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Then I rub my eyes and look at it again.
My family takes note of my horrified expression and follows my anxious gaze.
Any vestige of giddiness and calm vanishes, and now we’re scattering like rats aboard a sinking ship.
“I’ll take Leo to his grandparents’. My first appointment isn’t until ten thirty, so I have the time to spare,” Phillip says.
“My catering job is close to Brookside, so if we leave now, we’ll both be on time. Are you ready to go?”
Avery looks guiltily at him. “I forgot my work bag at home. I’m sorry. We’re going to have to make a stop at my condo.”
“I guess I could?—”
“Don’t worry about it, Wesley. This is a big client for you today. You shouldn’t be late.” My eyes flick over to Avery. “I’ll take you.”
“But it’s out of your way. You’ll be late.”
“Not if we leave now.”
“Phillip, are you sure you’re fine taking Leo?” she asks.
“Of course. It’s the best plan to keep us all on time or as close to it as we can get.” He smiles. “Even if it wasn't, I'd still jump at the chance to hang out with my favorite little guy.”
He holds out his hand for a high-five and Leo doesn’t disappoint.
The loud slap seems to function as a starter pistol because we all channel our frantic energy into putting the plan in motion.
Wesley gathers up all the dishes and drops them in the sink before vanishing out the door. Avery runs upstairs to change and grab Leo’s things.
While she does that, I head into the kitchen to load the dishwasher while Phillip simultaneously entertains Leo and wipes down the dining table.
It all seems to blur after that because the next thing I know, Avery and I are pulling into the employee parking lot at her work.
“You really don’t have to walk me inside, Jamie. I’m pregnant, not made of glass,” she says, rolling her eyes.
“As far as I’m concerned, you are. Your ex is out there plotting who knows what, and we don’t have enough for a restraining order yet. On top of that, you’re actively growing the newest member of our family. You’re lucky I’m not trying to mummify you in bubble wrap.”
She shakes her head and laughs.
“Fine, the bubble wrap might be overkill, but my overall point stands. You deserve to be treated with care.”
“I know that,” she protests. “I just don’t want to have to rely on someone for everything. Walking into work is something I can do by myself. I’m not a child. I don’t need a chaperone.”
“Do you really think that’s what I’m doing?” I don’t even try to hide the hurt in my voice. “I’m not walking you into work because I think you’re incompetent. I’m doing it because I want to be with you. Even if we weren’t dealing with your ex, I would still want to walk you into work because I want to spend as much time with you as I can. I understand why you might still have doubts about that, given how you’ve been treated in the past, but one day, you’ll believe it.
“Until then, you’re going to have to tolerate it because treating you like a princess makes me happy.” I rest my hand on her thigh. “With how much you care about me, I know you wouldn’t want to take away anything that brings me joy, right?”
“It’s all so clear now. You didn’t actually make your money by being a consultant, did you? You had to have earned it by being a snake oil salesman.”
“It’s only snake oil if it doesn’t work.” I smirk. “Now, are you going to let me escort you like a proper gentleman or am I going to have to throw you over my shoulder and carry you in?”
“You wouldn’t.”
“You sure you want to test that theory?”
“No.” She sighs. “Let’s go. I’m already late enough.”
I lean over and kiss the side of her neck. “Good girl.”
