Page 117 of Hot Tea & Bird Calls

“Dude, really?” Donovan asked. That granted him Byron’s dismissive wave.

Soon after, they filed out of the room, a sad little procession. Celene could tell they wanted to discuss what went down when all she yearned for was a quiet corner to call Skye. To decompress, to listen to the soft voice that could calm her from over a hundred miles away.

Except she hadn’t let Skye comfort her earlier. Celene had blocked her out.

Shanice showed up around then. She rifled through a massive handbag, likely for an overnight stay, despite any hospital policy. When she peered up at them, her face contorted into confusion, then she shook her head. With a sharp point at Celene and Elise, she led them to the far end of the hallway.

She got right into an explanation, devoid of her usual laid-back disposition. Her ponytail was uneven, her cheeks sallow.“My little cousin’s watching Theo for a couple of hours. Family who’d usually babysit Theo are on a cruise.” She flicked mascara-free eyes to either Vale sister. “Byron’s not in a bad place, but I can tell he’s more winded than he’s letting on. His doctor just told me they’ll keep him for a night. Possibly more.”

Celene exchanged a glance with Elise, noting how perplexed her sister appeared. “What do you need?”

“You two.” Twisting the handle of her bag on her shoulder, Shanice clarified, “You’re Theo’s sisters. Please relieve my cousin and watch him tonight. I’d ask Don, but he and Bri have to get the girls ready for day camp tomorrow.”

“Big J and I can do it,” Elise proposed, brightening. “I’m not pregnant, but it’s practice.”

A dash of sympathy flipped Celene’s stomach. Conceiving took more than a few sandy romps on a honeymoon, though Elise hadn’t been ambiguous about the baby thing.

Shanice studied Elise for a moment. Celene predicted the refusal plain on her face before she responded, “No. Celene doesn’t have her partner here. Neither should you. Bond with your baby brother, together.”

Her intentions were transparent; they always had been. Shushing Elise ready to argue, Celene grasped Shanice’s hand. Cold and clammy. “We can handle a night with Theo. Sounds?—”

Sleepless? Stressful? Weird?

“—fun,” Celene finished. Hopefully, her smile wasn’t as turbulent as her nerves.

Shanice awarded them her first smile that evening. Highly symmetrical, much more familiar. “I’ll email you his care routine. Follow it and your night should be uncomplicated.” Much more exuberant with this off her plate, she cupped both Celene and Elise’s faces, depositing a peck to their cheeks. “My dearest stepdaughters.”

They burst into laughter, and this time, Celene joined in. A seven-month-old may keep her up all night, but at least she’d be helping the innocent.

Nadine – 5:05 pm

I wanna pinch Theo’s chubby cheeks. So cute.

Celene – 5:07 pm

Everyone says he looks like Byron.

Nadine – 5:09 pm

Imagine carrying a baby for nine fucking months and it pops out looking like your dad. I’d be sick.

How’s brothersitting with Elise?

It hadn’t started yet.Celene had driven herself to Byron and Shanice’s three-bedroom apartment in Harlem, on a street of gorgeous brownstones and livelier energy than her stressed, traffic-laden drive into the city. Latisha, Shanice’s studious-looking cousin, accompanied Theo napping through her short babysitting stint. She shut her microbiology textbook with a clap, toed into turquoise ASICs, and wished her luck.

Ominous, but Celene thanked her anyway.

Allowing herself a tender moment alone, Celene had sent Nadine pictures of Theo sucking his fingers in his sleep, stomach-up in a mini crib. Hair curlier than when she last saw him, pooched lips, rolly arms and legs, on a mattress patterned with Elmo heads—cuteness overload.

Then she’d read Skye’s messages. They weren’t questions, nor check-ins on Byron.

Skye – 2:14 pm

I’m so sorry I didn’t have the right words today.

Remember I’m here for you.

Even if your family isn’t.