her heart almost skipping a beat.
Leo dropped his felt pen and jumped up, running straight to the girl. “Di! Di!”
Adult conversation in the tent ceased and all heads swiveled toward her before swinging back the other way. Jess turned slowly and for the first time in months, came face-to-face with Nick. She smiled, soaking him in.
“Hello, Nick. It’s good to see you.”
His dark eyes didn’t sparkle and his usually friendly mouth flattened. “Jess.”
The dislike that clung to her name loosened her gut with a sharp and jagged pain. During all their months apart, she’d believed it wasn’t Nick’s choice not to contact her and that Libby was the problem. Now she wasn’t so sure.
Nick squatted to speak to Leo. “Hey, buddy.”
“Deer,” Leo said hopefully.
Nick grinned and sat on the chair Jess had just vacated. He sang softly as he jiggled Leo on his knee.
Indi tugged on Jess’s hand. “I want to make fairy wings.”
“Here you go, Indi.” Alice appeared holding a set of undecorated wings and inserted herself between Indi and Jess. “Do you want me to help?”
Indi shook her head. “I want Jess.”
Jess almost cried. She’d desperately missed her goddaughters. Despite the look Alice and Nick exchanged, neither of them voiced an objection, so Jess swallowed against a tight throat and took control. “I’d love to help, Indi. What colors do you want?”
“Purple and pink.”
Alice hovered, clearly torn between leaving Jess alone with Indi and Nick and returning to her glue gun duties at the other tables. Nick studiously kept his back to Jess—his message loud and clear. As much
