She tickled his toes, grabbed another pair, and started again. She brushed her teeth and caught her hair in a ponytail and pulled it through a baseball cap.
She smeared sunscreen on and turned to Mani. The little Houdini had the socks off again. She scooped them up and this time added a little pair of soft shoes. They didn’t last very long either, but it was slightly better than the socks alone.
Kalia picked up Mani and grabbed a jacket and hat for him. She packed a few toys and a thin blanket in the diaper bag, just in case, and pulled the stroller out of the garage. She strapped Mani in, adjusted the bonnet to keep the sun off, handed him his favorite rattle, and noticed he was wearing only one shoe.
The neighborhood was quiet except for the occasional birdsong. Kalia pushed the stroller along the sidewalk and waved to Mrs. Penny, who was out watering her flowers.
The trees lining the street were small and still supported with rubber ties fastened to an adjacent pole. Someone had chosen a lovely mix of red and sugar maples that in a few years would provide shade and color to the street.
It wasn’t hard to tell which houses had young children, with the basketball hoops and riding toys in the driveway and chalk drawings on the nearby sidewalk. She admired bright yellow chrysanthemums and spiky purple asters along front walkways in carefully tended yards and the English gardens with pale roses still blooming. Some houses had flowerpots filled with tall grasses that swayed in the light breeze, and others had window boxes filled with hardy geraniums.
Kalia chatted to Mani naming the colors and flowers and knelt beside the stroller with him to watch a wooly bear caterpillar crawl past.
They turned onto a paved pathway that wound its way to a park. The park had an open space for playing ball, a swing set, and a climber with a mini-slide and a large plastic tic-tac-toe game.
Kalia lifted Mani out of his stroller, teasing him about the shoes he had managed to kick off during the walk, and lowered him into a swing. Mani babbled and grinned when Kalia set the swing in motion and clapped and squealed every time the swing went high. Kalia laughed as she watched him toe off a sock. “Your toes are going to get cold, little one. Good thing it’s a warm day today.”
A soccer ball bumped Kalia’s leg and rolled under Mani’s swing.
“Sorry about that.”
Kalia turned at the deep voice. She recognized the man. When they’d arrived at the park, he’d been kicking the ball with two little boys in a lively game of soccer. His bright red T-shirt blended with the tattoos covering his left arm, and tight jeans covered skinny legs. A gold chain winked in the sun. He had the look of a wind-blown pirate.
“My nephew’s kick is getting more powerful but unfortunately less accurate,” he said. His gaze swept down, lingered on her breasts, and then moved back up to catch her eye.
Kalia blinked and turned back to Mani, wishing she’d worn a jacket. “No problem.”
The man stretched out a leg, under the moving swing, to reach for the ball. Kalia gasped when the swing swung back and clipped his shoulder.
“Shit.” The stranger jumped back and rubbed his arm.
Kalia caught the swing and held it still.
“Thanks.” He rolled the ball out with his foot and kicked it toward the boys. “Say, do you live around here?” He moved closer, standing only a breath away, inside Kalia’s personal space. She took a step back, but he moved forward with her. “I live downtown, and there’s a park with a garden and benches, but not much space for kids to kick a ball and run around. This is great. My sister’s kids love to come here, but she doesn’t like them to come alone.”
Can’t imagine why not, Kalia thought wryly. Perhaps because men they hardly knew talked to them. Kalia couldn’t decide if he was friendly or creepy.
“Do you come here often?” the man asked.
“Occasionally,” Kalia said vaguely, reaching to push the swing for Mani.
He held out his hand. “My name’s Jerry, by the way.”
Kalia put her hand in his and was startled when he grasped it firmly and caressed the back of her hand with his thumb.
“I’m …” Before she had a chance to say her name, a gust of wind kicked up, pushing her back and swirling a mist of sand dust toward Jerry’s face.
“Uncle Jerry, we need help with the ball,” one of the boys shouted from the field.
Jerry stepped back and swiped a hand over his eyes. “Sorry about that. I should go.”
“Of course,” Kalia said, relieved, as he jogged toward his nephews.
