“Remind me again why you work?”
Lauren raises her hand and I know she’s about to tick off all the reasons on her fingers. “First of all…”
I snicker because I know her so well.
“… we’re not married and I’ll be damned if I’m going to shoot my future self in the foot by having a gap in my employment.”
“Heath would never leave you.”
“No, he wouldn’t. But shit happens and I prefer to be prepared. Second,” she continues, “I have way too much energy to stay home. I would die of boredom or Heath would kill me for following him around for some adult interaction. And last, one of the perks of being the office manager of a gymnastics training facility is getting to work out with the team a couple of nights a week.”
“That’s a definite bright spot.”
“Beats the hell out of spending my evenings in step aerobics or on a treadmill.”
The thought of her trying to keep herself entertained with your normal, average exercise classes amuses me. She’d rather pull her own toenails out with pliers and I know how much she wants to mess up her freshly pedi’d toes. Lauren needs hardcore exercise. Preferably the type that comes with bruises and battle scars. I understand completely. I’d rather take a dance class than weight training.
Sighing deeply, I let myself sink further into the floor as I observe the people who have become like family to me. Annika is unpacking the small kitchen, which isn’t surprising. She’s such a natural caretaker, I know it makes her feel like she’s helping me by still going. And she’s right.
Jaxon is resting on the couch after doing all the heavy lifting with Heath up a flight of stairs. I’m sure he’s exhausted but I honestly think his laziness is more because he’s being entertained by watching his best friend wrestle around with my son.
Carson’s giggles fill the room as everyone relaxes and enjoys the show. His chubby little self keeps running at Heath who is laying on the floor on his back. Whenever he’s close enough to grab, Heath tosses Carson in the air then puts him down and they start it all over again. My baby is going to sleep good tonight.
“Look at those two,” Lauren says gently, just as entranced in the scene as I am. “That boy loves his Uncle Heath, doesn’t he?”
“So much,” I agree quickly.
My son and her boyfriend have always been close. Maybe it’s because Heath has several younger siblings, or maybe he’s just a sucker for a cute baby, but from the second he held a three hours old Carson, they’ve had a really solid bond. It helps that Carson is a rough and tumble kind of kid. They can both get some energy out.
“I’m kind of glad we’re living here now, just so Carson can get some more guy time.” I stretch out my still cramped legs and cross them in front of me. “I feel like an ass for almost expecting it from Heath, but even just our regular hang out days is more male attention than he’s ever gotten.”
“You don’t need to feel like as ass. Heath already went out and bought a toddler bed.”
I turn my head to look at her, eyes wide in question. “Are you serious?”
Lauren giggles and pulls her knees to her chest, resituating herself. “He saw it at the store and had to get it. Said he just knows Carson will need to spend the night sometimes and wants him to have his own space.”
“He said that?”
“That Carson needs his own space? He sure did. Even bought matching Paw Patrol sheets and a blanket, basically the whole set.”
I press my lips together trying not to laugh. “Um, he knows Carson is a co-sleeper, right? That I’ve tried every which way to get him to sleep in his own bed but he refuses. It’s best to just give up and tuck him in next to you until he falls asleep.”
“Oh, he knows. Which is why I’m glad for our California king bed. I have a feeling he’ll be bunking with us for a couple of years when he visits.”
The thought of Carson in between Heath and Lauren in bed makes me laugh. They have no idea that this kid suctions to me like an amoeba and he’s a kicker. I guarantee Lauren will be the one using that Paw Patrol bed after a couple of hours and a foot in the back.
Hopefully, all the wrestling happening now will knock Carson out enough that I can try putting him in his own bed. We set it up right next to mine. Maybe it’ll work with me that close.
Wishful thinking, but these days, all I have are wishes and a few dreams.
“How come I’m the only one still unpacking?” Annika drops down on the other side of me.
“You’re not. You’re sitting like we are,” Lauren smarts off.
“Now I am. I’m tired and I didn’t even have to be up early this morning to drive a truck.”
“Don’t remind me.” I roll my head trying to stretch out my shoulders and neck. “I didn’t expect it to be that hard to drive a U-Haul.”
“Or that long. It should never take more than two and a half hours to get from the western outskirts of Houston to the eastern outskirts of San Antonio,” Lauren adds.
“How long did it take y’all?”
“Almost three and a half.”
Lauren starts giggling next to me, which of course makes me laugh, too. “It would have been faster if you knew how to drive a stick.”
That makes me laugh even harder. “They told me it would be a manual transmission.”
“A stick is a manual transmission,” Lauren half yells, unable to control her laughter.
“I didn’t know,” I protest. I thought they meant, like, I had to read the manual first or something.”
Saying it out loud makes me realize exactly how stupid my mistake was. But if I’ve learned anything since Carson was born, you have to laugh at the little things, even major irritations, or else you’ll spend your whole life crying.
The three of us crack up until tears roll down our faces and we can get our breathing back under control. I hope this is what it’s like living here permanently now—all of us hanging out for barbecues and birthdays. All the events I should be spending with my family. Because that’s what we are now. At least in my mind.
Don’t get overzealous Kiersten. They have their own families, too. You’re still in this alone.
The thought is sobering, but I can’t fall into the trap of relying on anyone else. It’s better to be surprised and relieved than disappointed and scrambling. Besides, Carson isn’t their responsibility. He’s mine. My biggest priority is making sure he grows up happy and healthy.
“Are you ready?” I ask Annika, smacking her lightly on the leg.
She smiles and bites her lip, an obvious sign of how happy she is. “I can’t believe the wedding is finally almost here. It seems like I’ve been planning this thing for forever.”
“It feels like it,” Lauren agrees. “Figuring out bridesmaid dresses alone took weeks.”
Annika shakes her head and blows out a breath. “I know a wedding is supposed to be a once-in-a-lifetime event and the end will be worth it, but I almost ditched the whole thing and went straight to the courthouse. I’m not girly enough for taffeta and lace.”
“Thank goodness you’ve got a bestie over there who knows how to do all those things.” I gesture to Lauren who bats her eyelashes at us.