Page 60 of Weather Girl

It’s impossible not to think of Russell when she says that. I haven’t had a chance to process the longer-term implications of our relationship, if that is in fact what this is becoming. I’ve never dated a parent, and even though I want kids, I’m not sure I’m ready now. I’m probably overanalyzing, since I’ve only met her once, but the longer this goes on, the more I’ll have to reckon with what I am to Elodie—if I’m anything at all.

Then again, maybe he doesn’t want her to be involved. Even though he said back in Canada that he’d wanted me to meet her, that doesn’t mean the three of us are going to suddenly start spending time together.

Torrance’s phone buzzes again. “That’s my sister. Seems like this has made its way through the family grapevine. You don’t mind if I take this, do you?”

“Go ahead,” I say, and she leaves the maternity ward to answer the call.

Left alone, I consider the absurdity of the situation. I have no personal investment in this, aside from wanting the kid to be born healthy. And yet the fact that Torrance wanted me here compels me to stay.

You’ll never believe where I am, I text Russell.

Back at the mall to challenge those kids at air hockey?

I send back the GIF of Torrance declining a joint at Hempfest and saying, “Maybe later.”

At the hospital with the Hales. Their daughter-in-law just went into labor. And they’re... getting along?

You’re right. I don’t believe it.

I snap a photo of Highlights and send it to him. In response, he sends me a photo of a paused TV screen, and I have to bite my lip to keep from grinning. The Parent Trap.

Movie night with E. It’s intermission right now because she insisted on making caramel popcorn. I’m waiting here until the smoke alarm goes off.

Does she love it?

So far, the verdict is there isn’t enough singing or dancing.

I’ll give her that. There isn’t.

And we’ve stopped it several times so she can learn the handshake. Honestly, I’m lucky she’s still at an age where watching movies with her dad isn’t deeply uncool yet. Not sure how much of that I have left.

The visual sounds so cozy, and I’m fairly certain it’s not just the movie they’re watching. It scares me a little, how appealing it is.

Weather girl?

Yeah?

I can’t wait to see you again.

Those seven words do something to my heart.

Torrance comes back with two cups of coffee, her hair pulled into a ponytail. “Figured this would help me finish sobering up,” she says, passing me a cup.

It’s ridiculous to be this touched by a cup of coffee. The maternity ward must be making me overly emotional.

Torrance and I spend the next twenty minutes on a crossword puzzle in a parenting magazine, until Seth reappears with not one but seven balloons.

“I, uh, couldn’t decide,” he says, a flush touching his cheeks. “Though I’m partial to this one.” And he hands her the one that says PROUD GRANDPARENTS.

•••

WE PASS THE time with more crossword puzzles, work emails, and questionable sandwiches from the hospital’s cafeteria. After a couple hours go by, I stop asking Torrance whether she wants me to go home. Even when she and Seth are getting along, it’s clear she likes having me here as some kind of buffer. Or maybe it’s to make up for not being there in the past. Whatever it is, I’m glad to stay.

It’s just past eleven o’clock when Patrick rushes back in wearing scrubs, a wild grin on his face. “We have a baby girl,” he says. “Penelope Rose. Penny. They’re both doing fantastic.”

Torrance and Seth leap to their feet, crushing him into a hug.

“We have a granddaughter,” Torrance says, tears in her eyes. “I’m a grandma.”

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