Page 11 of Worthy of Sunsets and Second Chances

“She has my dimple,” I admit.

“Does she now?” Mom grins. “I can’t wait to see it. May I hold her?”

“Of course you can.” I go to hand over the tiny thing, but she stops me.

“Uh-uh, Eli. Newborn rule number one: Everyone must wash their hands before holding that baby.” She gives me a no-nonsense look.

“Yes, ma’am,” I agree as she rushes off to the kitchen and back as fast as she can.

“Alright.” She rubs her hands together, warming them up. “Now I’m ready.”

I gently transfer the sleeping girl into my mother’s capable hands. Even in my tired state I know I want to remember this exact moment forever, so I pull out my phone and snap a few pictures of them together.

I don’t even have a picture with her yet.

“Eli, she is the sweetest thing. Please, please tell me that I’m number one on your babysitter list! I want as much time with her as possible.” She runs her finger over the tiny hand gripping her own.

“Well, I was actually needing to talk to you about that, Mom. I’m going to need a lot of help. I just became a single dad overnight. I still need to work, obviously. Chief is giving me my eight-week paternity leave, obviously. I can take up to twelve weeks for FMLA, but it’s unpaid for the extra time so I don’t think I should take the full twelve. I was planning on just doing the eight?”

“This is a really big adjustment for every single aspect of your life, honey. Of course I will be here for you, as much as you need. We will come up with a plan, don’t worry. Eight weeks is a good starting point, and if you need to or want to take more time you can always change your mind.” Her advice is solid and always welcome.

“Thank you, so much. I know that I can’t do this alone. And I definitely cannot do this without you.” I rub my neck and roll out my stiff shoulders. For such a tiny thing, carrying a baby around is a workout.

“Well, does my granddaughter have a name?” She smiles back and forth between us, not able to keep her eyes off the cutest baby in the world.

“I was up all night with her thinking about it, what I feel like fits her best. We were walking around the apartment after I fed her, just bouncing, trying to get her to settle . . . and her name, I don’t know, just kind of popped into my head.” I stroke her soft head, needing the connection.

“That’s really sweet,” Mom whispers, anticipating the reveal.

“Her name is Wren. Wren . . . Elizabeth Hargrove.” I smile down at my daughter as she blinks open her sleepy eyes.

“Well, hello there, little Wren. It’s nice to meet you, sweet baby girl. I am your grandma. Hmmm,” Mom says.

“What’s wrong?” I ask.

“I’m not too stuck on the name grand-ma. Maybe we can work on that?”

Laughing, I tell her, “I’m sure we can think of something you like better. And probably easier for Wren to say.”

“Wren,” she whispers at her newest family member.

We just sit there and soak up the moment until Wren makes it clear that she is ready for a fresh diaper and a full belly. Mom helps change her while I head off to make a bottle in the kitchen.

“I know you didn’t plan this, Eli, but I think Wren is exactly what you needed in your life,” she says to me with tears in her eyes as she watches me rock and feed my daughter for the first time in the home she raised all four of her own children.

“Thanks, Mom. I just hope that I can be everything that she needs.”

9

Kendra

SOLD

The bold red announcement cannot be missed on top of the For Sale sign in the Savellis’ front lawn. Sold! How is that even possible? They just put it on the market. I haven’t even seen any people come for a showing, not that I am here all the time, but still . . . Sold?

I’m standing there, frozen in my driveway, staring at the sign when Dom comes out of his house.

“Hello, Kendra,” he says, his kind, southern drawl pulling me from my stupor.