Kalia looked at Mani, who was happily swinging without any socks. The wind gust seemed to have missed him completely.
She looked up. “Alex, you really have to learn to trust me,” she muttered. “But thank you. That was helpful.” Sometimes having a guardian angel was handy.
Chapter 17
Kalia kissed Mani’s forehead and laid him in his crib. It was mid-afternoon and, like clockwork, Mani’s eyes were drooping. He was almost asleep by the time she tucked him in. She quietly closed the bedroom door and debated whether to grab a nap herself or get a bit of work done. Maybe a quick look at her emails, and then she’d see how she felt. The phone rang and she answered it before the noise woke Mani.
“Kalia. It’s Janine from the hospital.”
“Hi, Janine. How are you?”
“Slightly frazzled, but my day got better when you answered the phone. We have a patient who arrived by ambulance with abdominal pain. Unfortunately, he speaks German. Dr. Hayes would like to talk to him about surgery, but because it’s complicated, she was wondering if you could come and translate for us. I know you’ve got Mani at home, and I hate to call, but we’re really stuck.”
Kalia hesitated.
“Please? With a cherry on top,” Janine pleaded.
“I’m not sure what to do with Mani. He just went down for a nap.”
“Bring him in. We’d love to see him, and I’ll watch him for you. He’s as cute as a button. Bring him.”
Kalia’s mind raced with the options. She could wake Mani up and take him, but that sounded like a recipe for an irritable baby. And all the germs at the hospital. She shuddered. She could call her mom, but it would be close to an hour before she could get there.
“We have chocolate,” Janine bribed.
Kalia snorted. “How soon do you need me?” she asked, calculating.
“Fifteen minutes ago.”
Hmmm. She wondered if Teresa was home next door. She’d look after Mani for a short time. Kalia glanced out the window and saw Mack carry his guitar out onto his deck. Would he babysit? She hated to impose, but it would be the least disruptive for Mani, and she’d be able to help out.
“Okay,” Kalia said reluctantly. “I’ll try to find someone to mind Mani for me. If not, I’ll bring him with me. As long as you’re sure it would be all right?”
“Absolutely. Thanks so much, Kalia. I really appreciate it. The patient is still in the emergency department.”
“See you shortly.” Kalia hung up the phone.
She picked up the baby monitor and wondered how hard it would be to sweet talk Mack into babysitting for her. She wasn’t sure how comfortable he’d be looking after a baby, although he always seemed pretty relaxed. And he had his guitar-playing to fall back on if Mani needed soothing, she thought ruefully.
She headed out the back door, stepped off her patio, and walked over to Mack’s deck.
As she approached, Mack stopped strumming and looked up. “Hi, Kalia.”
“Hi, Mack. Sorry to interrupt.”
“No worries. What’s up?”
“I was wondering if I could ask you a favor?” Kalia bit her lip.
Mack set his guitar aside. “Ask away.”
“The hospital called. They have a German-speaking patient who came in with a serious illness, and they’re asking if I could translate for him. They need someone urgently, and I’d like to go help out, but I’d rather not take Mani with me.”
“Of course. I
can watch him.”
“Really? You wouldn’t mind?”
He shook his head. “Doesn’t seem that tough. You put him on the ground with a bunch of toys, right?”
Kalia laughed. It was that simple. “Pretty much,” she said. “He’s actually down for a nap right now and usually sleeps for an hour, so I’m hoping he won’t even wake up while I’m gone.”
Mack nodded. “Even easier.”
“This is the baby monitor.” She handed over the walkie-talkie-type gadget. “He’ll start to talk when he wakes up. You can stay outside if you want. The range includes the backyard.”
“Great. I’ll sit on your deck and listen for him. Don’t worry. He’ll be fine.”
“Thanks, Mack. I really appreciate it.”
Mack picked up his guitar and walked with Kalia to her patio.
“If he wakes up hungry, there’s a bottle for him in the fridge. You could warm it up in some hot water. His favorite toy is his bunny, and he usually likes to cuddle it when he first wakes up. If you take him outside, please put a hat on him and keep him in the shade. He doesn’t really like to wear socks–” Kalia wrung her hands.
