“Not the kind I crave.” Dipping down, he pressed a lingering kiss to my lips, and my chest ached. This man could be devastatingly sweet. If he kept it up, I was going to fall stupidly in love with him.
Joey cooed, telling us she was awake in her own cute way. Elliot kissed me again, then disentangled himself to get her. I lay there listening, the ache intensifying as he spoke to her.
“Good morning, little girl. How did you sleep?” Velcro ripped as he opened her swaddle. “Big stretch, Josephine. That means it’s going to be an incredible day.” He picked her up from her bassinet and carried her to the changing pad on the dresser. “I’m sorry to tell you, I’m leaving for a while. Lucky you, you get to hang out with your mommy while I’m on the other side of the world with a guy who shakes like a leaf when I speak to him.”
Joey kicked her legs while he changed her diaper, making gurgling sounds as she watched him.
“I need you to promise me not to change too much while I’m gone, baby girl. If you’re going to have a cool milestone soon, how about waiting until I’m home? That would be very much appreciated.”
All clean and in fresh pajamas, Elliot swooped Joey up, kissing her cheek and forehead. Closing his eyes, he just…held her. She tucked herself under his chin, and he rubbed slow circles on her back, whispering something to her I couldn’t hear.
That was okay. They could have their secrets. After all, I’d been the one to tell him she was the best kind of confidant.
Eventually, he brought her to me, and the three of us huddled together on the bed while I fed her. Elliot stroked her cheek, and she looked up at him with complete trust.
“I have to get going,” he said.
“I know.” I leaned into him, kissing his jaw. “Get dressed. We’ll see you off.”
He hesitated, looking from Joey to me. “I’ve never had a problem traveling.” With a grunt of disgust, he climbed to his feet and stalked out of the room to get ready for his flight.
He wasn’t happy about leaving, and I understood.
At least I could be certain he’d hurry back to me as quickly as he could.
I reread Elliot’s latest email while standing in line at my favorite café. I was here for coffee but had my eye on a donut too. Sweets were necessary to push through my gloomy mood. Elliot had been gone five days and just informed me he needed to extend his trip by a week. I’d already been missing him, and now I had to blink back tears.
Silly me.
Joey and I were having a good time together, and Freddie was a massive help, but I missed Elliot far more than I’d even expected. And I might have been imagining it, but I swore Joey was disappointed every morning when it was my face appearing above her bassinet and not Elliot’s.
He’d been texting me regularly and sending me a good morning email every day, which I printed and added with the others.
From:[email protected]
Catherine,
Daniel’s shaking has mysteriously diminished lately. Could it be the desert air? Or is he no longer afraid of me? If it’s the latter, it has to be due to him walking in on me telling Joey good night. No one can be afraid of a man who tells a baby she’s a good girl for making a big burp.
But it was an extraordinarily good burp. Our girl is advanced for her age.
I hope you’re sleeping, sweetheart. Take care of you for me so you’re in one piece when I get back.
Yours,
Elliot
P.S. Everything extraordinary about Josephine came from you.
Every word made me smile. I tapped out a quick text, though he was probably at dinner with his associates. That was how he spent his evenings when out of town.
Me: Are you implying Joey got her extraordinary burps from me? If you are, I protest. I’m a lady. I have never burped once in my life.
To my surprise, he replied by the time I had ordered my coffee and glazed donut.
Elliot: I would never accuse you of anything like that, sweetheart. Where are you?
I texted him a picture of my coffee cup and pastry. He replied immediately.
Elliot: Do you know how disappointing it is to receive a picture and you’re not in it? Try again. I’m jonesing for your big brown eyes, Catherine.
My stomach flipped. It was amazing he could give me butterflies from the other side of the world, and he had managed to do it every day he’d been gone.
I found a table and snapped a picture of me biting into my donut and sent it to him.
Elliot: Did you hear my groan all the way over there? I’m supposed to be heading to dinner, but if I walk out of my hotel room now, I’ll cause an international incident.