Page 7 of All of Me

“Mommy!” she squeals, her voice high and full of joy as she reaches for me.

I smile as I open my arms. “Hi, my sweet girl!”

Adam helps her climb onto the chair beside the bed, and she immediately leans against me, her wide eyes darting to the bassinet. “Sissy?” she says, pointing with her free hand.

“Yes, sweetheart,” I say softly, brushing a hand over her curls. “That’s your baby sister, Ruby.”

Sara peers over, her mouth forming a little “O” as she takes in the tiny bundle. Her pudgy fingers reach out, but she stops just short, looking back at me for permission.

“Gentle,” I say, guiding her hand toward Ruby’s tiny fist. “Very gentle.”

She giggles as Ruby’s fingers twitch against hers. “Sweetie!” she says, her voice full of wonder.

“She is sweet,” I say, my heart swelling. “Just like you.”

Adam stands by the door, his expression softer than usual as he watches the interaction. “She’s been saying ‘baby’ all afternoon,” he says quietly. “I think she’s pretty excited.”

“Baby,” Sara repeats, her grin widening as she watches Ruby squirm.

“She’s excited now,” I tease, glancing at Adam. “Let’s see how she feels when Ruby starts borrowing her toys.”

Adam’s lips tug into a faint smirk. He doesn’t reply, just shifts awkwardly and glances at his phone. “We should probably get going soon if we’re going to make it to a few houses.”

Sara’s head snaps toward him, her lip jutting out. “No!” she says, clinging to my arm.

I stroke her back gently, my voice calm but warm. “It’s okay, sweetie. You’re going to go trick-or-treating with Dad, remember? Candy!”

Her eyes brighten at the mention of candy, though she still clings to me like she’s afraid I’ll disappear.

“Can you take a picture of us before you go?” I ask, looking at Adam.

“Sure,” he says, stepping forward and pulling out his phone.

I settle Sara closer to me, cradling Ruby in my other arm. Sara rests her hand lightly on Ruby’s blanket, her little fingers curling protectively around the edge. Her grin, full of baby teeth, makes me tear up as Adam snaps the photo.

“All done!” Adam says, showing Sara the screen.

She babbles excitedly, her little voice rising and falling in unintelligible syllables.

“Okay, princess,” Adam says, holding out his hands. “Let’s go get some candy.”

Sara clings to me a moment longer, her tiny arms wrapping around my neck as she plants a wet kiss on my cheek. “Mama!” she says firmly, like she’s reminding me that she’ll be back.

“I’ll see you soon, baby girl,” I say, kissing her forehead. “Have so much fun!”

“Candy!” she chirps, finally letting Adam lift her off the chair.

“She’s all yours,” I say, smiling at Adam. “Thanks for bringing her by.”

For a moment, his gaze softens as he looks at Ruby, his mouth opening slightly like he’s going to say something but decides against it. “Take it easy,” he says instead, his voice unusually gentle, before heading out with Sara in tow.

As the door clicks shut, the quiet settles back into the room. My eyes linger on the spot where Adam stood, my thoughts running wild. This version of Adam—the one who brings Sara to see her sister, the one who doesn’t fight me at every turn—feels so far from the man I’ve come to know over the years.

It catches me off guard seeing him like this. For a brief moment, I see a glimpse of the man I used to love, the man I believed would always be there for me and our children. It hurts, because I know this version of him won’t last.

He’s trying right now, probably because of what happened when Ruby was born. Maybe it scared him as much as it scared me. It probably did, but how long until he goes back to being regular Adam? The one who lets his girlfriend make excuses for not meeting his daughter? The one who twists things, manipulates, and makes me feel like I’m always asking for too much?

The ache of that question settles in my chest, but I push it down. I have Ruby now, and a new family with Sara, Barrett, and Owen.

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