“Thanks. That’s probably…too much. At least right now. But I appreciate the invite.”
“Okay, well, the offer stands if you change your mind. But you’re right. It’s a lot to ask.”
“Let’s start with you and me talking for a while, and then we can build up to…meeting up and stuff.”
“That works for me.”
I heard a creak on the stairs and whirled around to see Cindy and Taylor hand-in-hand at the bottom of the stairs looking at me. Cindy still looked half asleep, but Taylor looked vaguely concerned. Probably because I was on the phone at seven a.m. on a Sunday.
“Hey, Mom, I gotta go. But I’ll call you this week. Okay?”
“Can’t wait.”
“Great. Talk soon. Bye.”
“Bye, Ransom.”
I disconnected the call and pushed the phone into my pocket. “That was my mom. Kari.”
Taylor tilted her head slightly, as if prompting me to go on.
“We’re going to talk more.”
“Because you want to?”
I smiled. “Yeah.”
She returned it. “Good.”
We stared at each other for a few more seconds, getting lost in a moment that was charged with so many emotions I couldn’t even discern them all. There were so many things I wanted to ask, but I was afraid of the answers. In a split second, I made the decision to let my heart guide me. It would be on her to tell me to back off.
Though it probably wasn’t the best time for my heart to guide me in that exact moment, because Cindy was looking back and forth between us like she was trying to solve a Rubik’s cube.
“Who’s hungry?” I asked to break the moment so I didn’t go over and maul Taylor while Cindy was with us.
Cindy raised her hand, causing Taylor to chuckle and follow suit.
“Then let’s get to it.”
I took the dogs out while Taylor pulled out the ingredients for what she called eggs in a basket. Fifteen minutes later, I learned that meant cutting a hole in a perfectly good piece of toast and cooking an egg in the hole.
Cindy and I looked at each other warily before taking a bite. It was definitely better than it looked.
“Told you,” Taylor said before digging into her own breakfast.
None of us had taken more than two bites when the door flew open and a harried Harry appeared with three kids trailing in behind him.
I stood quickly. “Hey. Did I miss a text?” I asked, pulling out my phone to look at it. “I thought you said in your last text you’d be a couple more days.”
“I was. But then…” Harry’s gaze landed on Cindy. “Taryn called me. She has an opportunity to stay on for a couple more days, so Cindy’s going to stay for a few more days.”
That struck me dumb for a second. Had Taryn really called Harry while he was visiting his sick father-in-law because she needed a babysitter? Jesus. I looked from Cindy to Taylor back to Harry.
“But… Justin’s dad. Is he…?”
“Doing better. Justin wants to stay up there a bit longer until he gets released, so he can help him get settled back in at home, but we thought it was important the kids get back to their routine since he’s out of the woods.”
“Oh. Okay. Um, can I talk to you in the other room for a second?”
Taylor stood. “Do you guys like eggs in a basket?”
“What’s that?” Oliver asked.
“Can you eat it?” Grace said.
“You sure can.” She started moving around the kitchen as the kids took seats at the table.
Harry followed me into the living room.
“I’m so sorry I didn’t tell you about Cindy,” I said. “I didn’t want to add to your stress.”
Harry blew out a long breath. “I do wish you’d told me, but that responsibility falls more on Taryn’s shoulders than yours. When she called me last night…” He rubbed a hand over his face. “It’s not that I didn’t know she was safe with you, but Cindy’s a particular kid. Justin and I had already discussed me coming back today, but I may have panicked a bit and left earlier than anticipated after a fairly sleepless night. Taryn should’ve been more responsible.” He hesitated as he cast a look back at the kitchen. “I think it’s time we sat down as a family and faced some hard truths and do what’s best for Cindy.”
“You’ll let me know if there’s anything I can do?”
He turned to me and laughed. “I think you’ve done more than enough.” His words didn’t come across as sarcastic. More disbelieving that I’d offer to do more to help him. “But I’ll keep the offer in mind.”
I nodded, unsure of what else to say.
“Let’s go get some of those weird egg things Taylor was making,” Harry said.
“They’re not too bad.”
“Huh. That…surprises me,” he said. Taylor’s lackluster snack preparations clearly preceded her.
“I know, right?”
We finished breakfast, and then Taylor and I excused ourselves to gather our things. When it was time to leave, the whole family saw us off.
I knelt down in front of Cindy. “See you soon, Cinnabon. Thanks for hanging out with me this weekend.”
She didn’t respond, which I expected. But when I went to stand, she threw her arms around my neck, squeezing tight. I returned the hug, soaking up the affection of this little girl who’d carved herself a special place in my heart.
“Bye, Ransom,” she whispered before pulling back and falling into line beside the other kids.
I hurried through the rest of my goodbyes, worried my emotions would bubble over and embarrass me. Then Taylor and I walked in silence to her car.
“So, that was a pretty special moment.”
I looked into her beautiful blue eyes. “This weekend was full of pretty special moments.”
Her cheeks grew pink, and she looked away as a shy smile spread across her face. “Yeah, I guess it was.”
“Maybe we could have a few more,” I asked.
She opened her car door before replying. “Maybe we can. See you at work, Ransom.” Then she got in the car and started it up.
I watched as
