The baby lifted his head away from her chest for a second, smiling up at her and warming her heart all over again. Then just as quickly, he dove back into snuggling up against her chest with a giggle.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen him be so silly.”
“He must’ve had a good little nap,” Danica offered as she kissed the top of his head. When she glanced up at Felicia again, she was shaking her head. “He’d only just fallen asleep a few minutes before I headed back to the house.” Felicia eyed him then looked up at Danica again. “It’s why I groaned when the damn TV woke him because I thought for sure he’d be fussier than ever.” “Looks like he’s good now.” Still eyeing Danica, Felicia glanced down at the baby who looked so at peace now snuggled up in Danica’s arms. “I’ve seen him do that with Orlando, but he’s never snuggled up to me like that.”
Her eyes were back on Danica’s, and it was clear as day Felicia wasn’t crazy about this. It panicked Danica. From the moment Felicia introduced herself to her impromptu interview, Danica could tell Felicia was feeling her out. Danica couldn’t say she really blamed the girl. She’d heard enough stories about relationships being torn apart when the father of a baby had an affair with the babysitter or nanny. Danica’s first impression of Orlando had been that of a tatted-up god. So, she understood how any girlfriend of his would have to have the confidence of a goddess herself to not feel insecure about his spending any time alone with another girl. Thankfully, before Danica could even try to come up with something to counter whatever might be going through the girl’s head, Felicia started toward the dining room table. “Anyway, reason I turned on the TV in the first place is so you’d have something to do while he slept because I have to get to work now that you’re here. Everything you need for now is in that diaper bag.” She motioned to the bag on the table behind the sofa. “There’s a bottle already made for him in the fridge.” She turned and eyed Danica once again. “Orlando should be here shortly.”
Danica should’ve been feeling beyond relieved and even more excited about having Oreo all to herself. Instead, a feeling of dread began to sweep over her, especially now that she’d gotten a taste of what it was like to have him back in her arms. After everything falling so into place, her worst nightmare now would be Felicia possibly bringing a halt to this arrangement if she felt threatened in any way. She assured her she’d be fine no matter how long Orlando was gone. “He doesn’t even have to be here really.” She wanted that part to be clear.
“That’s what I thought.” Felicia lifted a brow as she pulled on a windbreaker.
“Only reason he will today is because he wanted a few pointers, I guess.” Felicia picked up her purse from the dining room table, eyeing her as Danica went on, “Said there’s a few things he’s been struggling with. But after that it’ll be just me and the baby.”
Felicia nodded as Danica tried lifting the baby away from her to adjust him, but he clung to her as if she might be trying to put him down. Felicia’s eyes were instantly on him as he wrapped his little arm around Danica’s neck. She looked up at Danica again, staring at her for a nerve-wracking moment. “Orlando sure will be pleased to see how quickly he’s taken to you. He’s been so worried about finding the right person to watch him. I guess he’s found her.” As exciting as Felicia’s words were to hear, they weren’t spoken with the same enthusiasm as Danica took them in. Clearly, Felicia wasn’t as pleased about this as she said Orlando would be.
Danica would have to be diligent about making sure Felicia never felt threatened by her. “I, uh . . . I have a way with babies, I guess,” Danica offered, glad that like with Ted, despite still fumbling a bit, lying to Felicia came much easier than it had with Orlando. “It comes from experience I have working with children. You and Orlando will get a hang of it with time.” Danica’s phone ringing distracted them as they turned to her purse where it was in. It gave her an idea, one she hoped would give Felicia some added assurance that Danica was not there to try and steal her man, as if she had so much as chance of landing a man like Orlando. “That must be my boyfriend.” She started toward her purse, hopeful the ease in which she lied to Felicia continued. “Anytime I get a new client and I’m going over to their place for the first time, he asks me to check in.” She turned to Felicia, smiling nervously. “H-he worries like that.”
