“So, what? You wait until she’s cranky before putting her down?” There’s no judgment in my tone. I’m just trying to understand Peony’s schedule…and possible triggers for her meltdowns.
Another shrug of Athena’s narrow shoulders. “Pretty much.”
“What time’s her bedtime?”
“Whenever she gets tired.”
That sounds…not right. “So she doesn’t have a regular bedtime either?”
“No,” Athena snaps, startling me. “She doesn’t.”
I stop walking and gently grab her arm, forcing her to look at me. The glare she hurls my way is hot enough to scorch me to the ground.
I drop my hand away from her. “I’m not judging you or Kenda.” Even if it might sound like I am. “But Kenda isn’t here, and maybe it wouldn’t hurt to put Peony on some sort of routine. For her benefit.”
Athena’s scowl doesn’t soften. If anything, it deepens. “What kind of routine?”
“She eats and sleeps on a regular schedule. Maybe you can take her to the playground at a set time too, so she knows she can look forward to that each day and knows what to expect.”
Peony squirms in Athena’s arms, her attention on something behind Athena. “Doggie.” She points to the small white dog. Her face is glowing, an adorable toothy grin spreading across it.
I step onto the road, giving the older woman and her dog room to get past.
The woman stops and beams at Peony. “Well, aren’t you as cute as a fluffy baby duckling?”
“Doggie.”
The dog peers up at us, its tail wagging at supersonic speed.
“You can stroke her if you’d like.” The woman splits a knowing look between Athena and me. “Lucy’s good with young kids. I have a granddaughter your daughter’s age, and Lucy is always happy when the little girl fusses over her.”
I glance at Athena. She knows a helluva lot more about Peony and little kids in general than I do—other than the part about kids needing a routine. Maybe she won’t think it’s a good idea.
“Would you like to pet the dog?” she asks Peony.
Peony nods, her head moving faster than Lucy’s tail.
“Sit, Lucy,” the woman says, delight smoothing the edges of the command. “The little girl is going to stroke you.”
Lucy drops her ass on the sidewalk, her tail still wagging at highspeed. I don’t know who’s more excited about Peony getting to pet the dog—Peony or Lucy.
Athena demonstrates how to stroke Lucy. Peony squats next to the dog and lets Athena guide her hand over the dog’s curly hair.
“Looks like your mommy and daddy need to get you a puppy.” The woman winks at me, and I try not to groan. A dog is not what I need. Especially not now. Not when I have a rapidly approaching deadline, a book that is a long way from being completed, and a toddler I’m learning to navigate my life around.
Adding a dog to my chaotic life will be the iceberg that sunk Titanic.
I smile at the woman, hoping Peony didn’t understand her and get ideas of her own. Her stuffed panda is more our speed. Besides, she’ll have plenty of time to hang out with Jasper and Butterscotch once I introduce her to my brothers.
I check the time on my phone. “Time to go to the playground, Peony.”To meet your grandparents.“Say goodbye to Lucy.”
“Bye-bye.” She waves to the dog and raises her hands above her head, gesturing for Athena to pick her up.
Mom and Dad are already at the playground when we arrive. They’re on a bench, watching a boy who looks to be about three years old climb up the slide ladder. A little girl is waiting at the bottom of the ladder for her turn.
They are the only kids here. Two sets of parents are standing off to the side, talking and keeping an eye on their kids.
I recognize the parents. Both sets live on my street, and I’ve said hi to them plenty of times. They know I’m single—or I assume they know I’m single. It’s not like my relationship status has come up in conversation.
