Page 44 of Without You, Scotch and Sammy 2

She nods contemplatively. Turning back to the medicine in her hands, she goes back to measuring, and I reposition Lily in my arms so she’s comfortable. Once she’s satisfied with the dosage, Sammy turns back to us. “Um...”

“Just give it to her. I’ve got her.”

“Can you…” She stands on her toes, so I lean down a little. “You grew a lot since prom.”

“Yeah.”

Awkward silence overtakes us at my non-answer, so she stretches her toes and lifts the dripper over Lily’s mouth. Lily’s hands clench and relax and she waves them around without coordination, but as though she’s already so used to this, as soon as her dark eyes lock on Sammy’s hand, she opens her mouth and pokes her tongue out. Spit bubbles drip from the corner of her mouth as she takes the medicine Sammy offers. She doesn’t scrunch her face like I expected she would; she just takes the dose patiently and smacks her lips when she’s done.

“Anything else?”

Sammy shakes her head and steps away. She walks to the sink and rinses the dropper. “Nothing else. She ate just before you got here. She’s burped and has a fresh diaper. She’s all set for bed.”

“Will she sleep all night?”

“No. I wake her again at nine, then midnight, then three.”

“She wakes? Or you wake her?”

“I wake her. She’s still small, so the pediatrician wants her to eat every three hours.”

“Doesn’t she get pissed that you wake her?”

Sammy laughs under her breath. “Sometimes. Other times, she’s still awake from the last lot. She’s a sporadic sleeper. She was pretty amazing in the hospital, but since coming home and it’s just been me and her, she’s not quite as settled.”

“Maybe she liked the noises and people at the hospital.”

“Nah. I dunno what her problem is. I try and provide her with the perfect space to sleep, but sometimes she just doesn’t want it. We’re still finding our feet.”

“Okay, well…” I shrug my shoulders as she finishes at the sink and wipes her hands on the towel hanging on the oven. “You know best.”

She turns and leans against the counter, with her hands clasping the edge of the counter and one foot sitting on top of the other. She’s so fucking beautiful. Even sleep deprived and after a long shitty day. Even after three months in hospital with a premature baby.

Even after thirteen years without me.

“Okay.” I step forward and hurriedly pass the baby, then turn and walk away. I’m done. I can’t look at her for another second.

“What are you doing?”

“Leaving. You should know what that looks like.”

– Sammy –

Juliette Jones

Shaking hands with Juliette Jones is a strange feeling, but as we release our grasps and I sit in the chair opposite her desk – in what just so happens to be my Daddy’s former office – a sense of all things strange washes over me.

Juliette is blonde and beautiful, with a smile that says she knows all sorts of juicy secrets – which she probably does – and mossy green eyes that are so sharp and all knowing, I feel like she knows every single thing about me, including what I ate for breakfast this morning.

“So, you’re taking care of business?”

I smile at her arrogant tone. “Yeah, guess so.”

“Where do you and your… husband stand?”

“We’re working on reconciliation.”

Juliette’s brows lift in surprise, and her hands fuss with a pen on the desk between us. “Reconciliation? That’s surprising. So you’ve spoken with Mr. Turner since arriving in town?”

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