“Oh, yeah,” Theo said, taking all of the hangers from the rod and putting them in a separate box to take back to the barn. “She told me about that. She’s got a big project going on. She’s redoing Max’s office.”
Delaney had stripped Indigo’s bed and had put the comforter and sheets in a laundry basket. She reached up to pull one of the spindles from a post holding a corner of the canopy, but she couldn’t quite reach it.
“Hold on, Mighty Mouse,” Jordan teased stepping up to help her. He went to each corner and pulled the fabric free, and Delaney gathered it up, stuffing it in the laundry basket with the rest of the linen.
“Thanks, Paul Bunyan,” Delaney shot back. “Are you gonna tell us your idea or what?”
Theo began boxing up the shoes that sat on the floor of the closet. There were sandals and flip flops, snow boots the child had worn the winter before and a single pink fuzzy slipper.
“Indie got really excited about a bunk bed she saw online. The bottom bunk had a full mattress, the one on top was a twin. There were stairs on the side. Big wide ones with drawers underneath, not a ladder. The wood was painted white, and she kept asking Mom to go back so she could look at it. She’s been very serious about sleeping in her own room these last few months. Maybe we could change the space up for her. When was that room last painted?”
“Oh,” Theo said, rocking back on her heels. She looked up at Jordan. “It’s been a long time ago. I was in middle school I think.”
“She’d probably have fun picking out a new color, and she could shop for new bedding,” Delaney said. “I hate shopping, but I know Indigo is totes into it.”
Theo grinned at her friend. “Totes,” she confirmed. “That’s a fun idea,” she told Jordan. “I like it. I like it very much.”
“We could make it a Christmas present. Maybe from the both of us?”
Theo watched Jordan’s face for a moment, then she smiled at him. “Absolutely,” she told him, tossing a pair of swim shoes into the box and pulling herself to her feet. She walked over to where Jordan stood and wrapped her arms around his waist. “Thank you. Thank you for coming over here during your busiest time at the farm and helping me do this. Thank you for bringing movers. Thank you for caring about Indigo the way you do.”
Jordan wrapped Theo into a hug and pressed a kiss against her temple. “Just promise me you won’t let Delaney paint.”
Theo laughed and looked over at Delaney.
“I’m not even mad,” Delaney said grabbing another box and heading to the single bathroom that separated Indigo and Patty’s bedrooms. “I’m good at many things. Painting isn’t one of them.”
She disappeared and Theo looked around the room. Almost everything had been packed and the space looked abandoned. No matter how much Theo loved having Indigo live with her at the barn, she couldn’t help but feel sad. She heard Delaney as she rummaged through things in the bathroom.
“Do you want to toss Indie’s toothbrushes?”
Theo concentrated on the heat she felt coming from Jordan’s body before she replied. “Yeah,” she said. “Hang on. I’ll be there in a second.” She felt Jordan move his hand across her back and she closed her eyes.
“We’re almost done here,” he said. “I’ll get the guys to move the furniture if you go and finish the bathroom.”
Theo nodded. “Okay. Jordan?”
“Yeah?”
“There’s something going on with Delaney.”
She felt Jordan inhale, then he pushed the breath out again. “I know. I just haven’t figured out what it is yet.”
“I wish she’d let us help.”
“Me, too. She will when she’s ready.”
“Is there actual glitter in this toothpaste?” Delaney yelled from the bathroom. “How in the world do you brush your teeth with glitter in the toothpaste?”
“Go,” Jordan said, pulling away from Theo. He grabbed the coat he’d hung on the doorknob and put it on. He left the room but gave Theo a look over his shoulder as he did. “And I’d throw that toothpaste out if I were you.”
Theo sat in her inner office at the Brubaker Building waiting for Dr. Gardner’s phone call. The three of them had gone to Denver’s Diner for lunch. Her thought as she waited for the phone to ring was that she might have overdone it on the lemon meringue pie.
“Hello?”
“Theodora?”
“Hi, Doctor Gardner.”
“I’ve got Cleopatra on the line.”
“Hi, Patty.”
“Hey. So, how did the session go this week?”
Theo took a deep breath and listened as the psychiatrist told Patty what had transpired during Indigo’s visit. As usual, Theo kept quiet unless one of them asked her a question. She knew Patty didn’t care to hear her opinion about anything, especially Indigo, and it was Patty and the doctor who would make any decisions about the child’s care. Theo was just the person making sure all of happened.
“Well,” Patty said once Dr. Gardner had signed off. “I guess Indigo won’t be at any homecoming celebration that might be planned at the hotel.”
“No,” Theo agreed, “but when you’re feeling up to coming to the barn, I’ll bake a cake and we’ll celebrate you then. Indie’s really looking forward to having her mom back. Even if she doesn’t love the Madeleine right now, she loves you always.”
Theo heard Patty sigh.
“Ah, Theodora, have you been practicing? I swear I almost believed you when you said that.”
“Cleo—”
