Page 78 of My Sweetest Obsession
Her eyes move across the room now, taking in all the minute details, and she slowly walks over and slides her hand across the glass vase holding the sand, her palm settling on Drew’s name.
I don’t have to tell her where it came from.
She knows.
Just like I knew I needed to do this for her. For him. And for their daughter.
Because Ivy hasn’t done anything to get ready for the baby.
She hasn’t been able to bring herself to even begin to look for anything for this room, let alone spend the time putting together furniture and decorating.
And I can’t say I blame her for that.
These are the things she should be doing with Drew.
It should be a joyful time filled with looking forward to all the new firsts and the future ahead of them, but she doesn’t have that. At least, not in the same way she would have if Drew were still here.
She’s facing it with the cloud of what she lost darkening her joy, impeding her ability to tackle all the projects that need to happen before she gives birth.
So even if she hates it, I had to try.
To do something.
Like I need to now as this heavy silence fills the space between us.
I motion toward the air purifier in the corner. “That should take care of the remaining paint smell in the next day or two, but I made sure to use a kind that is safe to be around.”
She nods, her hand still plastered over her mouth, then she makes her way to the crib, trailing her fingers along the wooden rail and staring down at the bedding Mom helped me pick out.
“My mom said the sea theme would be perfect.”
Ivy’s gaze lifts to mine, and she drops her hand, her lips parted slightly. “Your mom knew you were doing this?”
I nod.
Her dark eyebrows fly up. “Did Marlo?”
Despite my best efforts, I can’t fight the twitch of my lips. “It was a concerted effort to get you out of town for a few days.”
Those tear-soaked eyes widen even more. “That little liar.”
I shake my head. “Please don’t be mad at her. When I told her what I wanted to do and how much time I would need, she assured me she would figure out a way to get you out of here long enough for me to complete it. And to make sure you had a good time.” Though, that part Marlo seemed less confident about, considering the almost zombie-like state Ivy has seemed to exist in for the last couple of months. “How was New York?”
She rests her hands on the crib rail and stares at the mobile dangling above it with smiling crabs, lobsters, fish, sharks, and seahorses turning over where the baby will sleep. “It was good. I think getting away from here for a while was actually exactly what I needed.”
What she needed?
The way she said those words is enough to make me suddenly dread the answer to my next question. “For what?”
Her eyes slowly lift to meet mine. “To get some perspective.”
My chest tightens at the intensity of her gaze, and I lean back against the wall, fighting the urge to go to her and pull her into my arms. To plead my case when she finally admits we shouldn’t be doing what we have been. When she ends the only reason I get to see her, get to touch her, get to spend any time with her, even if it hurts.
I watch her, waiting for her to expand, but she doesn’t say anything else, just wanders over to the rocking chair and sits in it, resting her hands on her belly.
She pushes off with her feet and glides back and forth, a small smile spreading on her lips.
“Do you like it?”
