LITMIR.BIZ

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That doesn’t leave spare time to plant a garden.”

      “I know what you mean,” Adam said. “But sometimes I wonder what normal life would be like.”

      “Normal?”

      “Yeah, you know. A nine-to-five job, leisure time in the evenings, regular weekends. If I had a normal life...if I hadn’t been out of the country...” He motioned to Erica. “Maybe I would have seen what was happening with Tina.”

      The work he did for a private consulting firm out of Sacramento sounded important. The night they’d met, he’d explained that he traveled the world doing research helping countries put in water systems. Before...before they’d ended up in each other’s arms on that couch.

      Pushing that memory aside once more, she took this opportunity to get firsthand knowledge of his life. “You come and go as you please. You travel to exotic places. That would be hard to give up.”

      “Yes, it would,” he admitted. “I don’t like to feel trapped, tied down, tethered to one place. That brings back memories of—” He stopped, and she could see he wasn’t going to go on.

      What did he run from in his mind? What kept him on the move? Searching for something that would satisfy him? She knew what would satisfy her, yet it seemed impossible and out of her reach.

      Gazing down at Erica, she suddenly wondered if she should adopt a child. Why not forget about relationships and the marriage part.

      The silence between them grew awkward, and Kaitlyn reached for a contraption hanging on a hook. “This is something else you need.”

      “I’m afraid to ask what it is,” he said in a wry tone.

      She looked at Erica and saw that her eyes were wide-open. “It’s as good a time as any to try this out.” She gave it to Adam and said, “Hang this part around your neck.”

      Adam did as she suggested, looking wary.

      Scooping Erica from her car seat, Kaitlyn placed her in the sling, close to Adam’s chest. She had to touch his chest and that reminded her of touching it once before. When her fingers brushed against him, the look in his eyes said he remembered, too.

      “I can get it,” he decided, taking a step away from her. “Now that I think about it, I’ve seen women wearing these.”

      “Daddies, too,” she assured him. “That keeps Erica close to your body heat, and she feels more secure.”

      Their eyes met. She remembered his body heat, feeling secure, but so much more, too.

      “Kaitlyn!” She was never so glad to hear her name called.

      She knew the voice, and it was a welcome relief, interrupting the too-knowing moment between her and Adam. She turned and saw her friend Marissa Lopez strolling down the aisle, her one-year-old sitting in the basket kicking his legs.

      She gave them both a wide smile. “Hi, Marissa.” She went over to Jordan and tickled his tummy. “And how are you, big boy?”

      He grinned at her and stuck a finger in his mouth. Kaitlyn had babysat Jordan many times. “What are you doing here?”

      “I needed diapers again,” Marissa added, brushing her black curls away from her face.

      Kaitlyn introduced Adam and said, “Marissa works at Raintree Winery.”

      “Jase is your boss?” Adam asked.

      Marissa nodded with a wide smile. “Yes. More than that, really. He and Sara have become good friends.”

      “I met Jase when we crossed paths in Africa a few years ago.”

      “That’s when he was photographing children in refugee camps?” Kaitlyn asked.

      Adam nodded. “I was in the area with a humanitarian group that was trying to bring safe water to some of the villages.”

      Erica gave a little cry, and Marissa came over to her. “What a sweetie. Is she about two months old?”

      “About,” Adam confirmed. “She’s my sister’s baby. I’m taking care of her for a while. The Mommy Club sent Kaitlyn to give me a few instructions.”

      That was one way of putting it, Kaitlyn supposed.

      “The Mommy Club’s been a lifesaver for me, too,” Marissa told him. “I’m a single mom and they’ve been a great help. We all try to give back when we can. Sara is watching Jordan while I volunteer at Thrifty Solutions, The Mommy Club thrift store, tomorrow night.”

      “I’m there on Monday evening,” Kaitlyn said.

      Adam eyed Jordan. “Is he walking yet?”

      “Oh, yes, and running. He helps me get my exercise every day.”

      They all laughed and Adam shook his head. “I’ve learned respect for all new moms.”

      Marissa checked her watch. “I have to get going. I had the morning off because I worked some long hours last week. But now I have to take Jordan to day care and get to the winery.” She studied Adam and Erica. “Good luck. If you have Kaitlyn advising you, you will be okay.”

      After a hug for Kaitlyn, she wheeled her cart away.

      “So she’s a single mom?” Adam asked reflectively as they watched Marissa walk away. He was trying to put himself in his sister’s place, trying to imagine what she’d been thinking and feeling before she’d left.

      “Yes, she is.”

      “And you became friends because of The Mommy Club?” He’d imagined The Mommy Club was mostly a group of women looking out for each other. It was a nice concept really.

      “We did.”

      “I don’t see how you have time for it all.”

      “I think we all make time for what we want to do.”

      He wondered if The Mommy Club filled a need Kaitlyn had to help and nurture. What did that need come from? He found he was awfully curious about her and wanted to know.

      He pointed to a portable crib. “I guess I’ll get one of those, too. I can donate it to The Mommy Club when Tina returns. I’m sure she’ll be back before the week’s out.”

      Kaitlyn stood a little closer so their conversation was private. “It could be longer than a week. If your sister is in the throes of postpartum depression, she might need a doctor’s help to emerge from it.”

      Adam’s brow furrowed. “How am I going to get her help when she won’t answer my calls?”

      “All you can do is hope that she contacts you soon.”

      “I have to do more than hope. I’m supposed to be on a plane to Thailand in a month.”

      Erica started crying, and Adam’s arms went around her with a protective gesture, but it didn’t help.

      “If you’re tense and upset, it can affect her. Babies pick up moods.”

      He exhaled, took Erica out of the sling and laid her in her car seat. “Maybe she’s hungry again. Let’s get what we need and head back to the condo.”

      Taking care of Erica was complicated enough. Tackling the vibrations between him and Kaitlyn added to the unnerving situation.

      Once he had everything he needed for his niece, Kaitlyn would be out of his life once more.

      * * *

      Back at Adam’s condo, Kaitlyn watched Adam as he held and walked Erica and readied a bottle with the new formula she’d chosen. Four hands were better than two in this kind of situation.

      She asked, “Would you like me to feed her?”

      He shook his head. “No. I have to learn how to do this and do it right.” He took the bottle from Kaitlyn, their fingers

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