“I’m back.”
“Oh, hey. She didn’t want to go in the seat, started crying, so we’ve just been watching the sunset.” My heart clenched.
“You need to cook, right?”
“Yeah, but it won’t take very long.”
I reached out my arms, and to my surprise, Bea started to cry in protest when I tried to take her from him. Patting her back, I said, “I don’t think she wanted to leave you.”
“No. It’s just your imagination.”
“Really? Want to test it?” I held her out toward him again.
Justin cradled her in his arms again, and sure enough, Bea stopped crying. She was looking up at him. It seemed the apple didn’t fall far from the tree.
“My imagination, huh?”
He smiled down at her. “I don’t know why she likes me. I don’t even do anything but hold her.”
“To a baby, that’s everything.”
Suddenly looking a little uncomfortable, he handed her back to me. “You’d better take her.”
Back in my grasp, Bea started to fuss again, so I took her to the living room and fed her while Justin got dinner started.
There was a knock at the door.
“Are you expecting someone?” Justin hollered from the kitchen.
“No. Do you mind getting it? She’s still eating.” I readjusted the blanket over my shoulder for privacy.
I couldn’t see the front door from where I was sitting, but I could hear everything.
“Who are you?”
“I’m Roger. I live next door. You are?”
Shit.
“Justin. This is my house.”
“Oh, that’s right. She mentioned a seasonal roommate.”
“Can I help you?”
“Is Amelia here?”
“Yes, but she’s feeding the baby.”
“I was just down at the dock. I bought her some shellfish.”
“Amelia! Roger is here. He brought you some snatch,” Justin yelled.
Great.
Covering myself as fast as I could, I shouted, “Coming!”
Trying to seem nonchalant, I said, “Hey!”
“Hi, Amelia. Sorry if I’m disturbing something.”
“No, no not at—”
“Actually, we were just about to eat,” Justin interrupted.
Roger looked annoyed. “How long are you staying, Justin?”
“As long as I need to.”
“Amelia told me your girlfriend is a Broadway star, right?”
“Yes.”
“That’s really gnarly.”
“Gnarly? What the fuck are you a surfer or something?” Justin lifted his hands in a shaka sign. “Woe!”
“Roger, don’t mind Justin. That was really sweet of you to bring the crabs. I so appreciate it.”
“Crabs…interesting choice,” Justin scoffed.
“I’d better let you guys eat.”
“We’ll talk soon.” I smiled.
“Take care, Amelia. Nice meeting you, Justin.”
Justin did a little salute. “Roger that!”
When Justin slammed the door behind Roger, I turned to him. “You’re being a total prick.”
“Come on. I was just messing with him.”
“You think it’s funny, but he’s the only friend I have here, and you’re going to scare him away. After you take off to New York again, I’m going to need someone to talk to. It’s very lonely out here.”
“You don’t need that tool. Why would you need him? You live in Providence anyway.”
Biting my lip, I said, “Actually…I was gonna talk to you about something.”
“About what?”
“I might take a year off…from my teaching job. I got kicked out of my apartment because the owner sold the building. I don’t have a place to live in the city anymore, and I’m not sure I’m ready to put Bea in daycare at the end of the summer. I was going to ask you if it was okay if I stay in this house in the off season.”
“This house is yours. Of course, it’s okay. I would never tell you otherwise. You shouldn’t even have to ask.”
“Alright. Well, now that I got that out of the way, I feel better. Thank you.”
“Dinner’s ready. Put her down so you can eat.”
Justin had poured wine for each of us.
“Oh…I can’t drink, Justin.”
“Shit. I wasn’t thinking.”
“Well, they say I can have one drink, but I’ve still been hesitant.”
“That’s fine. It won’t go to waste.”
Justin had made rice casserole. We were halfway through our meal when Bea started crying from her bouncy seat. When I got up to get her, Justin stopped me.
“Finish your food. I’ve got her.”
“He lifted her and brought her over to the table. As always, she quieted in his arms as she stretched her neck to look up at his face. This time, she reached out her little hand and started to play with his scruff.