Twenty-Two （B）: Harlow

TWENTY-TWO (B)

HARLOW

Later that evening

“ M ama called the doctor, and the doctor said, No more monkeys jumping on the bed!” I sang.

William giggled against my shoulder while Charlotte snored in my lap.

“Let’s try a softer story.” I reached under the books and grabbed the folded sheet I’d placed there weeks ago.“ My Daddy is a Big Mean Bastard by Anonymous.”

I cleared my throat. “Once upon a time, there was a big mean bastard who believed he controlled all of Manhattan. That man was my daddy.”

“He walked around with his big ole’ watch , and acted like he was in charge of all the clocks .”

“He huffed and puffed until he got his way, but he had a stick up his ass, so he couldn’t walk straight.”

“Wait a minute.” I paused. “Do you think I can rhyme ‘way’ with ‘straight’ for this story? Is that okay?”

William answered by shutting his eyes.

“Okay, I’ll work on it and read you my next draft tomorrow.”

I moved him and Charlotte onto their fluffy floor mats. Then I turned on some soft rain sounds and leaned against the wall.

I tried to shut my eyes, but I heard soft footsteps in the hallway.

Olivia? “Is that you, Olivia?” I asked.

“Yeah.” She stepped into the nursery. “It’s me.”

“Something wrong?”

“I have a question.”

“Okay.” I sat up. “I’m listening.”

“Can you read with me next?”

“Yeah, of course.” I patted the spot next to me, and she brought a copy of Harry Potter .

“You don’t have to act out the voices like you do with the twins.” She looked sheepish. “I mean, unless you want to.”

“I want to.”I took the book.

“I’m not sure if I like you yet, Miss Hawthorne,” she said, leaning against my shoulder, “but I’ve decided that you don’t suck ass anymore.”

I held back a laugh and flipped to chapter one. “Thank you very much, Olivia.”