Chapter 9: Maybe I Do Like Her

THEO

“I can’t believe you’re here!” Etta squealed as she answered her front door.

“I had a few days before I had to leave, so I thought I would come here.”

Reece appeared, holding Noah in his arms. “Hey, man,” he greeted me.

“That can’t be my nephew. He looks so old already.”

“Well, he is seven months old now,” Etta said.

“And where is Carrie?”

“You know I hate that nickname,” Etta replied.

My sister really hated the name Carrie. Reece and Etta called her Caroline, and it was a mouthful.

“She’s taking a nap. She wasn’t feeling well this morning,” Etta said.

I shook my head. “So, this isn’t just a random visit. I was also hoping to talk to Reece about a legal issue.”

“What did you do, Theodore!” Etta exclaimed.

I rolled my eyes at the use of my full name.

“I did nothing, Etta. It’s for a friend. It’s a custody and dependency issue.”

“Do you want to talk now or later?” Reece asked.

“Whatever is convenient for you.”

“Let’s get it out of the way, then,” Reece said.

“Can I be nosy?” Etta asked.

“Sure.”

Reece led us to the kitchen table and asked if I wanted anything to drink. I asked for a beer.

“So, what’s the issue?” Reece asked.

“I’m on assignment, and this assignment required me to pretend I was married and scope out some honeymoon destinations. Well, for this to be believable, I needed a partner, so my boss assigned this to me and Nadia.”

“Did you get married?” Reece asked.

“No, I’m still as single as can be. Anyway, Nadia is raising her eleven-year-old brother because both their fathers are not in the picture and their mother is an alcoholic.”

“Her brother, Nathan, also has an illness that requires medication and treatment, but since he isn’t a legal dependent, she can’t add him to her insurance, and she can’t afford a lawyer to fight to have her mom’s parental rights ended.”

“Hmm, this is tricky, and because it’s in another state, they may have laws I’m not familiar with. She may petition a judge, but let me do some research and get back to you,” Reece said.

“Did she ask you to help?” Etta asked.

“No, she told me about her situation. We got into an argument about her not wanting to travel, and I felt like a jerk.”

“Oh my gosh, you like her.”

“What? No. She drives me crazy, she is sassy, bossy, and does things the hard way. It’s annoying.”

Reece leaned back in his chair laughing, while Etta had her hands clasped in front of her, smiling at me.

“Tell me more about her.”

I let out a sigh.

“Can I get another beer first?”

“Sure,” Reece said. He got up and got two beers, one for me and one for himself.

“Are you not going to drink?” I asked my sister.

She gave me a big smile and looked at Reece.

“I can’t. I’m pregnant.”

I choked on my beer, not expecting her to say that.

“But Noah isn’t even a year old.”

“It was an accident, but a happy accident. Apparently, you can get pregnant even if you are breastfeeding.”

“Congrats! I’m happy for you guys. I’m sorry for going on about me, this is exciting news, but I don’t envy you. Three kids under five—you are going to be busy.”

“It is, but I wouldn’t have it any other way,” Reece said.

***

I had known Reece almost his entire life. He was Wren’s best friend, and while at first we were all protective of Etta and threatened him not to date her, he had been great for her and took care of her.

She had been given the short end of the stick with guys, and she needed Reece.

“Can I have my nephew?”

Etta handed me Noah, and a wave of sadness and guilt came over me.

I missed out on cuddling him like I did when Carrie was born. I sat him in my lap and took a selfie with him.

I looked at the picture, and he was smiling and drooling. I loaded it in a text message and sent it to Nadia as proof that I visited my family.

Nadia

Adorable! Is that really your nephew? He’s way too cute to be related to you.

I let out a deep laugh and showed Etta the text.

“I think something is happening,” she sang.

Maybe I did like Nadia, but I wasn’t confessing that to my sister.

***

“You got a second, Theo?” Reece asked.

“I do.” I put Carrie on the floor and told her to go play in her room, and she did exactly what I told her after I promised we could play later.

“What’s up?”

“I did some research about parental termination in the state Nadia lives in. If her brother hadn’t had contact with their mom in at least six months, she could petition the court to terminate parental rights,” Reece said.

“There are fees associated with this, and she would need to request guardianship so he could stay with her while she legally adopted him,” he continued.

“That’s it?”

“It doesn’t sound like a lot, but the process could take a while. She wouldn’t need a lawyer, but I’d recommend having one. I’d be willing to offer her advice in an informal capacity,” Reece said.

“Thank you, Reece. I mean it.”

“Since Etta isn’t around, can I ask you something?” he asked.

“I guess.”

“Is there something going on?” Reece asked.

“I don’t know. I was attracted to her. At first, I was annoyed by her, but then I met her brother and spent a week with her, and I found myself warming up to her.”

“I even found myself wanting to hold her hand and include her in things, like I did yesterday by sending her that picture of Noah and me.”

“Go for it. Don’t miss out because you’re afraid of commitment,” Reece said.

“I’m not afraid of commitment.”

Reece raised an eyebrow at me.

“Fine, I felt trapped when I was in a relationship.”

“Maybe it would be different with her,” Reece said.

I shrugged my shoulders.

“How did you know Odette was the one?” I asked.

“My life made sense when she came back. All I wanted to do was protect her and be with her,” Reece said.

~Hmm. Maybe I should test the waters a bit. I need to find out how Nadia feels, though.~