Page 19 of The Cowboy's Baby Dare

Sakina nods firmly. “Yes, three weeks. And I don’t want to hear any arguments from you. You need this, Erin. Trust me.”

I slump back against the pillows, feeling defeated and overwhelmed. Three weeks. What am I going to do for three whole weeks?

Sakina lays a hand on my shoulder, her touch reassuring. “Take some time for yourself. Rest. Recharge. And when you come back, you’ll be ready to tackle anything that comes your way.”

I nod, feeling a knot form in my throat. Sakina leaves the room, and I’m left alone with my thoughts. Three weeks. It feels like an eternity.

What will I do with myself for three weeks?

Go insane. That’s what.

I haven’t taken more than a three-day vacation since high school. Even when I was in college, I was always working and interning all summer long.

There has to be another way. Maybe if I take a long weekend and come back refreshed, it will show Sakina that I’m fit to work. She’ll have to—

A ringing pierces the air, and I look over to see that someone has put my belongings on the bedside table. My phone is going off, its screen lighting up with the word “Mom.”

I hesitate. The last few times she called, I didn’t answer.

And it’s not like I was avoiding her — okay, fine. Maybe I was avoiding her a little bit. I’ve just been in a funk lately, since Dan and I broke up. I’ve been doing best by keeping my nose to the grindstone and not getting distracted by other things.

But now here I am in bed, with nothing to do while Sakina orders the tests that she’s already so sure about.

So I answer the phone.

“Hi, Mom.”

“Erin, darling! How are you doing?” My mother’s voice is chipper and upbeat.

“I’m okay,” I say, trying to keep my voice steady. “I’m just taking a little break.”

“What kind of break?” she asks, and I can hear the suspicion in her voice.

“Just a couple of days off,” I say, trying to make it sound like it’s no big deal. “What’s up with you? What’s new?”

“The house sold!”

“That’s great news.” I lean forward in bed, trying to see through the crack in the door. How long will I need to wait for those tests?

“It is, but we need to be out next month, and packing has just been a headache. With Dad’s back, it’s going pretty slow. I need a personal assistant!” She laughs.

Wait. A personal assistant?

“Mom, I can help you pack,” I blurt out before I have time to rethink the offer.

Her silence can only be of the stunned variety. My visits home are few and sporadic, and only happen when something like a holiday is occurring.

“What about work?” she asks.

“I can take a few weeks off. I was thinking about it anyway.”

No way can I tell her what Sakina said. She would freak.

“Are you sure?” she asks, still sounding hesitant.

“Yeah, I’m sure. It’ll be fun,” I lie.

“That would be wonderful, Erin. Thank you so much.” Her voice is warm and grateful.

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