Page 10 of Baby Contract

“I’m working on that. Why is the baby so quiet without her being asleep?”

“If I told you, then I’d have to kill you. It’s a nanny trade secret.” She shifts the baby to the other arm, and instead of crying like she normally does whenever Errol and I move her, the baby just gurgles happily.

Sick.

I text Ben, letting hom know we need to go to a baby store.

Ben drops us off at a place called Lullaby Love.

“I thought we would go to Target, but maybe you don’t know what a Target is.”

“Of course I know Target. They’re one of the surviving big box brands that have successfully navigated the move toward end-to-end eCommerce. They utilize their consumer database and customer insight better than most retail companies.”

“Have you ever been inside one?”

“Can’t say that I have.”

“I bet it's better than Lullaby Love.”

“You won’t know until you’ve shopped at both.” I unclick the infant carrier from its base. Whoever invented this contraption was a genius. Baby girl barely moves when I lift the carrier in the air. When Megan left, I didn’t realize that this whole thing fit together until Addison showed Errol and me how it worked.

Inside Lullaby Love, a sales associate greets us immediately. “Your baby is adorable,” she coos softly.

“Oh, it’s not—” Addison starts to say.

“Thank you.” I throw my arm around her waist and tug her tight against me. “It’s our first, and we’re not prepared. I need one of everything in the store. In pink.”

“Not everything,” Addison interjects. “Do you have bottles?”

The sales lady shakes her head. “No, I’m sorry. We help you outfit your nursery with top of the line cribs and gliders and other nursery furniture sets. Can I show you something in cream? That’s what a lot of our clients like who have girls.”

“Sure. One of everything in cream.” I hand her my credit card. “Have it delivered today. Drop the card off with it. Let’s go, Addison.”

“Target?”

“Yup.”

Chapter Six

ADDISON

Ihave no idea what to make of this man. He’s rather strange and overly handsome.

“This is cheese?” Carr eyes the hot dog that we got at the small food court area in front of Target. I think he would rather starve than eat it. He’s probably used to Michelin star restaurant food.

“You must not be that hungry then.” I take a giant bite of my own hot dog. It hits the spot. When my stomach growled, he stated we should eat at once. I told him I could wait, but he insisted and said he was hungry too. I think he’s regretting that right about now.

Who knew shopping could work up such an appetite? Who also knew you could spend five grand at Target on baby stuff? Carr had to call for a second vehicle. Both of which are being loaded up now while we enjoy our food. Or at least I'm enjoying it.

“It’s bright yellow.” He continues to inspect it. Isn’t most cheese yellow? In my world, it is.

“It’s the same cheese you dip your nachos in at the movies.”

“I have a movie theater at home, and there is no bright yellow, runny cheese.” What was I thinking? Of course he has his own movie theater. I bet he’s never even had nachos. I make a mental note to never show him cheese in a can. “You got some on you.” Carr swipes his thumb across the corner of my mouth. Then he surprises me by bringing his cheese-smudged finger to his mouth.

“It is rather good.” Carr tosses his hot dog into the trash. I stare at him. He wouldn't eat it off the hot dog, but he ate it off my face. What the heck? Yeah, he is strange but also still handsome. Why do I keep coming back to the handsome part?

“I thought you were hungry.”

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