Page 100 of Nanny for the Doctor

We’ve been developing a unique shake, and I hold up his hand so that we can practice and he doesn’t have to look.

“High five.”

I smack his palm.

“Fist bump.”

I tap his knuckles.

“Laser.”

I touch the tip of his pointer finger with mine as we make finger guns.

“And shark fin.”

I hook my thumb around his as we point our fingers up in a flat shape to look like a fin.

“Good night, Henry. I love you.”

“Night, Dad. Love you, too.”

As I close the door behind me, I look at all the photos of Henry as a baby, wrapped in Clara’s arms and mine. The images of him painting with her at the kitchen table. Newer photos from school where he refused to smile and instead made a face or stuck his tongue out.

“We made a pretty fantastic kid, Clara. I’m sorry I forgot about that.”

I step to the edge of the stairs where there’s a photo from last weekend that Mae just put up. The three of us are at the arcade holding our mighty horde of tickets after Mae cleaned up in Skee-Ball.

“Thank you for sending her to me. I know you had to have a hand in it. You always knew what this family needed. And this time, it was her.”

I start down the stairs with a smile, ready to enjoy a movie with Mae.

Chapter35

Mae

I startle a bit as Reed comes down the stairs, and he laughs. I sit up, grabbing the remote, before pulling the blanket over me.

“So, what aboutAddams Family Values? We just watched the first one the other night.”

Reed is quickly at my side, standing above me as he kisses my head. “Sounds great. Would you like a seltzer?”

“Oh yes, please. It’s not wine, but it’ll do. Plus, it helps with the stomach stuff.”

“Is it still bad?” He furrows his brow.

“No. But I never know how long it’ll last.”

Reed laughs and pads over to the kitchen to retrieve my most-prized beverage as of late. It hits the spot, settling any of the leftover queasiness, and the movie is just what I want.

When it’s finished, and we’ve thoroughly discussed whatnotto name the baby, Reed flicks off the TV and takes my glass of water from me.

I glower playfully at him. “Hey, mister. I was drinking that.”

“I’ll grab it in a second. Right now—” Reed bends, scooping me up in his arms, and I wrap my legs around his waist “—I have other plans for you. If you’re up for it, of course.”

All at once, any lingering tiredness is washed away. All I can think of is having Reed’s hands ease away the aches and tenderness of my body and replacing it with pleasure.

“I am most certainly up for it.” I rub myself against him. “As are you.”

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