“Kalia,” Mack interrupted, laughing at her. “Relax.” He put his hands on her shoulders. “It’s an hour. We’ll be fine.” He grinned.
Kalia sighed. “Sorry.” She grimaced, straightening her shoulders and trying to relax. “I haven’t left him before. What if …?” Her shoulders sagged. “Maybe I shouldn’t go. Maybe …”
Mack shook his head. “Go. Help the patient. He’ll be very grateful. I can handle this, and if I have any questions, I’ll text you.” He gently shoved Kalia inside.
“I’ll keep my phone on. Any questions, just call or text. It’s not a problem,” she said over her shoulder as she stepped inside the house. “I won’t be long.”
Mack was still grinning when heard her car peel out of the driveway. He settled himself in the patio chair and picked up his guitar, adjusting the volume of the walkie-talkie so he would hear Mani when he woke.
Half an hour later, Mack stopped playing when he heard Mani’s voice through the baby monitor. He left his guitar on a chair and started to go in, but stopped when he heard his music playing. Startled, he looked around, wondering where it was coming from. As he listened he realized it was his new song, coming from the monitor in Mani’s room. Grinning, he went inside to check it out.
He opened the door to Mani’s room a crack and poked his head in. Mani was lying contentedly, listening to music coming from a music box attached to the side of the crib. A mobile of colored animals spun above him. When the music stopped a minute later, Mani reached out a little foot and kicked a sliding giraffe on the side of the box, which started the music playing and the animals spinning again.
Mack chuckled as he went in. “Great set-up. Everything within reach.” He smiled at Mani.
Mani gave a big grin, babbled, and held out his hands. Mack leaned in and lifted Mani out of the crib as the music stopped.
“Hi to you, too,” Mack said as he plucked a well-worn bunny off the mattress and handed it to Mani. “I hear you like to have the bunny with you when you wake up.”
Mani took the bunny and hugged it, and he leaned his head into Mack’s shoulder. Mack hugged him close and made his way downstairs. “What now, big guy? You hungry? I hear there’s a bottle with your name on it in the fridge. Should we try that?”
Mack went into the kitchen and set Mani down in the infant seat sitting on the floor. “Let me warm it up for you.”
Mani puckered his face and wiggled and squirmed and then arched his back and slid out of the seat. Mack went to reach for him, but Mani was fast. He rolled and moved and, grabbing his bunny by the ear, crawled over to the fridge and waited.
Mack looked at him. “You’ve done that before,” he said with a laugh. He opened the fridge door and eyed the only bottle on the shelf. “This must be the one.”
Mani bounced and smiled and babbled away. He reached up for the bottle.
“Do you want it warmed up?” Mack asked, setting the bottle in a glass of warm water.
Mani whimpered and held out his hands.
“Okay. Okay, but it’s still cold,” Mack warned. He plucked the bottle out of the glass and picked up Mani and carried him to the sofa across from the kitchen island. He sat down and cradled Mani. Mani put his hands around the bottle and, bringing it to his mouth, started sucking vigorously. Big blue eyes never left Mack’s face.
Mack chuckled. “Take your time, dude. I’m not going to fight you for it.”
Mani finished the bottle, and with one last chew on the nipple pulled the bottle away. Mack caught it as Mani let go.
“Good work with that. I hope you’re full ’cause that’s all we’ve got ’til your mom gets home.”
He lifted Mani up and patted his back. Mani belched.
“Well done, man. You make me proud.” Mack grinned. “So what now?” Mack looked around at the toys scattered on the floor in the corner. “Want to play with the toys?”
Mani grinned and bounced.
Mack set Mani down and watched as Mani crawled across the room, dragging his bunny with him. Mack set the bottle on the kitchen counter and walked over to join Mani. He sat down on the floor and sniffed. “Oh man. Is that you?” Mack sniffed again and frowned. “That is nasty.”
He checked his watch. Kalia had been gone for forty-five minutes. Only fifteen minutes until she was home. It could wait. He hadn’t signed on for diaper duty. Hard to ignore that stink, though. Man, that was foul. He needed air. Fresh air.