The expression on Felicia’s face did ease up and she even smiled. “Go ahead and answer.” She dug in her own purse for something. The number on the screen of Danica’s phone was a toll-free number she didn’t recognize. When she answered, she was glad to hear the automated recording, and tried to sound as real as possible as it went on with a pitch about health insurance. Curiously, she didn’t feel nearly as rotten about lying to Felicia, but her beginning to stammer there for a second was a reminder of how not good she was at it. So, she took a deep breath and prayed she sounded as convincing as she was going to try to sound. “Hey, babe,” she said a little too high-pitched, so she brought it down a notch. “Sorry I hadn’t checked in. But I’m here and everything’s good. I’ll give you a call when I head out.” Danica paused, smiling again as Felicia watched her. “Okay, I love you too. Bye.” She shrugged, hoping Felicia hadn’t picked up on her shaky voice, then dropped the phone back into her purse.
“How long have you two been together?”
“About a year.”
The unease Danica had thought she’d picked up on from Felicia seemed to morph into relief. She appeared pleased and intrigued by this change in subject. “Any plans on marriage?”
Nodding, Danica kissed the baby on the head as he nuzzled into her chest. This wasn’t a total lie, just a no longer a valid truth. So, she went on, glad she wouldn’t have to completely improvise here. “We’ve discussed it. He anticipates getting promoted this year and wants to get all that squared away before he asks for the time off. But it’ll likely be a few years still.”
“How exciting though. You want a big wedding?” Smiling big now, Felicia even looked anxious for the answer to this. Once again, Danica was glad for the used-to-be-true stories she could use when she needed them. Ted had really begun to discuss their wedding plans when, not if, they got married just months after they’d started dating. So again, she at least didn’t have to worry about getting these lies mixed up since most of it had been the truth at one point. “Neither one of us wants a big wedding, but we definitely want a long exotic honeymoon.”
“Ooh,” Felicia said, all smiles now. “Exotic sounds exciting.”
Danica nodded, glad for Felicia’s noticeable change in disposition. Looking and sounding much more at ease with this newfound information, Felicia started to the door, excusing herself because she had to get to work. “It was very nice to meet you, Felicia,” Danica said as sweetly and as genuinely as she could. “Have a nice day at work.”
“Thank you, you too.” Felicia turned back to Danica as she reached the front door. “Bye, little guy.” She waved her fingers at the baby, but he only snuggled up closer under Danica’s neck.
Danica started to the door after Felicia walked out and watched as she got in her car. She stood at the door until Felicia drove away. As soon as she was out of sight, Danica smothered the baby with kisses and danced around with him in Orlando’s large foyer. “My sweetheart,” she said between kisses and nibbles of his little ears. “My Baby O. My little Oreo. Oh, how I missed you.” She spun around, making him giggle in the process as she allowed for the tears to flow now that she could. “I love you. I love you. I love you. Never again. Never again will I leave your side.” She tried not to get too emotional because she knew that last statement wasn’t exactly true. She’d be leaving him again today. But she meant leave his life. She’d die before she let that happen again. Only it scared the hell out of her now. There was so much that could go wrong. Her little Oreo reached up and touched her face again, and she leaned her cheek against his little hand as the tears continued to pour out. She had to snap out of it. Orlando would be home soon, and she
couldn’t let anything ruin this. Lifting Oreo up above her, she smiled, despite the tears in her eyes as he giggled. “That’s not gonna happen, is it? No, it isn’t.” She smiled even bigger as he giggled and cooed looking down at her. “Never, ever, ever. I won’t let it happen. I promise you.” Bringing him back down to her chest, she continued to snuggle him as she walked through the house, composing herself before she blew it. Orlando’s house was beyond impressive, and she was glad to see that, despite the beautiful nursery he’d set up for the baby—completely decked out in with bedding and accessories from the Disney movie Cars of course—he had a second crib set up in the master bedroom.
The nursery was just a few steps away from the master bedroom, but apparently Orlando wanted him even closer. She didn’t think it was possible for her heart to swell any further, but it did. The warm and fuzzy feelings continued even after her little Oreo’s initial loving reaction to seeing her again began to wear off as what Felicia had suggested happened. His nap hadn’t been long enough, and he started to get cranky.
