Page 36 of The Sweetest Mistake

Harper’s eyes were practically popping out of her head now. It was impossible to have a private conversation in the tiny studio, but they were best friends, and since Harper was already familiar with the situation, Julia didn’t feel like she had anything to hide.

“Cam can’t afford a house right now. She wants to look for an apartment, and she asked me to help her.”

“Of course she did,” Julia said. Trying to keep the ugly green monster from creeping up on her was impossible, but she vowed to try harder. It certainly wouldn’t help anything for Connor to know how jealous she was.

“She doesn’t have a lot of friends, Jules, and her parents aren’t in good health. She needs my help.”

“What about her boyfriend—the boss?”

“They’re not seeing each other anymore, at least not personally.”

How could he believe her after all the lies? First, she’d had an affair with a married man, and then she’d kept Ava from him for five months.

“And you believe her?” Julia said, realizing how bitter she sounded. But she couldn’t help it. She understood him wanting to spend as much time with his daughter as possible, but she hated that Cam was worming her way back into his life too. Julia wasn’t convinced that all Cam wanted was his help.

“I believe that she wants what’s best for Ava,” he said solemnly.

Realizing that she had no choice in the matter, Julia said, “If you need to help Cam find an apartment, then I’ll have to accept that. But I don’t have to like it.”

Connor laughed, and it helped ease the tension between them.

“You could come with us,” he said.

“Not a chance.”

He laughed again.

“When are you going?” she asked.

“Tonight, after work.”

“Oh. Are you taking Ava too?”

“I was thinking about asking my mom to babysit so we don’t have to lug her in and out of the car.”

“I’ll babysit.” Whoa! What is wrong with me? I’m aiding and abetting the enemy.

Connor was silent for a few seconds, as if giving her time to retract her offer.

“I mean, it’s no problem, and then you and I will get to see each other too. It’s kind of a win-win.”

“Are you sure? Because I know my mom would be thrilled to take her.”

“Connor. If you and are going to be together, then I have to accept that Ava’s part of your life too. It’ll be good for me to bond with her. Besides, I’m great with babies. How hard can it be?”

“Shhh. Don’t cry, sweetheart. It’s okay.”

Julia paced back and forth across Connor’s living room floor, wearing a path in the carpet. She’d come over right after work to watch Ava while he and Cam went apartment hunting. When they’d left, Ava had been contentedly shoving her fist in her mouth, showing no signs of distress. But an hour later, Julia couldn’t get her to stop crying.

She’d tried everything—feeding her, changing her, and burping her—but nothing seemed to help. She’d even broken into song, calling upon some of her favorite childhood tunes, but either her voice was off key or this baby was extremely stubborn, because she still hadn’t settled down.

Julia racked her brain for ideas she’d heard from her friends who had kids, but they seemed either too far-fetched or impossible (in the case of putting Ava to her breast and letting her suckle).

She’d even considered taking Ava for a car ride, but when she’d examined the car seat that Cam had left with all its hooks and straps, she’d gotten nervous. She couldn’t in good conscience take Ava for a drive if she wasn’t sure how to install the car seat. It shouldn’t be rocket science, but she wasn’t taking any chances with somebody else’s baby.

And there it was again. The reminder slapped her in the face and took her breath away. If she were my baby, I’d probably know exactly what to do. But she’s not.

Just then, as if Ava had decided to give Julia a break, she stopped crying. Just like that. Julia was so excited that she lifted Ava overhead and gave her a huge smile. “Thank you,” she said, and instead of a “You’re welcome,” she got a face full of drool, but she was too happy to care.