“Can I go draw in my room?” Maddy asks as we walk into the house.
She’s worn out. Her new school had a lot of people and faces and noise, and I can tell she needs a break. Hell, I do too. Looks like I may have a fellow introvert on my hands.
“Of course you can. Do you want me to come with you?”
She shakes her head, and I see that she means it.
“Call me if you need me, okay? I’m going to make dinner.”
“Okay.” She turns and walks quietly up the stairs. I find myself hoping for a day that she stampedes up them.
Grabbing my phone out of my bag, I turn it on and see Jeremy’s name on the screen. My heart gallops. He’s been in the back of my mind constantly since the other night, and especially since I talked to Jen earlier today. I kind of hope that maybe I’ve been on Jeremy’s too.
Jeremy
How’s it going Ems?
Me
Okay, I think? It’s hard to say. She’s quiet. Like, really quiet. I can tell she sees everything, but she doesn’t say much.
It’s hard for her to be in another new place.
He says it so matter-of-factly, because of course he does. He knows just what it’s like to be in another new home. Another new bed. New people taking care of you.
I know it is. The school visit today went pretty well. I’m trying to give her some space to sort out her feelings but also let her know she can talk to me if she wants. It’s the best I can do.
That’s exactly the right thing to do. You care, Ems, and that’s huge.
Thanks. Now if I could only get her to eat more than two bites of a meal.
She’s not eating?
She is, but not much. I tried mac and cheese last night for dinner, waffles for breakfast, and peanut butter and jelly for lunch, and she didn’t seem to hate it, but she didn’t eat much of it either.
What’s for dinner tonight?
No clue. I was about to figure it out. We just got home.
Does Maddy have any food allergies?
Weird question but no.
Okay, I have an idea. You up for a visitor?
I set down my phone and think about it. After watching how carefully Jeremy helped me set up Maddy’s room, I know he cares about her already and hasn’t even met her yet. The more people she has to care about her while she’s here the better, right?
And as much as I would like to say it’s all about Maddy, it’s about me too. Because the thought of Jeremy here in my spaceagain has my stomach coming alive with nerves and butterflies. I want to see him. Even after a day full of people and noise when I would typically pick up a book and relish in my alone time, I find I quite like the idea of him here too.
Decision made, I pick up my phone and unlock it.
Me
Sure, come on over.
Chapter Fifteen
Jeremy