The utter bliss of having the baby finally in her arms again was having a contradicting effect on her mindset about this. She’d begun to consider the possibility of coming clean sooner than later about everything. From the little she knew about Orlando, he already seemed like a sweet enough guy. He might be understanding, and she could stop losing sleep over him finding out the truth another way. Now she couldn’t decide what the bigger risk was. Telling him the truth and risk him not understanding and getting banned from Oreo’s life forever or not telling him and risk this blowing up in her face—and getting banned from Oreo’s life forever. Shaking off her worries for now because the baby was getting fussier by the minute, Danica was quick to pull the bottle from the fridge and warm it. She sat in the nursery’s rocking chair, feeding him as she too began to feel a little drowsy. Between worrying and being so excited about being with the baby again, she hadn’t gotten much sleep the last several nights. When he was done with his bottle, she burped him then changed him before attempting to put him down in his crib. Except the moment she tried to, he protested immediately, holding his hands up for her, and began to whimper.
“Baby, that’s not how this works,” she whispered, patting him gently on the side of his tush. “You’ve been fed and changed. I’m not Felicia. I’m doing this right.”
No sooner had she said the words than she was already giving in and picking him up. It was her first day back. Bootcamp could start tomorrow. Or next week for that matter. The moment he was back in her arms, he settled down snuggling into her and resting his head on her shoulder with a sigh. She walked to Orlando’s room, wondering if maybe he was just used to that crib and not the one in the nursery. But after trying to put him down in that one and getting the same reaction, he was back in her arms. Orlando’s bed was so big and inviting she couldn’t help being drawn to it, especially after yawning a few times. It gave her an idea. This was totally against what she’d normally do but, given that it was the first day of their reunion, she’d bend the rules just this one time. She put him down on the bed, and just like in the crib, he began to pout, so she lay next to him. He was instantly acquiesced as he snuggled up next to her. Danica lay sideways, luluing him as his tired little eyes began to droop. She kissed his little head again and again as her fingers massaged his still near bald head. Her own eyelids felt heavy with slumber, and as the baby fell asleep contently, she allowed herself to close her eyes just one time.
“He’s perfect, Angie,” Danica held him out for Angie to see. “He had his one-month checkup. He’s already gained two pounds, and his heart murmur is almost gone. You did good, girl.”
She wouldn’t even turn to look at them. “I can’t. I just can’t, Dani. Oh, my God I can’t believe I’m so pathetic.”
“You’re not,” Danica assured her for the millionth time. “It’s not your fault your hormones are crazy. The doctor keeps saying it. This is very common. So many women suffer what you’re going through, but they get through it. So will you.”
She still wouldn’t turn to look at them. Just kept facing the wall as she hugged her pillow. “Good night, Mama,” Danica said, holding Oreo a bit higher. “You’re loved, Angie,” Danica whispered. “And you’ll be just fine. In the meantime, Oreo will be taken care of. I’ll make sure of it.” Unlike most days because she was trying to get him on a routine this early, tonight Danica’s heart hurt too much, and she needed to feel his heart against hers. So instead of wrapping him up tightly and putting him in his bassinet, she brought him to her room and let him sleep in her bed with her. The smell of him, his little nighttime murmurs, and feeling his warm little body against her were absolute bliss.
