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But he was still in his deserted living room, the only person in the house.
Ellen hadn’t even come in. She set the car seat down by the door and seemed reluctant to leave, but she didn’t ask to stay, and he didn’t ask her to.
Things were going to be dicey enough, come morning when the whole town wanted to know where in the world the mother for this baby was. They didn’t need the rumors swirling around them tonight. He appreciated her discretion on the matter, even while he wished she didn’t have it, and that she was here beside him now.
He got his phone, and with one thumb, while the baby continued to cry, he texted her.
She’s crying.
Is she hungry?
Ellen’s answer came back immediately like she had been sitting by the phone waiting to see if he needed help. Which would be quintessential Ellen. She had always been there for him anytime he needed her. But there had been long stretches of time when they hadn’t talked at all, and he felt like that was Ellen giving him room to grow and change.
I don’t know. I don’t know how to make a bottle.
Are you still holding her?
Yes
Put her down.
But she’s crying!
She’s crying, not dying. Put her down so you can make a bottle.
His phone beeped as he walked into the kitchen, and he set the baby gently down on the counter. Was it safe to put a baby down on the counter?
Get the formula out of the baby bag. There are instructions on the side of the can.
He took a breath. He could do this.
Don’t leave me.
I’m right here. You can call me if you need me.
I won’t be able to hear you because the baby is crying too loud. She’s tiny, but she makes the loudest noise I’ve ever heard a human make.
Ellen sent a laughing emoji in reply.
He rolled his eyes, glad Ellen thought it was funny. Actually, she was right, it was a little bit funny. But he wouldn’t be able to laugh until the baby wasn’t crying anymore.
Fumbling with the formula can, he read the instructions: two ounces of water, one scoop of formula. He assumed that meant that he put the water in first.
You can use warm water. But not too hot.
He glanced at his phone and read her text without touching it. Ellen would understand that he needed both hands to make the formula. He’d thank her later.
Putting warm water up to the 4-ounce line, he took the lid off the formula, saw that the can was almost empty, and sighed. He was able to get two scoops out and stick the lid back on the bottle. While he shook it with one hand, he texted with the other.
She only sent one can, and I don’t think there’s even enough formula to last the night.
I’ll go get some.
No. You have to work in the morning. Plus, it’s at least an hour drive to Rockerton then back. That was where the closest store was that might be open at this time of night.
I’ll be there in an hour and a half, tops.
He shook his head, smiling. Relieved. He didn’t want her to be put out, but at the same time, he didn’t want to end up here with no formula and a crying baby. Although, he had a car seat now, so he could conceivably take the baby to the store, except it felt like a little much, to have the baby in the store, especially if she was crying, trying to figure out what formula to get.
