“I love that.”
“Me too. And who knows? Maybe one day we can have a baby of our own.”
Melanie snuggled even closer to Cameron. “Mmm, I’d love that.”
The conversation came back to Cameron as she stood at the nursery window looking at Rob and Janet’s baby. Since the nursery had been off limits to anyone but staff for years, she didn’t worry about running into any of Rob’s family. She didn’t know why she’d decided to visit the baby. Maybe it was her curiosity that was getting the best of her.
Or maybe it was because the idea of having a baby with Melanie had rekindled her baby fever.
Cameron had thought she was done having kids after Dylan. She’d wanted two kids and she was more than happy with the two she had been blessed with. Jonah and Dylan were the best things that had ever happened to her and she would spend forever being thankful she was their mom.
But Cameron also knew how badly Melanie wanted a baby. Helping Cameron and Vera with their kids wasn’t the same as having her own. Cameron knew that. What she didn’t know was how she’d be able to help Melanie in that department. Not only was Cameron now fifty, but Melanie was only five years behind her. Pregnancies at their ages weren’t easy or even safe in some situations.
Oh, my god, Cam. Chill out. You and Mel aren’t even living together yet. Don’t start worrying about a baby.
Shaking the thought from her head, Cameron looked at the baby in the bassinet once more. He was sleeping peacefullyalong with the two other infants in nearby bassinets. Although most people preferred to keep their babies in their rooms at all times, Cameron completely understood the need for a break from a newborn postpartum.
“Excuse me, ma’am, but I believe you’re on the wrong floor.”
“Ha ha,” Cameron sarcastically laughed at Vera as she approached her. Like Cameron, she was wearing a dress under her white coat. Since she wasn’t in scrubs, Cameron could assume she was working in the office and not the hospital for the day. “What are you doing over here looking all fancy?”
“I left my laptop in my office last night.”
“Silly woman.”
“What areyoudoing on my floor? Mel’s not working today.”
“I came to see the baby.” She nodded toward the baby with the tagSullivanon the bassinet. “He’s cute.”
“All babies are cute.”
“No, they’re not,” Cameron chuckled.
“Be nice.” Playfully bumping their shoulders together, Vera laughed. “How’s Mel?”
“She’s okay. We talked some more last night and played some games with the kids so I think she’s okay. She will be okay. This just blindsided her.”
“I know. I hate it. I hate Rob for not telling her. She deserved that from him at least.”
“Mel deserved a lot more from him than that,” Cameron sighed, leaning her shoulder onto the cool glass of the nursery window. “Is it bad that I thought about swapping their baby with another?”
“Cameron,” Vera playfully scolded. “You shouldn’t even joke about that.”
“I know, I know.” She sighed again, feeling more like her dramatic pre-teen daughter than herself. “I didn’t swap thebaby, and I didn’t confront Rob, so really I’m winning today with self-control.”
“I’m proud of you.”
“Thank you.”
The two friends talked for a few more minutes about work and kids and Melanie before they went back to their offices. Cameron had an afternoon booked full of appointments, but at least she had a fun evening waiting for her. Both Jonah and Dylan had after-school activities and then were going over to friends’ houses so Cameron had planned an evening alone with Melanie.
Except it wasn’t anything overly romantic. She knew Melanie needed a break to let loose and have fun. So that’s exactly what Cameron had planned. Cameron had kept the details vague but told Melanie to be waiting at five-thirty for her to pick her up. Before Cameron left work, she changed into yoga pants and an oversized tee with tennis shoes before heading out to her SUV.
As she arrived at the house, she was excited to see Melanie waiting for her on the front porch. She had on yoga pants and a tee shirt, just like Cameron, which made her laugh as she stepped out of the car. Melanie instantly laughed when she saw they were dressed the same.
“God, have we really been together so long that we’re already dressing alike?” Melanie wrapped her arms around Cameron’s neck.
“Apparently.”
