Cabin Fever(7)

 

She’s all dreamy again, oblivious to my discomfort. “Yeah, it’s pretty amazing. I was scared to death at first, of course, but after taking care of Cassie every other weekend and getting to know James better, I know it’s a good thing. Karma took good care of me.”

 

I look at the baby, trying to see her features on a man’s face. “So who is Cassie? Is she his daughter?” This is getting juicer by the second. I can’t believe my friend is so cool with taking care of some other woman’s baby like that. Cassie can’t be more than nine months old.

 

“No, she’s his niece.”

 

“Oh.” That makes a lot more sense.

 

“His brother has kind of fallen off the map, so James and his sister Jana take turns with Cassie.”

 

I’m not sure I understood correctly. “Fallen off the map? What does that mean?”

 

Leah’s face loses its sparkle. “It’s a really sad story. Eight, almost nine months ago, Jeremy — that’s James’s brother — was married to this girl named Laura. She was nine months pregnant. One day she went out by herself, and she got hit by a car.”

 

“Oh my god.” My heart seizes up just hearing the story, and I don’t even know these people. Poor Jeremy. I wonder how old he is, if he’s James’s younger or older brother.

 

“Yeah. It was bad. So Cassie was born as her mother died. It was all very tragic. Jeremy adored his wife, and from everything I hear, I guess she was a pretty special person. James and Jana loved her so much.”

 

“That’s so sad.” Tears are welling up in my eyes for complete strangers.

 

“Yeah, it is. And ever since her funeral, Jeremy’s been on a mission to basically drink himself to death.”

 

“Oh, God. Awful.” I’m shaking my head, picturing this man at a bar slumped over and wallowing in pain.

 

“Yes, it’s awful. Worse than awful. James and Jana had to go to court and get guardianship over Cassie. Jeremy never even showed up to the hearing. Now they can’t find him.”

 

“That’s horrible!” My tea has gone cold, but I don’t care. I need to drink it to keep my hands busy. I feel like crawling into bed and crying myself to sleep. And I thought my life sucked…

 

“So, poor little Cassie here has to deal with me playing mom and Jana playing mom and James trying to be a stand-in dad.” She reaches out and takes the baby’s hand, leaning over to kiss the back of it.

 

Looking at Cassie again, I see her in a whole new light. No wonder she’s so serious. Even at less than a year old, she’s aware of her circumstances. I can see it. “What about her real dad? Doesn’t he come visit her at least?”

 

“Nope. Never. Even when he was around, he never mentioned her.”

 

“But why? She’s so beautiful.” I reach out and stroke her little head. Her hair is so soft and silky. She looks at me calmly as she shoves another Cheerio in her mouth.

 

“It’s too painful for him. He told James once that he talks to his wife’s ghost. He’s really messed up.”

 

“And you don’t even know if he’s around?”

 

“Nope. James hired a private investigator and everything. He’s disappeared without a trace.”

 

“Doesn’t he have a job? Or need money to pay for all those drinks?”

 

“No, he doesn’t work anymore. He used to renovate houses with his wife, but he only did that to keep busy with her. All of the Olivers have a ton of money they got from their parents and grandparents. He’s not using his credit cards, though. That much we do know.”

 

“You said James is a surgeon?”

 

“Yeah. He does it to keep busy too.” She refills her tea and sighs. “It’s not that he doesn’t love it, he does. But he doesn’t need to work. He just … does it to keep everyone happy.”

 

“Everyone like who? You?”

 

“Me? Heck no.” She snorts. “As if. Honestly, I think he’s doing it to keep himself from having to deal with Jeremy right now. I try to get him to slow down, but it’s not easy. He doesn’t really know how to relax yet, but we’re working on it.” She sips more of her tea. “I work for him part-time and for a friend part-time in her shop. Otherwise, I hang out, decorate this place, or take care of Cassie.” She shrugs. “I’ve had friends of Jana’s ask me to decorate their places, but so far I’ve said no. I’m too busy with Cassie, and soon I’ll be busy with my own baby, so…”