This Time For Keeps. Jenna Mills

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СКАЧАТЬ burrowed closer, sweet fists closing tight around the flesh of Meg’s arms. “Mama-mama…” With the babbling, she nuzzled toward Meg’s chest. “Babababa…”

      Meg’s throat tightened. “Bottle,” she murmured, grabbing at the towel that kept sliding toward her waist. “You’ve been such a good girl,” she said, heading for the kitchen. “Staying in your bed all night.”

      About half the time, she ended up cuddled next to Meg.

      “You must be hungry,” she continued in a soft, singsong voice. “Let’s get you some formula.”

      Charlotte pulled back and gazed at Meg with a longing that threatened to break her heart all over again.

      It wasn’t so long ago that Meg had been quite sure there was nothing left to break.

      “I know, sweet girl,” she whispered. “I know. I miss her, too.” Closing her eyes, she let the memories form, the tears and laughter, the smiles…the promises.

      There’d been a lot of those.

      “Let’s get you that bottle,” she said, easing Charlotte to the floor. Sweeping had become part of her nightly routine. “Here are your pots,” she added, scooting the nesting toy closer. “We’ll cook together.”

      The eleven-month-old plopped down in front of the dishwasher, her tight little pajamas reminding Meg of a pink floral baby sausage. In fire-resistant fabric—the considerations of parenthood were a whole new world.

      But it was a world she’d desperately wanted.

      As the baby banged the plastic pots together, Meg turned on the water and got the coffee going, measured out formula and poured Cheerios for both of them.

      She was opening the fridge when her cell phone rang. Twisting back toward the table, she grabbed the phone and flipped it open. “I’m up, I’m up,” she said by way of greeting.

      Julia’s calls had become an everyday ritual.

      “Good,” her cousin, the self-appointed alarm clock, said. “That’s a start.”

      Cradling the phone between her ear and shoulder, Meg reached for the milk—and lost her towel. “Oh, crap.”

      Julia laughed. “You were saying?”

      “I—” Forgot. Somehow in her rush to soothe and feed Charlotte, she’d completely forgotten that she’d yet to get dressed. “My hair is wet.”

      “Usually happens when you take a shower,” Julia said. “The key is to dry it before you come to work.”

      Lately, that didn’t always happen.

      “Or wash it at night,” her cousin went on as Meg rifled through a basket of laundry for clean underwear. “That’s what I started doing after Austin.” Mother of an almost teenager, Julia ran her family like a drill sergeant. If there was a problem, Julia had a solution. She could hold down a job at the paper, she could cook, she could clean, she could keep her son in line, and still have time for a pedicure.

      Meg hadn’t quite gotten there yet.

      “I know, I know.” She struggled into her panties and fastened her bra. “It’s just…” There’d been so many changes in such a short period of time. And nowhere near enough sleep. “I’ll try.”

      Julia didn’t miss a beat. “And you’ll do great. But until then, I’m guessing you need me to cover for you.”

      Meg blinked. Cover for her?

      “The meeting?” Julia went on, reading Meg’s mind, as always. Only four days separated them in age. Most of their friends referred to them as twins born to different mothers. It was only natural that they worked together at the Gazette. “You know…breakfast? Henry? Veronica?”

      Meg’s lawyer—and her accountant. Of course. To discuss the Gazette’s finances—and how long they could continue operating at a loss. Meg herself had scheduled the meeting. Breakfast had been the only time available. The rest of the day was consumed by an editorial meeting then an all-afternoon planning meeting for the Wildflower Festival. It was less than a week away and the silent auction benefiting the March of Dimes was still up in the air. Plus she and Charlotte had a photo shoot scheduled.

      “I’ll be there,” she said, tearing at the dry cleaning draped over a chair. The office was only a few miles away. “Give me twenty—”

      “Meg.”

      She shoved the tangled mess of wet hair back from her face. All she needed was a comb—

      “Stop it.”

      She stilled, her hands fisted against the linen of her favorite black blouse, not because of her cousin’s words. But because of the gentleness in her voice. The quiet understanding.

      “Don’t,” she whispered.

      “It’s going to be okay,” Julia said quietly. “I promise.”

      Meg squeezed her eyes shut.

      “You can do this.”

      She swallowed. “I know.”

      “We’re here for you…all of us. You’re not alone.”

      The smile was automatic. She had the greatest friends in the world. “I know,” she said again, and this time her voice was a little stronger.

      “I just…” Julia let out a rough breath. “I don’t understand. Did his parents call again?”

      Briskly, Meg stepped into her favorite cargo pants. “Yesterday.”

      “Did you call them back—”

      “No.”

      “Meg, you can’t—”

      “No,” she said again, this time firmer. She’d only spoken to Russell’s family once in almost two years. She had neither the time nor the interest to cater to them now. They’d had more than enough chances. “There’s no reason to.”

      “There’s every reason to. You can’t ignore them and hope they’ll go away. She’s their granddaughter. They have a right—”

      The thud of wood against wood, followed by shrieking, stole the rest of Julia’s words. Meg swung toward the kitchen—no longer saw the baby.

      “I have to go!” She dropped the phone and ran toward the wails, found Charlotte on the floor of the dining room—underneath one of the big antique chairs.

      “Char!” Meg was by the baby’s side in a heartbeat, on her knees and yanking the heavy chair away, scooping Charlotte into her arms. “Are you okay—” The nasty red welt on the side of her forehead told Meg what she needed to know.

      She’d forgotten. In her rush to get breakfast and get dressed for the meeting she’d spaced, she’d forgotten about Charlotte. She’d set her down on the floor to play, completely overlooking СКАЧАТЬ