Her next phone call came an hour later, just after her first client had left but before her next one arrived. This time the display showed the name of her supervisor. She picked up the receiver and inked in a meeting at the end of the day before texting Lisa about being late that night. And then wondered what to expect from her boss. She was curious, but not too worried. She and the department head had a good, respectful relationship.
Instinct prevented her from mentioning her appointment to Alexis when they ate lunch. Instead, she just raved about Radio City and seeing Doug’s play. “It really is wonderful, Lex. And I’m not the only one raving about Doug. You should have heard the audience’s applause.”
“Oh, I did,” replied her friend with a straight face. “And I never left Boston!”
Jen hooted with laughter. “I have it bad, huh?”
Alexis remained quiet for a moment, then tilted her head and peered at her.
“Yeah, I think you do have it bad, but is that good? Doug’s a nice guy, Jen. We all like him. And I know it’s not my business, but you’ve got some history together. I saw your reaction when he showed up out of the blue. What was it?
Only five or six weeks ago? It’s happening kind of fast, don’t you think?”
Jen stomach tensed. She broke eye contact and looked away. “I know his soul,”
she said softy, “and that’s enough.”
Silence beat against her ears for a moment.
“Then I’m sorry,” said Alexis. “You’re my friend and I care about you. I just don’t want you to be hurt again.”
Fair enough. “Don’t worry about me. I even know how he earns a living in that crazy, creative business.”
“Okay, then! That’s great. I hope he’s managed to save some of those royalties.”
Suddenly, the practical, formidable, and financially astute Jennifer Delaney realized she’d never even asked him.
##
“Brianna looks wonderful! I bet she gained a whole pound over the weekend.”
Jen reached for the baby, happy to see Lisa’s beaming expression and Mike’s welcome smile, and bubbling inside with good news to share with them.
“Glad to see you, Jenny,” said Mike. “We could use another adult around here, even for a short visit.”
“Mike! I’m doing fine now,” protested his wife.
“We’ll let Jenny be the judge,” he said, turning toward Jen. “Finally, Lisa’s agreed to your idea of a night nurse coming in for a while, and we’ve made some calls. We’ll have help starting tomorrow night for however long it takes our little girl to stop getting her timing mixed up!”
Jen looked harder at her sister. Underneath the smile and the makeup, dark circles hid around her eyes. “You need to get back to yourself, Lis, and nothing does that as well as a good night’s sleep.”
“You sound like a TV ad for sleeping pills or something,” grumbled Lisa.
Maybe she did. So what? “Just telling you the truth. Besides, Bobby needs a mom who can run around with him, don’t you, sweetheart?”
“Yup. But I got you and Daddy. He runs fast, but he can’t catch me.” The little boy took off down the hall, with Mike pacing himself in pursuit.
“He’s a good dad,” said Jen. “But the action never really stops, does it?” Her glance traveled down to the baby, and she leaned in and inhaled. “Ooh, that baby aroma. Brianna smells so good.”
“When you’ve got the right end.” Lisa smiled quickly before sinking into a kitchen chair. “I’ve ordered pizza. Not a great dinner, but that’s what we’re having.”
“No complaints,” said Jen. “I just wanted to visit.”
“I’m glad you’re here. I-I am a bit concerned. Mike’s pre-season is around the corner, and then, a new NFL season starts the beginning of September. He’ll be gone half the time, and Brianna’s so much harder than Bobby was. It takes almost an entire hour to feed her. I get scared just thinking about it all. And then my career. But I need to get back to work or I’ll have to start building a practice all over again. I don’t know how I’ll handle everything.”
Jennifer shivered, then breathed deeply. Her strong sister needed some help.
Jen’s weekend with Doug seemed like a million years ago. And the recent conversation with her boss that had netted a promotion for her… was not something to bring up now.
Lisa reached for her hand, and Jen met her gaze. “I wish — oh, how I wish Mom and Dad were still here.”
Jen’s eyes closed. Tears threatened, but she swallowed them. Was there a time limit on grief? Commiseration was not what Lisa needed right now.
“We all do, Lisa. But they’re not. So, listen to me.” Maybe her tone of voice did the trick, but her sister remained quiet, waiting.
“I hate to say this,” Jen began, “but sometimes you’re your own worst enemy.
I’m glad the nurse will be here tomorrow, but with all the demands on you, you’ll need more help. Mike’s parents can’t live with you. They still work, and
besides, they have lives of their own.” She took a breath and slowly said, “You can’t fight the idea anymore. You need to hire a nanny. A good one this time.”
Lisa’s horrified expression said it all. “Another one who won’t work out?
Nannies, schmannies! Besides, I - I’m not a society lady! We don’t come from that world, no matter how much my husband earns. Mom raised five by herself.
And I’m having trouble with two.”
With the baby in one arm, Jen wrapped her other around her sibling. “You’re not thinking straight, and you don’t have to do anything right now except get some sleep. All those hormones are going wacky inside you. That’s what all this is.”
