Page 59 of Just a Distraction

I wonder how he knows my name, then I remember I’m wearing a nametag.

“Hi,” I say. “You’re Henry, right? Security Executive Officer for Tate International?”

Something blips in his face, an element of surprise. He nods and then glances at Darla. “Is everything okay?” He crosses his enormously muscle-bound arms across his chest and widens his stance.

“This is Darla, a . . . friend of mine.”

“Nice to meet you, Darla,” Henry says with a nod. “Rose, let me know if you need anything.” Henry has a commanding presence. He leaves us but stays nearby. It’s as if he senses my distress and wants to make sure I’m okay.

I pick up Callum, kissing him on his squishy neck and cheeks. Darla takes a turn with him, telling him how much she loves him. A lump forms in my throat. Callum didn’t ask for this, to not get to have a father in his life or a grandmother who enjoys all the privileges of grandmotherhood. Darla didn’t ask for this, either.

A few minutes later, we say our goodbyes and I go to the parking garage. I get Callum buckled in his car seat and turn on some Baby Mozart, which is probably calming me more than him.

I miss Milo. I know he’s been busy, but does he know that I miss him? Have I told him that?

I know we only have a short time together until I move. But I don’t want to have regrets when I’m in school, regrets that I could have spent as much time with him as possible and didn’t.

I wasn’t kidding when I told Darla I had a lot to do tonight. And there’s only one person I want to ask to help me.

Chapter 24

Milo

When Rose calls me, as I’m finishing my work on the company reimbursements for the day, I answer right away.

“How’s the big event going?” she asks in a casual tone, but there’s a bracing in her voice.

“My part is finished. All the employees from the other locations are eating at the resort tonight and then they’ll go back home tomorrow.” I exit out of the program I’ve been working on and lean back in my chair, loving the sound of her voice through the phone.

“I, too, have been freed from the clutches of the nine to five. Just driving home now.”

“Am I on speaker?” I ask.

When she says yes, I continue. “Callum? Hi!”

I hear Callum say hi back. He starts jabbering in his breathy, chipmunk voice. My chest warms.

He grows quiet when he’s distracted by the big “twuffs” passing them on the two-lane Lakeside Road. “How are you?” I ask Rose.

She pauses. “Gearing up to practice my crib-building skills.”

“That sounds fun.”

She laughs. “I bought a used one and haven’t had a chance to put it together. Callum’s been sleeping in my bed with me since day one, pretty much. I have a bassinet for my bedside, but he wanted to sleep near me, which was easier anyway.”

“And now you’re ready for him to try a crib?”

“He’s getting so big. And it hurts when he kicks me in the night!” She sighs. “But part of me is hoping he’s not ready to transition to a crib yet because I don’t know if I’m ready.”

“I can see how it would be kind of nice to have him co-sleep. Still, you might like having your bed back.” Against my control, now I’m thinking of Rose in bed.

A feeling of unease washes over me. I told her I wanted to try things out between us temporarily, slowly. But will I ever get to the point where I’m okay with this scenario? Nothing about my feelings for Rose are casual.

After we talk for a few minutes, I hear her turn off her car. “Well, I’m home now, so I’d better go.”

“Can I come and help you set up the crib?”

“Do you have any crib-building skills?”

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