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She was quiet just long enough to tip me off that I’d hit the nail on the head. “Yeah. No more bears. I mean, I’ll still be analyzing the data and tracking activity, building the reports and keeping tabs on all the bears.”
But she wouldn’t be in the field. I could see why she wasn’t excited. She was doing the right thing. But it didn’t seem like the right thing for her. “Don’t take it,” I suggested.
Surprise lifted her eyebrows as she looked up at me. “It’s a promotion. Better money, more availability for Katie.”
Katie had pushed her food into piles across her plate and was currently picking out a kernel of corn with her thumb and forefinger, leaning in close with a look of utter disgust painted across her little features. “Corn,” she moaned.
“It sounds like you won’t have as much fun at work.”
“Life is not always about having fun. We can’t all make a living playing games.”
“Ouch.” I dropped her gaze, the truth of that statement settling heavy in my gut. If I had any other skills, maybe it wouldn’t have been such a direct hit. But she had a point. There wasn’t much else I was capable of.
“Hey.” Her voice softened, and I looked up, swallowing my hurt. “That’s not what I meant. But I need to take this job. It just makes sense.”
“Sure.”
“You know what doesn’t make sense?” Katie asked us both, oblivious to the parallel conversation going on around her. “Corn. It’s good when it’s popped and then like this...ugh.”
Clara shot me a look that warned me not to engage, so I stifled my chuckle and kept eating.
We finished the meal without much more conversation, and I did my best to shake off the grump that was threatening as we got closer to the reason I was at Clara’s house in the first place. The quickly dwindling possibility that I’d pass this course and stay on track to get my MBA. That, and the increasing likelihood that I’d let down the entire group, jeopardizing everyone’s chances of passing.
“I can clear the dishes,” I said, taking plates to the sink.
“That would be really nice, if you don’t mind,” Clara answered. “I’ll get Katie tucked in and then we can look at your project.”
“No problem. Goodnight Kate the Great.”
“I’m not going to bed,” Katie declared, coming to stand next to me with her arms crossed as if I was on her side.
“You sure about that?” I bent down and picked her up, tossing her over my shoulder as she shrieked. “Which way to the bedroom?”
Katie was cackling hysterically and slapping my back while her little legs kicked, and Clara shot me a smile and pointed down the hall. I tried not to glance into Clara’s room as I passed it. I had enough trouble with thinking about getting her into bed without actually seeing her bed.
I plopped Katie on her own little bed, which was covered with a comforter featuring Bob the Builder, something I would not have guessed, and then stood up. I crossed my arms just as she had. “See? You’re in bed.”
Clara followed me into the room, chuckling.
“I’m not even wearing pajamas!” Katie cried, slithering out of the bed and pulling open a drawer on her dresser.
“You get ready and then I’ll come tell you goodnight,” I suggested. “If that’s okay with your mom.”
“That’s fine. Thanks for the assist.”
I gave her a little salute and went back to finish the dishes.
It was strange to me suddenly that I’d never noticed how quiet and empty my regular life was. Clara, by contrast, had Katie to fill her days and nights with laughter and love...Mom had Dad...Beckett had Zara...Shit, even Rock Stevens had settled down. I had a good life, a big apartment in the city, great teammates, sex pretty much whenever I wanted it. But something about being in this home, being with Katie and Clara—it felt more real. More important. Like this was what life was supposed to be about.
I dropped my hands to the counter and leaned forward to take a deep breath. I was good. Life was good.
Just then, Katie called to me. “Silly, come tuck me in!”
I went back and pulled Katie’s comforter up around her chin, Clara looking on from beside me. “Goodnight, Katie-Bell.”
“Goodnight Silly Sylvester.” Katie wrapped her arms around my neck, pulling me close to inhale her sweet little-girl scent, and then I headed back out to the living room, feeling slightly off balance.
The doorbell rang as my phone vibrated with a text while Clara was still finishing tucking Katie in. “I’ll grab it,” I called to Clara, and then I headed to the door to meet the delivery person.
