Page 52 of After the Red Carpet
“Sweetheart, why don’t you use the sitter more?”
“Betty is learning so much every day. Her mind is like a sponge. I’m teaching her how to think, explore, imagine. This is developmental time we can never get back. The book will come.”
Finn took her hand, lifted it to his lips, and kissed it. “Like I said, you’re such a good mother. If you want more time to write, I can take some of the load off. I don’t need to work so much. I’d be happy to be at home with you both.”
“It’s up to you, but if you’re home more, I’d want the three of us to spend that time together,” Ella replied. “Like those dreamy months after she was born, when we were all so cozy, just bonding as a little family. We’d go for those long walks, and you would put her in that carrier on yourchest, stopping to kiss her head every few minutes. That was the sweetest.”
“I wouldn’t trade those six months at home for anything. A big part of why I took all that time off was so that you could write, but . . .”
“I was too exhausted. You remember how intense it was. We were up every few hours, and breastfeeding was a full-time job. Besides, I’ve always believed that the time we spend stewing on things is productive. The book will come. When the time is right, it will come.”
“No pressure, but if you want to work more, just say the word and I’ll do the stay-at-home-dad thing for as long as you like,” Finn said.
“Like I said, I’d love for you to be home more, but I’d want to be with you both every second. There’s nothing better. In fact . . .” She trailed off.
“What, baby?”
Ella looked straight into his eyes, took a breath, and said, “I just love our family so much. More than I ever knew was possible.”
“Me too. I can’t wait to spend tomorrow with my girls.”
FINN PAID THE CASHIER AND PICKEDup Betty, who was tugging on his jeans. “Did you like those silver dollar pancakes?”
“Yeah. Zoo! Zoo!” she said excitedly.
He smiled and they headed outside. Suddenly, there were two paparazzi snapping photos and screaming, “Finn! Out for a day with your family?”
Finn tried to ignore them, shielding Betty’s face as they walked to their car, but the paparazzi persisted, following them and hollering. Betty started crying, leaning her head on his shoulder. “It’s okay, sweetheart,” he whispered. He strapped her into her car seat, the paparazzi just feet away,still frantically taking photos. He closed the door, turned to them, and said, “What the fuck is wrong with you? That’s my kid!” He snapped a photo of their license plate and raced to the driver’s side.
Ella was comforting Betty, who was now crying in earnest. She turned to Finn, whose hands were shaking, his face red. “Just drive,” she told him.
“It’s okay,” Ella said softly, handing Betty her favorite stuffed horse. “Everything is okay now. Those people won’t bother us again. We’re gonna have so much fun today. What animals do you want to see?”
Betty’s cries began to slow. She took a few quick breaths and calmed down. “Z . . . z . . . zebra.”
“Yay!” Ella said. “We’ll see the zebra first, then maybe we can see the giraffes and the elephants.”
Betty smiled, gripping her stuffed toy.
“What other animals should we see?” Ella asked.
“Zebra.”
Ella laughed. “How about the monkeys?”
“Monkeys and zebras,” Betty said.
Ella turned to Finn and gently ran her hand down his arm. He looked at her through a glaze of sadness. “It’s okay,” she whispered.
When they arrived at the zoo, Finn parked the car and immediately realized they had been followed by the paparazzi. Several more were waiting for them. He turned to Ella and quietly said, “Holy shit. They must have called their friends.”
“Maybe we should just go home,” she said.
“No way. We promised her. We’re not letting these assholes ruin our day. They won’t be allowed inside. I’ll get Betty and we’ll hurry in.”
“Finn, it could be more traumatic for her if . . .”
“I’ll handle it,” he insisted.
