Time Will Tell

Almost a month has passed by since Grace’s birthday. My baby girl is two years old. It’s too bad I’ve only known her for a few months of it. She’s crawling on my stomach now as I lie in Noah’s bed. She’s giggling and patting my face. I laugh and grab her chin, pulling her to me so I can kiss her forehead. She giggles again and places a slobbery kiss to my nose.

“How’s my baby this morning?” I ask her, grinning. “My baby’s a happy baby, aren’t you, sweetie?”

“Yeah!” she laughs, crawling around on my stomach some more.

“You’re such a pretty baby,” I tell her, tickling her. She has a fit of hysteria and attempts to tickle me back but it doesn’t really work out that way so I pretend to laugh. “Stop,” I say, panting. “I can’t take it anymore.”

I pretend to feint, throwing my head back on the pillows and closing my eyes. I feels her crawl around for a minute until finally I feel her cheek against mine. She sniffs. “Sowy Momma,” she cries.

I open my eyes and grin at my baby, who now has tears running down her cheeks. “Momma’s okay,” I tell her. “I was just playing with my pretty baby.”

She laughs and claps her hands like it’s the most amazing trick in the world and I wipe the tears from her cheeks.

Noah walks in then, with coffee and a Hardee’s bag. I sit up and pull Grace into my lap as I scoot over to make room for him. He sits next to me and hands me a coffee. He looks at Grace.

“What’s wrong?” he asks. “Was she crying?”

“A little,” I say. “She thought she tickled me to death is all, but it’s all better now, right Grace?”

She nods and reaches for my coffee. I pull it away.

“Sorry, baby, but you can’t have this.” I tell her.

She starts crying for real then and I get up out of the bed, handing her over to Noah. “What do I get her?” I ask.

“It doesn’t matter, sweetie -- pudding, cereal, sliced banana, whatever you find first.”

I nod and walk into the kitchen. I feel weird again. It’s been happening every once in a while. I think I might be getting sick. Maybe I should go home. I don’t want to get Noah or Grace sick.

I find a banana on the counter and I peel it quickly before throwing it on a plate and slicing it into little pieces.

I walk back into Noah’s bedroom and hand the little lime green baby plate to Grace. As I’m watching her eat I realize what might be the problem and a shock of panic runs through my body.

Noah holds the back out to me but I don’t notice because I’m trying to think through everything I missed.

“Teag,” Noah finally says, trying to get my attention. “You okay?”

I shake my head. “You know what? I’m not feeling so good. I think I’m going to run to the drug store and get a few things; maybe Ginger ale and some Advil.”

He nods at me. “Alright. Are you coming back?”

I shake my head. “I think I’m going to head home and shower and change but I’ll come back after that, kay?” I ask, kissing him on the cheek.

I run to the bathroom and change into my jeans.

“What about your breakfast?” he asks as I walk by him.

“I’m not hungry anymore. You eat it.”

He nods. “I love you, baby,” he whispers.

I kiss him and Grace on the forehead before hightailing it to the drug store, and then heading straight to Kim’s house.