When Casey rolled over and pulled the blanket to her chin, the unfamiliar quilted texture lured her from her state of semi-consciousness. She surveyed the dark room, recognizing it as Leighton’s loft. Bits of the night came rushing back, and so did the fatigue that had come in like a captor and snatched her away. She hadn’t been sleeping long.
Casey tossed the quilt aside and swung her legs to the floor. Leighton must have removed her shoes because she almost tripped on them. In stockinged feet, she crept down the hallway toward the glow of Leighton’s security monitor. Curiosity piqued her interest, but she’d look at it in a minute. Her priority involved checking on Andy.
The first open door showed a bed with a missing pillow, and its bland walls and decor suggested a guest room. In the next one, a glow emanated from a night light. In a small bed, Andy and Kalyssa slept snuggled beside one another, their limbs sprawled out in all directions.
Andy would be thrilled to see the Frozen comforter with its marshmallow-looking snowman grinning up at him come morning. He wore a simple T-shirt and shorts, something Kalyssa had likely outgrown, and his clothing lay folded atop her dresser. Casey should’ve changed him into something more comfortable before coming to the atelier, but it felt strange taking a child on the train in his pajamas.
He might be wet. Potty training was going well, but kids were prone to accidents when their routines changed. She checked and found he wore a pull-up diaper. Leighton hadn’t donated more than the baby monitor it appeared. Casey smiled and pulled the comforter over them. After a kiss on Andy’s forehead, she tiptoed out.
It wasn’t her business, but she couldn’t help but study the screen showing Leighton’s security feeds. She determined she’d known of all the cameras in the studio and the galleries, and that Leighton’s living space appeared free of electronic eyes. The silence and stillness of the shadows throughout the building gave Casey the creeps, but it would be worse if something were moving.
Truth be told, her nighttime expedition had no reason to continue, but after giving the full bath to her left a cursory look, she stood in the doorway of Leighton’s bedroom, her curiosity getting the best of her.
As her eyes adjusted to the darkness of the large suite, she saw Leighton, who slept facing away from her. Casey looked at the unoccupied half of the bed. In another life, she’d love to slide in beside her. If she moved from the sofa to the bed for a more comfortable sleep, Leighton probably wouldn’t mind, but it didn’t feel right. If she slept in Leighton’s bed, she wanted to be asked.
Casey returned to the couch, downed half the glass of water Leighton had left her, and went back to sleep.
When she awoke hours later, she heard giggling and loud shushing coming from down the hall. She recognized Andy’s exuberant laughter and guessed the not-so-subtle quieting came from Kalyssa. She opened her eyes. Through the window, the rising sun turned the sky into glorious oranges and magentas.
She folded the quilt and went to find them. When she peeked into Kalyssa’s room, Casey found Andy, Kalyssa, and Leighton playing on the floor. Leighton wore a robe, her legs tucked to the side, and looked more elegant than any woman had a right to look at daybreak. They built something with large, colorful bricks. Kalyssa sat cross-legged beside Leighton, and Andy stood on her other side. He struggled to separate a yellow brick from a red one.
“Help.” He handed them to Leighton, then leaned against her shoulder as she used a fingernail to pop them apart.
“Here you go.”
He squatted to exchange the yellow for a green one.
Leighton noticed her. “Good morning. How did you sleep?” Her smile held surprise and something more.
Casey liked whatever it was as she joined them on the floor. “Wonderful. I’m sorry I passed out on you.”
Leighton gave her a soft smile. “I’m glad you did. You needed it.”
Casey touched Andy’s head. “Hi, baby.”
He glanced at her, but his attention remained on the toys.
Leighton stood with ease, and how her robe stayed closed astounded Casey.
“I’m going to make breakfast. Who’d like oatmeal?”
“Me!” Kalyssa’s answer beat Andy’s by a split second.
Leighton looked at Casey and raised an eyebrow.
Casey ran her fingers through her messy hair. “You don’t have to cook for us. We should go.”
This time, both of Leighton’s eyebrows arched, and she gave her a look. “It’s oatmeal, Casey, not a gourmet breakfast.”
She smiled at Leighton’s humor. “Okay, that sounds good. Then we’ll get out of your way.”
Leighton gave her shoulder a soft squeeze as she passed by. “Don’t be ridiculous.”
Forty-five minutes later, after they’d eaten oatmeal with warm apples, blonde raisins, brown sugar, and cinnamon, Casey and Andy rode down the elevator. She hoped it wouldn’t take too long to get home, shower and change, drop him off, and be back for class. They stepped out of the elevator just as Maxine let herself in the front door.
“Oh!” Maxine looked from her to Andy. “You’re here already? I wasn’t expecting anyone this early.”
“Yeah, we’re here early today.” Casey didn’t give any further explanation. “Have a good morning.” She herded Andy out the door so fast, Maxine didn’t have an opportunity to ask more questions.
Andy, with his little legs, struggled to keep up, but Casey didn’t slow until they’d turned the corner. Leighton’s worry about what Maxine would do if a relationship between them came to light echoed in her head. Nothing happened, she told herself. Then she remembered the softness of Leighton’s neck under her fingers and the sweet press of Leighton’s lips to her palm.
* * *
“Good morning, dear.” Aileen kissed Casey on the cheek and took Andy from her. “And how’s my favorite little boy?”
He threw his arms around her neck and buried his face in her bright red hair. Aileen had never kept the fact she colored her locks a secret. Casey had bought her a box of Clairol’s Flaming Desire more than once. She loved to bake, and her sweet nature and plumpness made her hugs twice as comforting.
Casey set Andy’s Minion backpack against the wall.
“We have big plans today.” Aileen addressed Andy. “We’re going to the park to play on the swings.”
Andy lifted his head and grinned a baby-toothed smile.
“I thought you might like that.” She kissed him on his temple. “Has he eaten?”
“He had oatmeal, but you know him.” Casey chuckled. “He’ll eat again if you offer.”
“Do you want to help me make pancakes? You can stir everything in the bowl.”
At her suggestion, Andy squirmed, and she set him down. He pulled at the sleeves of his jacket.
Aileen touched a finger to her lip and smiled. “I’ll take that as a yes.”
“Give me a kiss good-bye first.” Casey caught him and helped remove his coat.
“Bye-bye.” He met her lips with a wet kiss.
Casey planted another one on his forehead before letting him go. “Be good. I love you, little man.” She tousled his hair as he took off toward the kitchen. “Thanks, Aileen.”
“Have fun today, dear.” Aileen hugged her, then held her at arm’s length. “Are you getting enough sleep?” She thumbed Casey’s cheek below her eye.
Casey nodded. “I’ve been putting in some extra hours painting, but yes.” She didn’t mention where she’d slept, and Andy was young enough to have moved on to more exciting things like pancakes. If he mentioned oatmeal, she hoped he wouldn’t mention who’d made it for him. Casey didn’t need troublesome questions with complicated answers from anyone else. She had plenty of her own.