Page 8 of Impossible

“Becca was the skilled one in the kitchen. Remember when you tried to grill us steak and left it on too long, we could barely chew threw it?” I smile as I swirl spaghetti around my fork.

“Hey, you are recalling a memory from thefirsttime I grilled steak. I will have you know I have gotten a lot better since then.”

“If you say so.” I take a bite of the spaghetti which is actually really good. I have to hold back a moan of appreciation. “When do you go back to work?”

He looks bothered at the mention of going back to work. I can see his body tense up.

“I have to go back in ten days.” He looks over at his sleeping Harper. “I’m not ready for it.”

“What are you doing with Harper when you go back?”

“Well, my mom is taking her for three days, and I have yet to figure out the other two. Shirley is not retired yet, so she is out. I know I need to start to look into a part-time nanny, but I’m not thrilled about hiring a stranger to look after her.”

“Hm,” I say as an idea pops into my head. I dismiss it because it seems silly. He would want family or an experienced nanny, not a kindergarten teacher with no infant experience.

“What?” he looks at me.

“Oh, no. It’s nothing.”

“Riley, tell me. Come on, I’ m a detective, remember? I can tell you thought of something.”

“It was silly. I just thought that since I had the summer off, I could take Harper the other two days.”

He sits up taller, looking surprised. “You would do that?”

“Of course, I would. Harper means a lot to me, she always will. But I’m sure you want a professional nanny or something.”

“Are you kidding? I wouldloveit if you could watch her. It would make me feel so much better if I were leaving her with someone I knew, someone I trusted.”

“Wow, okay! I would be happy to do.”

He drops his fork and leans back in his chair. “You have no idea the stress you have just taken away from me.”

“I’m glad I can help you out. It will give Harper a chance to get to know me. I was worried it wouldn’t happen with Becca gone.”

After dinner, we grab our wine and finish watching the Cubs game. Harper starts making noises, making Liam glance at the clock. “It looks like she is ready for another bottle. I should get it made before she really gets going.”

“Mind if I watch? Since I will be having to make her bottles soon.”

“Good idea. Come on, let’s go.”

He leads us to the kitchen, where he proceeds to show me where the bottles are, how to measure the formula, and how to use the bottle warmer. Once it’s ready, Harper has opened her eyes and is starting to cry. Once he settles onto the couch with her, I look at the time and see that it’s already nine. I have school tomorrow, so I need to get home and settle in for the night.

“I’m going to get going. I have to be up early tomorrow.” I lean over his shoulder on the couch and say goodbye to Harper.

“I’ll be in touch this weekend after I talk to my mom about the three days she can take. Will that work?”

“Absolutely. No rush, let me know whenever. Goodnight, you two!”

I walk to the foyer to slip my shoes on and see Becca’s purse still hanging on the dining room chair in the other room. I wonder how Liam does it, how he lives here with evidence of her in every direction. It would be hard to escape my grief if I lived in the memories.

As I walk out, I can’t help but feel excited knowing I will be able to see Harper two days a week. I was worried without Becca around I wouldn’t get to see Harper as much as I would have liked to. I don’t feel comfortable coming over and intruding on Liam’s time. He may be nice about it, but I’m sure he would get annoyed. Now, I have two days a week guaranteed to spend some time getting to know her.

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