“It's really in the child's best interest to stay here for now.”
“Y’know, you should stay here, too. Until you get back on your feet and all.”
Eli's family tries in vain to reason with him, but I’m quickly realizing that he may be the most stubborn among the Kingston brothers.
Finally, the man snaps. “I have my own house!” His booming voice echoes with finality. “And the ‘child’ you’re referring to is my kid. So pack up her shit. She's coming home with me.”
Gasps ring out around the room, but Eli doesn’t stick around to offer apologies or bandage anyone’s bruised feelings.
He brushes past me—lighting my arm on fire as he goes—and storms out of the room.
4 Jessa
After Eli marches out of breakfast, I spend the next few hours on edge, anxious for the other shoe to drop. My insides are all tied up over the fact that the man could come back at any moment and take his little girl away.
He’d be well within his right to do that, of course. He’s her dad, after all. But I can’t imagine what it would do to her grandparents if Callie were suddenly taken away. And I’m attached to her, too. More than I should be. I’d miss her like crazy.
As an additional wrinkle, I’d instantly be out of a job. I cringe when I imagine myself on the doorstep of Jittery Joe’s, coffee-stained apron in hand, butt looking like a pancake in those uniform khakis, making Oliver Twist eyes at my ex-boss, grovelling for my old barista job back.
Crescent Harbor is a quaint 5000-person tourist town on the coast of Lake Michigan. It’s nearly impossible to find work outside of tourist season. Given that it’s now only the beginning of spring, if I lose this job, it could be weeks, maybe months, before I land new employment.
But as of lunchtime, there’s been no sign of Eli back at the family inn. Still, I can’t let my guard down because at this point, anything could happen.
I get Callie down for her afternoon nap, and the day’s events have my thoughts spiraling. I need to get out of the house.
I tie my sneakers and stroll down the dirt path to Penny and Walker’s cabin to see if they’re back from the hospital yet. Penny just gave birth to healthy, adorable twin boys. Callie and I paid them a quick visit at the hospital where they were born yesterday morning. But I can’t wait to go spend some quality time with the newborns as soon as they get home, to nibble on their itty-bitty fingers and toes.
I’m not sure if the little family is accepting guests right now so I’m bringing a paper bag of fresh-baked cookies I snatched on my way out of the guesthouse’s kitchen. I’m prepared to use the cookies for bribery, if necessary.
As I’m approaching the tiny house, I see Penny’s new minivan parked next to Walker’s beat-up truck on the gravel drive. Iris and Lexi’s cars are here, too. Looks like I wasn’t the only one excited to get another peek at the little ones.
I forgo knocking, simply opening the screen door and poking my head inside. “Hello, hello,” I sing. I step into the living room.
And there’s babies. Babies everywhere.
Lexi is trying to wrestle a sock onto Baby Diana’s foot as my niece attempts to speed-crawl her way across the hardwood floor.
Walker is in the middle of the room, vigorously bouncing about with one fussy newborn in his arms.
Meanwhile, Penny rhythmically rocks her glider chair back and forth with their other twin latched to her boob.
And Iris? She’s crouched down on the floor next to Penny, taking instructions from the new mom. Diapers and burp cloths and baby socks are flying around as she frantically digs through a diaper bag.
It’s sweet, sweet chaos.
Euphoria hits me like a train. I step into the room and I don’t even know where to start.
I mindlessly drop the bag of cookies onto the coffee table. I squat down next to Baby Di. “Hi cutie! Hi!” I pinch her chubby cheek, eliciting a hiccuppy infant-giggle from her.
I sweep toward Walker and take a peek at the tiny squirmer he’s trying to soothe. The little guy is wearing a bib with the name ‘Luke Elliot Kingston’ embroidered into the pale blue fabric.
Aww. I coo and press a hand over my stomach.
My ovaries are really gonna need to chill out with all that exploding and stuff. The cuteness is too much.
I float off to Penny’s side. “How are the adorable bundles of joy?” I gush, hunching down beside the rocking chair.
Penny gazes adoringly at the baby in her arms. His bib says ‘Mayor Walker Kingston’. “Wonderful. They’re just wonderful.”
“We are, too. Thanks for asking,” Lexi sasses from across the room, still struggling with Diana and her socks.
“You, hush,” I say, shooing her away with my hand. “I see you all the time. Besides, you know I’m a sucker for kids. Babies just make me all gooey inside.” So precious. So innocent.
My sister sticks her tongue out at me, while Iris laughs.
Penny burps one child then she and Walker expertly swap newborns like baby-juggling pros. Penny pulls out her other boob without hesitation. Well, that was an eyeful. After a tiny bit of bumbling, the newborn eagerly latches on.
I inch closer to Walker and beam down at the one in his arms. “Can I hold him?” I ask the exhausted-looking new father, almost coming out of my skin with excitement.
The growly farmer frowns at me like he recognizes my face from a ‘Wanted’ poster he just saw on the grocery store bulletin board, but I flash him a grin.
“Just so you know, Mayor and I are gonna be best friends eventually so we might as well start getting to know each other now.”
Walker scowls harder.
“Oh come on!”
Silence. Dead silence.
I try again. “Just think, you’ve practically got a built-in babysitter,” I say, wiggling my eyebrows and jabbing both thumbs into my chest.
At that, he pauses, eyes narrowed on