“Hey, big guy. How about heading outside? You like to play outside?” Mack asked as he scooped Mani up. He held him loosely and carried him outside.
“There we go. Much better,” he said, setting Mani down on the grass.
Mani grinned up at him and motored over to the flowerbed. He stuck his hand in the dirt.
“Play all you want in the dirt, but don’t eat it, big guy. I promised your mom I’d keep you out of trouble.”
Mack dropped down beside Mani. Making himself comfortable, he watched Mani dig in the dirt. Mani grinned and cooed and kept up a running stream of noises. Mack assumed that meant he was happy.
Mack moved a worm out of Mani’s reach and looked up to see two kids race across the yard. They stopped abruptly in front of Mani and licked the Popsicles they held.
“Hi.” A little boy with a messy mop of brown hair, wearing a well-worn Mickey Mouse shirt and blue jeans, grinned from ear to ear. The Popsicle melted down his hand. He bent and patted Mani’s head.
Mani looked up, grinning and pumping his arms and legs.
“Hi,” said Mack.
“Who are you?”
Mack looked at the little girl who asked the question. She was a little neater than the boy and looked back at Mack with suspicious eyes. Her hair was caught in two pigtails, and she was more successful in keeping the melting Popsicle from dripping on her pink dress. “I’m Mack.”
“I’m Annie, and this is my brother, Joey. We live there,” she said, and pointed to the house on the other side of Kalia’s.
“I’m pleased to meet you,” Mack said, trying not to grin. “I live there,” he said and pointed to his house.
“Oh. Where’s Mani’s mom?” Annie asked.
“She had to go to work for a bit, so I’m watching Mani for her.”
“Oh. When she’s outside with Mani, she lets us come over and play with him.”
Mack nodded. “It looks like he’s happy to see you.”
Joey finished his Popsicle and scooped the dirt with the stick. Mani watched and reached for the stick.
“I’m going to babysit him when I’m older,” Annie said. “Where’s his hat?”
Oh, shit. The hat. “I forgot to grab it on our way out.”
“I can go get it for you.”
“That’s okay. It’s pretty shady here. I think he’ll be fine for a few minutes.”
“I don’t know. His mom li
kes his hat.”
“He stinks,” Joey piped up, looking up at Mack.
“Really? I didn’t notice,” Mack lied.
“Yup. He has a poopy diaper,” Joey said, holding his nose.
Mack grimaced.
“You have to change his diaper. I could do it. Kalia showed me,” Annie told him.
Tempting. Very tempting. But Mack couldn’t imagine how a pint-sized kid would hold onto Mani’s squirming body. And he’d probably have to supervise. “Oh well, Kalia told me she wanted to do that so we’re just waiting for her to come home,” he said, tongue-in-cheek.
“Oh.”
Joey went back to making roads in the dirt, and Annie sat down beside Mack. “I started school in September.”
“Yeah? Do you like it?”
“Yup. I’m in kindergarten. But my mom says I should’ve been in grade one because I’m precious,” Annie said proudly.
Mack hid a grin. Precious? Or precocious? “Wow. I hear kindergarten is pretty fun, so maybe you shouldn’t skip it.”
“I like crafts.”
“Yeah? I think they do crafts in kindergarten.”
Annie nodded. “I like glue and pink glitter best. My mom says that school is the perfect place for glue and glitter. So I have to wait and do it there. Or outside. Sometimes she lets me do it outside. When it’s not windy,” she qualified. “My mom says it makes a mess,” she whispered.
Mack nodded solemnly. “The best things are often messy.”
Kalia arrived home and was surprised to find it quiet. She tossed her keys on a side table and jogged upstairs. Mani’s bedroom door was open, the room was empty, and Bunny was gone. Where were Mack and Mani?
She headed to the family room and kitchen and saw the empty bottle on the counter. She grinned. Wherever they were, Mani had a full tummy. Chances were Mack had taken Mani over to his place. She turned toward the back door and saw them in the backyard through the window.
Mack sat comfortably on the grass near the garden chatting with Annie and absently intercepting Mani when he put something toward his mouth. Joey had his head close to Mani’s, gesturing to him, as they played side-by-side, digging and scooping the dirt.
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