“Okay,” she says as Mom pulls out of the drive.
“Let’s go, Romeo. We have paperwork to fill out at the station,” Maddox says as he heads towards the squad car. Only a few more hours left of this shift and I can head over to Erin’s and check on her which I’m actually looking forward to. I want to see her and take care of her. I want to be there for her.
*****
Wednesday brings my day to hang out with Bean. Maddox was called in to work to fill in for a sick officer, so I volunteered to watch my niece. It’s hard to believe she’s going to be four in just a couple of months.
After Avery drops her off with tons of dolls and toys, we set out to play in my living room. Even though I’m wearing a little plastic tiara and holding a little baby doll wrapped in a pink blanket, I wouldn’t trade these moments with her for anything. Since Maddox and Avery got together, I actually watch her less than before since Maddox has her on our days off.
For lunch, we decide to head out and grab some take-out. My mind wanders to Erin who is back to work today after having the last day and a half off following the mugging incident. I decide to send her a quick text to see if I can grab her lunch while I’m out.
Hungry? Bean and I are grabbing food. We can bring you some.
It takes her a few minutes to reply. No thanks. I brought a sandwich.
Well, shit. I was hoping to grab a chance to swing by and see her. I guess I’ll have to be a little more creative.
OK. Have a good one.
Thanks. You too.
She’s definitely not getting rid of me that easy. After Brooklyn and I hit the local fast food restaurant for lunch, I decide that maybe a trip to the library is in order. “Hey, Bean. Wanna go to the library?”
“Yay! Da wibwawy!”
I find the closest empty parking spot in the lot, grab my niece, and head into the library. The heavy door slams shut behind us as we walk towards the front counter. I can see an older lady over in a seating area reading. Otherwise, the place looks deserted. Where’s my favorite librarian?
When I approach the counter, Bean walking next to me, I see Erin sitting at the desk in the office. I clear my throat as I rest my elbows on the counter and give her one of my signature killer smiles. The one that makes panties drop. I know this for a fact. This smile works wonders.
“I thought I told you not to come back unless you were checking out books,” she says as she looks up over her cute dark rimmed glasses. Erin mentioned at dinner that she doesn’t normally wear glasses anymore since she had corrective vision surgery a few years back, so I’m assuming those are readers.
Instead of responding to her comment, I reach down and pick up Bean, setting her down on the counter.
“Oh,” she says as she quickly gets up and walks around the desk towards the counter. “I didn’t realize you had a guest with you. Hi, Brooklyn.”
“Hi! I want to get books, pwease!”
Erin smiles down at Brooklyn’s sweet face. “You want to get some books? You got it! Come on, let’s go.” I set Brooklyn down on the floor as Erin comes around the counter to join us. Erin holds out her hand for Brooklyn who takes it with no reservation. The sight of Erin and my niece walking towards the children’s section makes me chest tight. My heart feels like it’s slamming into my ribcage. It’s the damnedest sight, but it doesn’t scare me like it would have any other time. Any other woman. Erin walking with my niece, holding her hand, just seems right. It fits.
When they reach the children’s section, Erin starts talking to Bean about what kind of books she likes. “Pwincess!”
“Well, you are in luck, little lady. I have a huge selection of princess books right over here.” She guides Bean to a section on a short bookcase and starts to pull them off the shelf.
“Dis one!” she exclaims as she waves a book in front of Erin’s face.
“‘A Princess Like Me’. Oh this one’s a good one and it’s a pop-up book. Come here,” Erin says as she walks towards a large, worn overstuffed chair. Erin sits down and places Bean on her lap. She flips open the book and starts to read.
My mouth goes dry and my lungs struggle to pull oxygen into them. I can’t help but stare at the sight of them reading a book together. Brooklyn is snuggled into Erin’s lap, listening intently as she reads the story. Erin uses different voices for each of the characters and has such a smooth, calming delivery. She’s a natural, and I can see how much she loves her job in the way she reads to my niece.
One book turns into two which turns into six. Brooklyn’s eyes are closed and have been for the past several pages, but I don’t interrupt Erin because I love listening to the sound of her voice.