Page 81 of Castings & Curses

“What? You aren’t in any mom’s group?” I said as if I were.

“That’s not the same. And no, I’m not. I’m not a mom, so I’m not welcome. And there really aren’t many dad’s groups.”

“I find that hard to believe. There are plenty of single dads around.”

“There are.” He rolled back up to a sitting position— which was good because laying there he looked like someone I could snuggle up against. “But they mostly go out on weekends or at night and have drinks. They complain about having to juggle child care and whiny kids, and how they can’t find a girlfriend to take care of their kid.”

“That sounds like a very specific situation.”

“It was. I tried a mom's group, but apparently I made everyone too uncomfortable.” He shrugged. “I understand no one wants to talk about bad period cramps postpartum with a man around.”

“Is that what they talk about?” I asked.

“No mom’s groups for you?”

“Not here at least. I was in one right after Liv was born, but I had to get back to work. And even though I freelanced, it was really hard to find the balance to maintain the new social expectations, keep up with my old friends, keep the husband happy, and work, all while taking care of this new little person.”

Eric huffed. “I can imagine.”

He got quiet,

“I’m sorry. I’m talking like I had this crazy hard time, and it was nothing compared to what you must have gone through. Can I ask, how old was Sarina when you lost her mother?”

Eric reached out and took my hand. I knew it didn’t mean more than him needing support while talking about his wife.

“I shouldn’t have asked.”

“No, no. I love telling people about Janelle. It keeps her alive. I wouldn’t have made it without my mother, ya know?”

I didn’t know, but now wasn’t the time.

He squeezed my hand. “We should get the girls back and have those cupcakes.”

I agreed. The heavy stuff had no place here, at least right now.

CHAPTER8

If I was goingto stay around Belvoir County, it was time to adult up and go see the local baby doctor. Part of me didn’t want to. I didn’t want to face the same glaring stares I received every time I went to the park from the same pregnant women in the waiting room.

I still didn’t know what it was I had done that was so wrong.

“We can fit you in at the end of the week, will that work for you?”

The day and time coincided with Liv and Sarina’s weekly play date at the splash pad. And my weekly ogle of Eric. I wanted to say no.

But the baby decided at that moment to River Dance on my bladder.

“Yeah, that’s good. I don’t know if I can get my old doctor to get my files to you by then,” I confessed.

“Don’t worry about that, we can get your files a little bit later. It's seeing you and listening to the baby that’s important. We’ll see you soon.”

I ended the call and got to my feet. That felt like enough adulting for the day. But I had promised Ash I would stop in and take a look at the initial round of photos.

“Hey Terri-Ann!” I bellowed as soon as I stepped out of the bedroom.

She stepped out of her room, a laundry basket in hand.

“Do you really have to yell?”

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