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I spent the next morning at the shop packaging the monthly order of bath products for Sally Miller’s B&B, something I could do in the front. Several customers stopped in to browse, among them, LeAnne and Georgia Hanson.
Upon their arrival, Ash rose from her rug in the corner, leapt to the floor and lay down at Georgia’s feet.
“Kitty!” Georgia squealed, clapping her hands. She sat down and ran a hand across Ash’s fur.
LeAnne looked at merchandise until the other customers had left the shop. I folded my arms, curious as to why she’d chosen to come in two days in a row. She wore glasses today, and her eyes were swollen, as if she’d been crying. She looked exhausted.
Georgia jumped up and clung to my leg. “Aunt Bwinn.”
I patted Georgia’s back. “What can I do for you today?” I asked LeAnne.
“Georgia’s really taken to you. Normally, she’s very shy.”
“She knows family when she sees them,” I replied.
“I’m glad you feel that way because I have a huge favor to ask.”
As much as I wanted to build a relationship with LeAnne and Georgia, I needed to clear the way with Jason first. “Whatever it is, I don’t think your husband would approve.”
“I’ll deal with my husband,” she said. “I’m in kind of a bind. I made a last-minute OB appointment. Normally, Jason goes with me, or Georgia, or both, but this came up kind of suddenly. The doctor wants to run a test, and Jason has a meeting this afternoon. He’s still relatively new to this branch office and doesn’t feel comfortable taking off time before the baby comes. I know this is a huge imposition, but is there any chance I can leave Georgia with you for an hour—maybe an hour and a half?”
“What about Jeannine?” I asked.
“No,” Georgia said, shaking her head vigorously.
I laughed and crouched beside Georgia. Ash laid close enough to pet, far enough to bolt if Georgia got grabby. “What do you think, Georgia? Do you want to hang out with Aunt Brynn for a little while?”
“Aunt Bwinn,” she repeated with a big grin.
“Is everything okay with the baby?” I asked LeAnne.
“I’m prone to migraines, and since I’m in my third trimester, the doctor told me to call him if one flared up.”
Which explained her swollen eyes. I was tempted to offer one of my special-order products until I remembered how Nora had helped Kyle’s mother when she was pregnant. I didn’t want to invite unintended consequences, especially with a pregnant woman.
“They want to check for preeclampsia,” she went on. “I’m afraid I can’t manage Georgia and the doctor at the same time today.”
“You’d better give me your contact information, then,” I said.
She breathed a sigh. “Thank you. I’m sorry to impose on you, but I didn’t know what else I could do.”
“Whether Jason likes it or not, we’re family.” This was my chance to prove to him I wouldn’t recreate scenes from Macbeth with his daughter.
We exchanged phone numbers, LeAnne’s, mine, and Jason’s. LeAnne went to her car and brought in a travel bag with snacks and toys for Georgia.
“I don’t expect she’ll give you any trouble,” LeAnne said, “but if you need help, call Jason. I’m sure if he had to, he’d reschedule his afternoon.”
Was I wrong to hope he never found out? But that wouldn’t be wise, either. “We’ll be just fine. Go take care of yourself.”
“Thank you,” she said one more time, and then she left.
“Well, Georgia, it’s you and me. What should we do?”
“Sing songs,” she said.
Did I even remember children’s songs? I asked Siri for help and, minutes later, I was singing along to tunes from Disney movies. Inside Georgia’s travel bag was a blanket, which I spread on the floor. Georgia pulled out sections of track and a wind-up train, and together, we put it together.
“No,” she said after we’d sung a couple of songs together. “Sing song.”
I tilted my head, trying to understand what she wanted, and she started to hum slightly off key. I stopped Siri’s playlist to make out the tune. “Blackbird?” I asked.
Georgia’s dark blue eyes sparkled while she nodded. She wound up the train and set it on the oval track.
She remembered. I’d sung her the song in a dream. Tears welled in my eyes, remembering all the times my mother had sung the song to me. A legacy I could share without repercussions.
Kyle walked in. “Brynn?” He stopped when he spotted us on the floor. “I didn’t see you through the window.”
I got up and brushed off my jeans. “You remember Jason’s daughter, Georgia.”
Georgia got up, tugged on Kyle’s hand and invited him to sit with us.
“I’d love to play with you, Georgia, but I’m still working.” He shot me a glance. “How did this happen?”
“Her mother had to go to the doctor. She asked me for help.”
“And your cousin?”
Georgia pouted. “Daddy mad.” She circled her arms around my legs. “I love Aunt Bwinn.”
I stroked her hair. “I love you, too, honey.”
“Enough to want one of your own?” Kyle asked.
I cocked an eyebrow at him. “Not the time.”
He chuckled. “Just sayin’. You’re a natural.” He glanced around. “Does Daddy know?”
“I’m not sure, but Mommy did tell me to call him if I ran into problems.”
Kyle frowned. “I don’t like this. Not after what happened on Sunday.”
“Baby steps. Maybe LeAnne can wear him down.” At least I hoped she could. I’d need to spend time with Georgia at some point, even if it was years down the road.
“I’ll try to stick close to the business district.” He shook a finger at me. “Call me if he shows up.”
I saluted. “Yes, sir.”
“I’m not kidding, Brynn.”
“I know. We’ll be fine. LeAnne said she’d only be an hour or so.”
“Even still, I’ll be around.” He turned and walked out.
Would LeAnne tell Jason about my babysitting his daughter? I didn’t like being caught in the middle between my cousin and his wife, and yet I wanted to know Georgia, to establish a relationship with her she could draw on later.
Georgia made train sounds and pushed the train despite it traveling under wind-up power. She rocked, clapped her hands and giggled.
The customers who stopped in spared a smile for Georgia while they browsed. Because it wasn’t tourist season, most of them were locals in to pick up a bar of soap or check out Cassandra’s fashions.
We exhausted all the toys in Georgia’s travel bag, including reading a couple of books. Two hours passed quickly and I grew concerned for LeAnne. Doctors often ran late, and OBs might be delayed with unexpected deliveries, but if that was the case, I’d presumed LeAnne would call.
Georgia lay beside Ash on the blanket, stuck her thumb in her mouth and closed her eyes. Nap time, apparently. Ash inched closer and cuddled against Georgia’s back.
Another half hour passed before Jason stormed into the shop. He stopped when he saw his daughter sleeping peacefully in the corner.
“This will not be a regular occurrence,” he whispered.
“How’s LeAnne?”
He didn’t bother to answer. Instead, he gathered Georgia’s things and stuffed them into her travel bag. He scooped her into his arms, jostling her to wakefulness.
She cried and reached for me. “Aunt Bwinn.”
I shushed her and patted her back. “Daddy’s got you.”
“Daddy mad.”
I shot a look at Jason designed to point out his temper didn’t help things. I tried to keep a reassuring tone in my voice. “Daddy loves you.”
She burrowed against his neck. Jason closed his eyes and breathed deep.
“Whatever harm you think I might do,” I said, “make sure you consider how your anger affects her. Children are sensitive to that sort of thing.”
“What do you know about raising children?” he asked.
“Enough to know her father’s anger frightens her.”
“Stay out of it.”
“What are you afraid of, Jason?”
He picked up the travel bag while I folded the blanket Georgia had been resting on.
“Thank you,” he said grudgingly.
“It’s what family does. I hope everything is okay with LeAnne and the baby.”
He opened the door and turned one last time. “I can take care of my family. This won’t happen again.”