Page 18 of Double Obsession

“I love you, my baby boy,” she said as she drifted off.

****

Jenna awoke with Ethan’s face inches from hers. He poked his stubby finger into her chin. “Mommy, what are you doing in my bed?”

She brushed aside his hair to look into his eyes.

“Mommy,” he grumbled, swatting at her hand.

“Sorry, baby. My bedroom was so hot last night that I couldn’t sleep. Your room was cooler.” Since he wouldn’t understand her maternal instincts and anxiety, she’d leave the explanation at that.

“I’m not a baby,” he declared with his bottom lip protruding.

She pinched his cheek. “You’ll always be my baby.”

When he stuck out his tongue and blew a spitty raspberry into her face, his morning breath about knocked her out. She cringed. God, she was so uncool. Her sister, on the other hand, was the queen of charisma. Channeling Stacie, she stuck out her tongue and tickled Ethan’s belly.

He laughed and skittered out of bed.

“Meet me downstairs for waffles, matey, or you’ll be walkin’ the plank,” Jenna said in her pathetic pirate accent.

He stopped giggling to stomp his foot. “I want pancakes.”

Jenna had eggs, cereal, and frozen waffles. She sighed, got out of bed, and shuffled to the bathroom.

****

As Ethan used his fork to smash his waffles flat and play in them, Lisa watched, eyes wide.

Encouraging Ethan to eat was pointless, so Jenna didn’t say a word. She simply headed to the stairwell and called, “Kylie, breakfast. You’re going to be late for school.” Nagging Kylie was like pissing on a hornet’s nest, but getting to school on time was a battle Jenna had to fight. When there was no answer, she called again. “Kylie!”

Nothing.

Jenna stomped up the stairs, intending to rip the earbuds from Kylie’s ears. Her phone pinged, so grumbling, she retraced her path and retrieved the cell phone from the counter. She checked the caller ID, then pressed the speakerphone. Feigning a chipper voice, she said, “Hi, Berta, how are you?”

Berta’s frustration traveled the cellular waves. “Hi, Jenna. I have bad news.”

Her heart tumbled to her feet as she imagined the book advance burning to ashes. “Give it to me.”

“McMurry wants to meet with you this weekend.”

It was as if a leaded fist slammed into her chest. “In the city?” Jenna closed her eyes and steadied herself against the counter. Perhaps if she couldn’t see, she wouldn’t hear the rest of the bad news. On second thought, if she wasn’t watching Ethan, he’d do something hideous to his little sister. She lifted her lids on an exhale and stared through her children. “Are you guys dropping me?”

“I don’t know. He didn’t say anything else. But he wants you in his office at seven Saturday morning. I’ve promised him the manuscript is on the way. Please tell me it’s almost finished.”

Jenna pressed a hand to her forehead and lied. “Yeah, almost.”

“Can you take the train in on Friday night?” Berta asked.

Jenna groaned. “My dad’s surgery is Friday, and I want to be with him. Plus, Stacie will be taking care of him so she can’t babysit. Could I Zoom or do a conference call?”

The long silence on the other end added to Jenna’s anxiety.

“He wants you and whatever manuscripts you have completed in his office. Can’t their dad watch them?”

Jenna whimpered.

“How is hiring the new nanny going?”