“That totally makes sense, Jax. And who knows how Rosie will adapt to losing her mom, you know?”
My heart sinks. “I know. I keep waiting for it to get harder. I’m not sure how this works. Does time make it harder—will it hit home for her eventually? Or will it just drift from her mind because she’s still so little?”
“I don’t know.”
I think about it, just as I have since the day I got Rosie. I don’t want her to forget her mother. Although I’m afraid that bringing her up will make her sad, I want her to be able to hold on to things about Nettie so she can remember them when she’s older.
“Have you figured anything out?” I ask Libby, changing pace. “Are you coming back to Savannah?”
“I think I'm going to stay in Nevada. My attorney says I'll get alimony, but I don't know how much or for how long. And I can force Ted to either sell the house or buy me out of it, and I'm going to. I should be set for a little while, but I'm definitely going to have to get a plan together because I can't live on that money forever.”
“Once I get settled, I'm coming out there to visit you. We can go to the strip club, drink too much, and see those guys who try to look like Channing Tatum in Magic Mike.”
“You have a child there, don’t you?”
My eyes go wide. “Yup. Crap.” I look up at Rosie. She’s dancing in her seat again. “I’m going to have to watch myself.”
She starts laughing. “You don't wanna do any of that any more than I do anyway.”
“I don't know. I really think I'm hitting a midlife crisis.”
“You're too young for that.”
I laugh too. “I can't wait to see what that brings then.”
“Jaxi!” Rosie calls.
I look up to see her pointing at the foyer.
“Somebody is here,” Rosie says.
“Lib, I have to go. I’ll call you soon, okay?”
“You better. I’m living vicariously through you and the love story you’re writing with my hunky ex-neighbor.”
I roll my eyes. “Stop watching so many soap operas. They’re warping your brain.”
She laughs. “Call me if you need me. I love you, Jaxi.”
“I’m here if you need me. Talk soon.”
“Jaxi,” Rosie insists as I hang up the phone. “Somebody is here.”
“I know. I got it.” I set the phone down and walk around the counter. “You sit right here and don’t get up. Okay?”
“Okay.”
I walk into the foyer and open the door. A woman in a tidy black uniform stands on the stoop. She smiles a bright white smile.
“Are you Jaxi?” she asks cheerfully.
“Yes. Can I help you?”
“Actually, I'm here to help you. My name is Christina, and I am with Rooney’s Cleaning Systems. Mr. Mason set up an appointment for us to come and clean the premises twice a week. He set us up for today but since you don't seem to know that I was coming ...”
That fucker.
I smile at the woman. “I'm gonna be really honest. I was not expecting you.”
“Well, ma'am, I can come back another day, but he paid extra to get us on the schedule. Is there a day you’d like us to get started?”
I have half a notion to tell her that I’ll handle it. But she seems to be with a small business, and I'm all about supporting small businesses. Why should they lose a customer out of pride?
“You know what? Come on in,” I tell her and step to the side. “Do you need anything from me?”
“No. I will take a quick look around to see what I need. Then I’ll go out to our van and grab some supplies. You won’t even know I’m here.” She digs into the front pocket of her shirt and pulls out a business card. She hands it to me. “This is our contact information. If you have any problems at all, feel free to call anytime.”
“Thank you.”
“Absolutely. Now go enjoy your day and let me take care of the house.”
This is wild.
I head into the kitchen and throw the dinner ingredients back in the fridge. Then I pick up Rosie and my telephone.
“Snack?” Rosie asks.
“I can't give you a snack when you're covered in paint,” I tell her as we head to the bathroom. “You'll be eating paint.”
She wiggles her finger at me. “We don't eat paint.”
“Nope, we don't.” I flip the light on and stand her up in the bathtub. I strip her clothes off and toss them into the sink so paint globs don’t get anywhere else. I plug the bathtub and turn on the water to a nice warm temperature.
She immediately starts splashing around. I grab my phone and find Boone’s number.
Me: You hired a cleaning lady?
Boone: I don't like vacuuming.
Me: I told you that I would clean up. This was how I was paying you back, remember?
Boone: Really? I don't remember that at all.
I grin.
I look down the hallway to see Christina entering the kitchen. Dishwater begins to run, and as much as I hate to admit it, I'm kind of glad I don't have to do it.
Me: You have no boundaries.
Boone: Trust me. I'm showing more restraint than I even knew that I had.
A shiver runs down my spine. I close my eyes and try to wipe the picture of Boone with restraints hovering over me in bed. It doesn't mesh well with the sounds of a child splashing in a bathtub behind me.
Me: I’m worried about Janey.
Boone: I love that you’re worried about her. <smiling emoji>
Me: <irritated emoji> You didn’t answer my question.
Boone: If Janey wants to come back to work, she can. I can destroy a house fast enough for two cleaning services. <winks> I have a feeling that she’s going to have to retire, though.
Me: Is she okay?
Boone: Yes. Just old. Oliver has called me twice in the past thirty seconds so I probably need to make sure that he's just being a dick and nothing is actually wrong. I should be home around five thirty.
Me: I will see you then.
Boone: Can't wait. <winking emoji>
I sit on the toilet and turn the water off. Rosie swims around the bathtub like a little duck. The paint from her body dissolves in the water, making it look like a swirling watercolor itself.
The joy in her face warms my heart.
Suddenly, she sits up and looks at me.
“Jaxi? Can I see my mommy?” she asks.
My warm heart breaks. “She went to see Piper, remember?”
Her face falls. “That's right.”
“I'm sure she misses you. She loved you very, very much.”
“I love Mommy, too.” She stills, her hands pausing in the water and the ripples that were moving across the surface stop. “Jaxi?”
“What baby?”
“I'm happy that she was my mommy, even if I can't see her anymore. She read the best bedtime stories.” The light comes back on in her face. “Just a little better than you, though. Not too much.”