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“Yes, they do.”
Giggling, I smooch Junie on the cheek then set her on the ground, my heart pinching again when she lets go of my hand quickly and races over to my mom.
“Well it’s a cute name. I’m just not sure it’s for me.”
My mom picks Junie up and settles her easily on one hip. “Maybe give it another shot. Those are some wonderful ladies, and you could learn a lot from them.”
My spine straightens, the underhanded comment hitting me square in the chest. “Excuse me?”
Mom sighs, her face falling. “Busy, that’s not what I meant.”
“Well, it’s what you said.”
We’re silent for a long moment, the tension between us thick and uncomfortable and making me want to cry because I miss my mom.
“I’ll be back at 4:30,” I say, taking a step closer and pressing another kiss to Junie’s cheek. “Bye, baby. Love you.”
“Bye!” she says, smiling wide and waving her hand dramatically.
My eyes connect with my mother’s briefly, and then I spin around and hop into my car without saying another word.
When I get home from work, I’m nearly ready to collapse. Briar and I spent most of the afternoon shelving books, an action that requires bending down and standing up over and over and over again. And we’re only halfway done, if that.
I’m in my early 20s. Shouldn’t I be more spry than this?
When we get back to the house and I hear Junie call out “Sinny!” as I tug her from her car seat, I nearly cry with relief.
Please, Sydney. Run around with my daughter.
Reid’s dog comes barreling over, her tongue lolling out of the side of her mouth. Sydney promptly licks Junie’s face, and my girl lets out the most precious giggle. I glance around, assuming she got out again, but then my eyes lock on Reid where he’s walking toward us from his cabin.
“Hey.” I look around again. “Did you take the day off?”
He smiles. “Kind of. Had a doctor’s appointment today, so I took a half day.”
I shut the car door and give him a smirk.
“Prostate exam?”
Reid looks like he’s about to choke before he bursts into laughter.
“Yep. How’d you know?” he jokes back, coming to a stop a few feet away.
I shrug. “You have a special glow about you.”
Reid just shakes his head. “God, you reallyarea menace, aren’t you?” he asks, but the smile on his face says he’s teasing.
He crouches down to pet Sydney, though she ignores him as she continues snuggling into Junie, who is giving her soft pets on her ears and back.
“Hey, I don’t know what you have planned for the rest of the day, but…I think Junie and I are gonna jump in the lake.” I glance at Reid. “You and Sydney are welcome to join us.”
I don’t know why I ask.
Maybe it’s because I want to keep Junie preoccupied with the dog. Maybe it’s because I’m hoping for a distraction from the way my mind continues to return to my shitty interaction with my mother. Or maybe it’s just because I like when Reid is around.
I’m not entirely certain, but what Idoknow is how thrilled I feel when he nods his head and says, “We’d love to.”
The thud of Junie’s footsteps are too precious as she toddles quickly toward the end of the dock, her floatie swimsuit bouncing with each step. She hurls herself off the edge with a squeal before landing with a splash in the water, where Reid is waiting for her.