Chapter 11
Orlando
Slamming his hand on the steering wheel, Orlando could kick himself in his own nuts now for not having run a background check on Dani. What the hell had he been thinking? When Felicia called to tell him she’d just left the house and told him about how well the baby had taken to Dani so quickly, he’d been beyond relieved. Felicia sounded almost annoyed at how easy it’d been for Dani to calm him. He’d been certain he hit it out of the park with Dani. As soon as he’d gotten off the phone with Felicia, he’d shot Dani a text to tell her so and to explain he might be a little longer than he’d first thought. Almost two hours later he’d yet to hear back from her. She never responded to his texts, and he’d been calling her even before Byron had been released from jail. He’d called and texted several more times since, and once again as he drove, her phone went to voicemail. As a new babysitter, wouldn’t she know it’d be important to return the parent’s calls ASAP? She’d been so damn professional. Why the fuck wasn’t she answering or returning any of his calls? He must’ve called about ten times now. Orlando was trying not to panic, but the more time passed, and he wasn’t able to get ahold of her, the more he thought of how stupid he’d sound if God forbid, he’d have to call the cops or something. Nope, I didn’t run a background check. If we hadn’t hired her at the shop, I wouldn’t even know where she lives.
His stomach had started to knot up, as he sat in the parking lot of the county jail and each girl about Dani’s age walked out of the women’s side with their walking papers. It was a reminder of when he’d been in and out of trouble and how all of the girls he’d hung with could get into equally as much trouble as him, despite them not all looking or acting like thugs. Most of the women he’d seen walk out of the facility did look like obvious losers, but there had been a handful that looked as seemingly innocent as Dani did. That coupled with the fact that she wasn’t responding, and it dawned on him that he’d left his son in the hands of a practical stranger. Sure, he had her info from the employment papers she’d filled out for the shop, but that didn’t mean anything. He still knew so little about her, and he’d left the most precious thing in his life in her hands. Now he felt ready to lose his shit. Hitting speed dial, he called Felicia this time. She answered on the second ring, sounding all cheery. “Hey, there.”
“Hey, did Dani mention having to go anywhere today?”
Felicia was quiet but then responded. “No, she didn’t. Why?”
“I can’t get ahold of her. I texted her after I got off the phone with you earlier, and she never responded, and she’s not answering her phone. She didn’t mention anything at all?”
He heard her sigh as if she was trying to remember. “The only thing we talked about was her experience with kids and her going to school. Oh, her fiancé called her just before I left.”
For a moment, Orlando was pulled out of his worried thoughts, stunned by this. Fiancé? When did that happen? “He did? Do you know for what?”
“She said he asked her to check in. That he always does when she has a new client and she’s going over for the first time. I guess he was worried because she hadn’t. She was all cutsie with him, with her I love yous before she hung up. But that was it. I heard her apologize for not checking in and then assure him she was okay and that
she’d call him when she was done.”
Shaking off the irrational unpleasantness this brought on, Orlando went back to worrying instead. More so because now he could rule out the other thing he’d begun to think: that maybe she’d forgotten her phone at home.
With nothing more to offer, he was off the phone with Felicia quick enough. He needed to try Dani again, and once again she didn’t answer. “Maybe her phone’s off,” he said, trying to talk himself down as he zoomed around car after car on the freeway. “Maybe her battery died, and she didn’t bring a charger, or maybe she’s so busy with the baby she’s just lost track of time.” He shook his head, banging the steering wheel. “If that’s the case, this isn’t gonna work. I can’t have some irresponsible kid watching my baby.”
Ever since he’d begun to get annoyed at her lack of response to his texts or calls, he decided maybe she wasn’t ready for this kind of responsibility. She might sound like she knew her stuff, but she wasn’t actually licensed yet. He now knew after going over her application for employment at the shop that she was young. Too young. Just turned twenty-three! “What the fuck was I thinking?” He growled as he pulled off on his exit. Speeding through his neighborhood with his stomach completely balled up, he continued to reason with himself. There had to be a good explanation for this. “That’s it,” he said as his head went back to holding her yesterday. “Maybe she had to leave because of whatever it is she’s been dealing with. Maybe like yesterday at the shop something came up and Dani had run off again.”
It’d make sense that, in her haste and with the added out-of-the-norm responsibility of having to put the baby in and out of a car seat, she might forget her phone in the car, right? The slight relief of that possibility was fleeting when he skidded around the corner onto his street and spotted her car in his driveway.
Orlando: Boyle Heights #4 Page 11