Fortunately, Jordy was saved when an elephant came running down the stairs. “My kid is dressed and clean now, which means it’s time to say goodbye, Sully.”
“Bye, Sully,” Sully said, because he loved terrible dad jokes, even if he wouldn’t be a dad for a few weeks yet.
“Bye, Jordy,” Adrianna added. “Have fun with Kaira. And let us know if you do see Rowan again.”
“You know I would,” Jordy admitted. Adrianna was just as much of a sibling figure as Sully. “Bye.”
He hung up and set his phone on the table, just in time to grab the ball of limbs and mismatched patterns climbing into his lap. He had to be quick; Kaira was bony and a little awkward, and she’d kneed him in the crotch more than once. “What are we going to do next, Daddy?”
“Excellent question. What would you like to do today?”
“Excellent question,” Kaira parroted, her expression serious. As she contemplated, Janice wandered in and waved. Even though she had the day off while Kaira and Jordy hung out, she was still dressed and apparently going out today, or so Jordy surmised based on her immaculate wardrobe.
“Good morning.” Janice poured herself a cup of coffee.
“Morning!” Kaira hopped out of Jordy’s lap and rushed to Janice for a hug.
“How are you today?”
“Good! We made pancakes!”
Janice smiled and brushed a hand over Kaira’s head. “Did you, now? Sounds like a great start to the day.”
“It was.”
“And what are you up to today?”
“I don’t know,” Kaira admitted with a frown. “I haven’t decided yet.”
“Well, what are the options?” Janice settled into a seat at the table.
Jordy watched in amusement as Janice and Kaira debated the day’s schedule before Kaira settled on her plan—they would go to the science museum. Janice suggested that Kaira go pack a bag and fetch everything Jordy would need to style her hair for the day.
With the child out of the room, they both took a moment to enjoy their coffee in the quiet.
“Thanks for that.”
“My pleasure,” Janice said with such sincerity that Jordy didn’t doubt it.
“Any plans for your day off?”
Janice rubbed a hand over her face and sighed. “I’ve got to call my mom.” Her smile looked weary, which Jordy hadn’t expected.
“Everything okay?”
“Yeah. She’s been having a rough time of it lately. She still lives in her own home, and the upkeep isn’t easy for her. My sister was helping out, but her husband got a two-year posting a year ago, and managing without Sarah has been harder than she thought.” She sighed. “My daughter has been doing her best to step in, but she and her husband work full-time.”
“I’m sorry,” Jordy said. He could understand the pain of living so far from family. “You’ll let me know if there is anything I can do to help.”
“You’re doing it, dear.” She smiled. “I just needed a sympathetic ear to brace myself for the phone call.”
“Well, if that changes….” He would do almost anything for Janice. “I’m serious. Kaira and I would be lost without you. You are probably the only reason either of us have made it through the past five years.”
“That’s probably true,” Janice joked.
She had arrived like an angel from heaven when Kaira was a week old. She’d taken the screaming newborn from Jordy’s sleep-deprived arms and shooed him off to bed. When he’d woken from his nap, he’d found Kaira asleep in her crib, a load of laundry in the washer and another in the dryer, the dishwasher running, and the garbage taken out. Jordy had nearly cried. He had hugged her and told her to never leave. Janice had laughed and asked which room was hers.
“Definitely true. I’m serious, Janice, anything.”
