CC had just pulled her navy v-necked sweater over her head when she heard sounds coming from the nursery. She smoothed her hair down as best she could against the static electricity in the room, and went next door. Sure enough, Grace was awake and standing in her crib, and when CC entered the room, the smile that lit the baby's face brought out an answering one on her own.
Grace lifted her hands off the railing of her bed, and CC tucked her blanket around her shoulders before picking her up. "It's cold in here, huh? Let's go downstairs where it's warmer," she said, and noticed one little white sock still in the crib and one chilly little foot resting on her hip. Grace clung to her neck as CC leaned back over the bed to scoop up the sock. Then, as Grace relaxed against her, CC headed out of the room to check the furnace setting.
Downstairs, CC first sat briefly on the sofa so she could slip Grace's sock back on her foot, then carried the girl with her as she wandered around looking for the thermostat. Finally she found it in the hallway near the kitchen. She nudged the setting higher and sighed in relief as she heard the tell-tale whir of the heater coming on. "It should warm up soon, now," she told Grace, feeling self-conscious chattering to the quiet little girl.
Grace leaned her head back so she could look at CC and said, "Me eat."
CC bit her lip. She hadn't the slightest idea what a child this size was allowed to eat. "What are you hungry for?"
"Cookie!" Grace exclaimed, and CC shrugged. She knew where to find those. Pushing open the swinging door, she walked quickly to the correct cabinet and pulled out a box of cookies. She showed it to Grace, who reached for it.
"Would you like some milk?" CC asked her, keeping her from taking the package in her hand. She placed it on the counter.
Grace said "Milk, milk, milk," nodding with her whole body, it seemed to CC.
"Okay, let me get us both some milk, and I'll put you in your highchair, okay?" She finagled the squirming, protesting girl into the chair, and put a cookie on the tray, then pulled two glasses from the cupboard before getting a carton of milk from the refrigerator.
As she brought the full glasses over, Grace reached for one, kicking her legs. CC put the glass down in front of the baby, then sat in a chair beside her and took a cookie for herself.
Grace lowered her head to the glass, putting most of her face into the milk as she wrapped her pudgy hands around the cool surface.
"Need some help with that?" CC asked, but before she could take the glass, Grace had tipped it over. The tray of the highchair caught most of the liquid, and CC grabbed a towel off the counter to wipe up the rest.
The little girl giggled and splashed her hands in the milk in front of her, and CC grimaced, wringing the towel out and soaking up some more of the mess.
"You're a lot of trouble, did you know that?" She asked the baby, and lifted her out of the chair. Moving over to the sink, she settled Grace on the counter and rinsed her hands in the warm water.
Where the hell is Niles, CC wondered, and was about to pick up the phone to dial her penthouse in search of him when it began ringing.
"Hello, hello," she answered, and lunged towards the sink just as Grace attempted to climb into it. "Sorry, what was that?" She asked, holding the phone with her shoulder as she lifted Grace down and let her stand on the kitchen floor.
On the other end of the line, Maxwell asked, "Ah, CC? What… what are you doing there? And where is Niles?"
CC rolled her eyes. "I've decided to stay a few days, Maxwell, to help Rubber Maid with the little one."
Silence. "With Grace?" He finally asked.
"Yes, yes, with Grace. Did you need something?" She watched as Grace walked over to the table and tried to climb into a chair. CC moved quickly across the room and handed Grace another cookie, and the little girl sat down happily on the floor and began to gnaw on the treat.
He cleared his throat. "Yes, to speak with Niles, please."
Impatiently, CC responded, "Well, he's not here. He's out running an errand. Perhaps I could help?"
"He took the baby out in this weather?" Maxwell asked, alarmed.
"No, she's here with me. Is something wrong, Maxwell?"
"He left her with you." It was a statement, but disbelief colored his tone.
Had he always been this slow on the uptake? "Have you been drinking? Yes, he left her with me. She's eating a cookie. She's fine. Would you like to speak with her?"
"I—no, that won't be necessary. I was just calling to let Niles know that Margaret, Brighton, and I will be staying in a hotel until the storm passes. The mayor has declared a state of emergency and I don't want to risk the children on the icy roads."
CC felt a twinge of guilt at sending Niles out in such conditions. "Very well, I'll pass along the message."
"You're sure Grace is okay?" He asked.
Looking first towards the ceiling in supplication, she leaned over and picked Grace up, holding the phone against the girl's ear. "Say hi to your dad," she instructed.
"Daddy!" Grace exclaimed, and immediately began babbling into the phone. CC could hear Maxwell speaking to her, and she held the phone until Grace fell silent, then returned it to her own ear.
"I'll take good care of her until Niles gets back, which should be any moment now," she told Maxwell.
"Thank you, CC. I'm sure she couldn't be in better hands," he said, and if he doubted what he said, he managed to hide it fairly well.
CC was just setting the phone down when she heard the sound of someone stamping his feet outside. With Grace still in her arms, she pulled open the kitchen door for Niles, whose face was red from the cold. Snow covered his hat and his shoulders and stuck to his legs nearly up to the knees. "Look, Grace, it's the abominable snowman," she said, pointing at him.
Wordlessly, he held out a bag for her, one she recognized as her own. She peeked inside and smiled at the sight of her robe, then put Grace down and handed the baby the bag to amuse herself with while she latched the door behind Niles.
"Thanks," she said, and crossed her arms as he lifted his hat off his head and shrugged off his coat, placing both on the rack near the door.
"Is that all you can say? I risked life and limb, you know." He tried to knock some of the snow off his trousers, but it had already begun to soak into the fabric.
"My hero," she said sarcastically, but reached to help him unwrap the scarf from around his neck.
"That's the last time I go out in a nor'easter for you, madam," he retorted, watching her with interest as she stepped back awkwardly after taking his scarf.
"You'd better change into some dry clothes before you freeze to death," she observed helpfully.
"Death was much more likely out there," he said, pointing at the glass door. "But as you wish." Trailing snow behind him, he made his way up the stairs.
Shivering from the cold air that had filled the room, CC draped the scarf over his coat and rubbed her thumb absent-mindedly across the soft fabric. Then she took her bag and Grace's hand and headed for the office, determined to do at least a little work that day.
A/N: Happy snow day! Thanks to all of you who take the time to leave a review and let me know you're enjoying the story. You make me smile.