Page 87 of Love You Madly

Hey, how’s it going?

I sigh, fingers tapping out a reply as I finish buckling Sara in.

Me:

It’s been a rough morning. I just picked Sara up from Adam’s. I’m already exhausted and tempted to lay down and take a nap with her when I get home, but I still need to buy her crib today.

I slide into the driver’s seat and start the car, my phone buzzing again before I pull away from the curb.

Owen:

Sounds like you need some rest. Don’t push yourself too hard. Yesterday was a long day. The crib can wait. Just take it easy.

Me:

You’re probably right.

Owen:

Usually am.

Text me when you get home, okay? Be careful.

Me:

Always.

A small smile tugs at my lips as I put the car in drive and head home. It’s comforting to know someone cares.

Once home, I send Owen a quick text to let him know I made it back safely. His words from earlier echo in my mind and I decide he’s right. I’ll get the crib tomorrow. Today is for rest. And laundry. I need to get some laundry done. Sara can just sleep in my bed tonight.

When I lay Sara down in thePack N Playfor her afternoon nap a couple hours later, her little face looks so peaceful. Once she drifts off to sleep, I take a moment to look for my phone because I lost track of it sometime after I got back to the house. I find it on top of a laundry basket full of clothes I wassupposed to fold just before Sara started getting cranky and see a couple texts from Owen waiting for me.

Owen:

Glad you made it home okay.

I hope your afternoon with Sara turns out to be better than your morning was.

Me:

Sorry, lost track of my phone. Just laid Sara down for her afternoon nap.

I decide to start folding the laundry I started earlier while I wait to hear back from him. A short time later, I hear the crunch of gravel outside. Curious, I look out the large picture window in the living room that overlooks the driveway and my heart skips a beat as I watch the now familiar green truck pull up to the front of the house.

Owen gets out of his truck, a grin on his face as he reaches for his phone, reading the text message I sent him a few minutes ago while he must have been driving.

“Good thing you told me that you laid Sara down for a nap or I would have been that asshole that rang the doorbell and accidentally woke up your kiddo,” he says with a wink.

I can’t help but laugh in disbelief, feeling warmth spread through me. Before I can get my wits about me enough to ask him what he’s doing here, he walks to the bed of his truck, pulls down the tailgate and lifts out a large box.

“Owen, you didn’t…” I start, feeling overwhelmed.

He brings the box to the porch, setting it down gently. “I figured you could use a hand since you were too tired to go anywhere else today.”

Tears prick at the corners of my eyes as I stare at the box. “Owen…”

“Is it too different from what you planned on getting? I justgot white because I noticed the dresser you have for her was white so I just got something that matched,” he says, almost frantically.

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