I can't believe that Derek left me with this crying ball of fat. He and Chloe took of to go to the movies, leaving me with temperamental and crazy, Tori, and 6 month old Addison. And Addy was cutting teeth. I paced back and forth in the dark living room. At 3AM I was swaying and walking and humming, trying to calm the crying baby, when Tori's voice startled me. She flicked on the light and was leaned against the door frame, her hair a mess and her bathrobe lop-sided.
"What are you doing?" she ask through sleep filled eyes. Even in her pajamas and messy make-up, Tori was gorgeous. Her short black hair stood out everywhere and her bright eyes brightened when she laughed at me.
"Help." I said, trying to sound desperate. Tori giggled and walked over to me, reaching out for Addy. I flopped heavily on the couch and watched in awe as Tori swayed and danced lightly with the fussy baby. And almost instantly she stopped crying and laughed as Tori sang and dipped her. Tori and Addy danced for what seemed like hours, but was only about 30 minutes. Tori's dancing slowed into a soft swaying, as Addy drifted off to sleep. I sighed with relief, in a few hours Derek and Chloe would be back. Tori laid the sleeping baby in her cradle and came to set on the couch by me.
"See, it's not as hard as you think." She whispered, leaning back against my chest. I snorted, for her it wasn't, she's a girl. Girls have a built in baby fixing gene, they could hum and play and comfort a baby better than any man.
"Good thing you were here." I grinned, leaning my face into her hair. She smelled like hot chocolate and lavender. Tori laughed lightly, and began to play with my hand, turning it over and over in her hand.
"Yea, good thing." a underlying emotion crept into her voice. I was startled to the point of jumping, when she twisted around to face me.
"Why am I here?" confusion in her eyes. I thought seriously about why I had called her in the middle of the day and ask her to come over.
"Hmm, I don't really know. I guess I.. I just wanted to see you." I said, surprising her and my self at the longing that was in my tone. Tori and I had had a off on relationship since before Chloe and Derek were married 3 years ago. Right now, we were off, but she had came without hesitation when I called. I took that as a good sign. Tori nodded as if she accepted that answer and snuggled in to my side, within a matter of minutes she was asleep.
Addy began to rustle around 7:30 the next morning. Tori was still dozing on the couch, snoring lightly. I was restless and hadn't slept at all, sitting in front of the fireplace, lost in my thoughts. Addison began to cry, waking Tori and startling me from my daydreams. Tori changed and bathed her and left her with me to get a shower. Baby food will stain a white business shirt. And chopped banana's and carrots do not work well with hair gel. Tori came down the stairs, during the middle of Addy's food tossing and gracefully pulled the jars away from her. I was covered in different types and colors of baby meals, when Derek slung the door open. Addison jumped up and down and clapped her hands as he picked her up. Chloe came in after him and he passed their tiny baby girl to her.
"Momma, Momma, Momma." Addy chanted. Chloe giggled and kissed her forehead.
"Thank you, for watching her, Simon and apparently Tori." Chloe lifted one of her eyebrows at us. Derek smiled and grabbed her diaper bag.
"I'm ready to get home. Thanks, Simon. You too, witch." Derek said, slapping my shoulder and heading out the door. Chloe smiled apologetically and followed him out. I sighed and hugged the fuming Tori. Some things would never change.