Page 204 of The Moment We Know

After a few more songs, like “Got To Give It Up”, “It’s Your Thing”, and “Let’s Groove”, the kitchen was mostly clean, and she decided the two of them deserved a little dessert as a reward. Luckily, there was vanilla ice cream in the freezer and chocolate sauce in a cupboard (which actually shocked her, given David’s jihad on sugar), so she was able to make them both a decent sundae.

After a few bites, Paige leaned forward on the table and peered at Jacob’s face. “You have something on your nose.” Then, before he could really react to what she’d said, she dipped her finger into his chocolate sauce and wiped it on the tip of his nose. “Yep, right there,” she added, pointing.

His eyes widened comically for a moment and then he reached over and stuck his finger in her chocolate sauce and wiped it on her nose. “You have something on your nose, too.”

Straight-faced, she scooped a little ice cream and deposited it on his cheek. “Oops. You’ve also got something on your cheek.”

From there, it escalated into a mini food fight, and by the time Paige declared it was over, they were both laughing hysterically, their faces sticky, cold, and dripping a little bit. On the way over to the sink to wash up, Paige’s phone alerted her to an incoming text from David.

DAVID: It’s a mess here. I’m probably going to be here several more hours.

PAIGE: I’m sorry it’s a mess.

DAVID: So, how are things going there?

Paige looked down at Jacob. “Your dad wants to know how things are going. Should we send him a picture?”

“Yeah!”

She took a couple of selfies and sent him the best one. To her amusement, when he replied back, it wasn’t to comment on their destroyed faces.

DAVID: How much sugar are you giving him?

PAIGE: Just the right amount. Sheesh.

PAIGE: Anyway, gotta run. Stinker really needs a bath, and then we’re going to watch a scary movie before I put him to bed.

DAVID: You better be joking.

PAIGE: I’m not. He really does need a bath.

DAVID: You know what I meant.

DAVID: Paige?

DAVID: Paige?

DAVID: You’re not funny.

Paige had given Jacob a bath once before, so she was familiar with the whole production of it, from getting his pajamas ready and picking out toys, to the little pellets that turned the water a different color, and the foaming bubble bath that seemed to go everywhere.

After they rinsed off their faces, he’d gotten undressed quickly, only slowing down to carefully remove the black leather cord from around his neck with the aquamarine crystal hanging from it.

“That looks like the one Lauren wears,” Paige said.

“She gave it to me.”

“She did? Wow, she must like you.”

He nodded and jumped into the tub, sending water splashing and suds flying in the air.

When his bath was over, she dried him off, then cleaned up the tub area while he put his pajamas on, brushed his teeth, and then proceeded to … pee.

It took her a moment to realize what he was doing, and after reflexively glancing over to see him standing in front of the toilet, directing a little stream of urine into the porcelain bowl, she immediately looked away to give him privacy, and busied herself with stuffing his dirty clothes and damp towels into the hamper. Although, given that he was peeing with her only a few feet away, it didn’t seem like he needed any privacy, and the fact he didn’t seem to need any struck her in a slightly odd way.

Is this just how kids were? She didn’t know.

So caught up in her thoughts, she was only partially aware of Jacob flushing the toilet, then washing his hands. It wasn’t until he was leading her into his bedroom that she managed to shake them off.

---