Cry Another Day
-Elisabeth Carmichael-
"Oh, no, no! Woody, she isn't mine. Garret and Renee…they got back together. This is their daughter."
Her eyes twinkled as she gazed lovingly at the baby resting in her arms. Emma Madison seemed to embody peacefulness and hope with her perfect combination of Garret and Renee's features.
A look of relief swept over Woody's face before he was able to successfully mask it, "Why do you have her then?"
"Babysitting. It's kind of a favor to Gar for letting me be here with you every night."
"I thought she was yours…you have that 'maternal glow' thing going on," he said with little discernable emotion, "And your um…they look fuller, but that is probably just from your attack."
"I didn't know you kept track of my breasts," she said unabashedly.
"So you aren't pregnant?"
"Woody, the last time I had sex was with that DA guy over three and a half years ago," her face grew a little red.
"Why? A girl like you is bound to get plenty of offers."
"Suddenly, casual sex seemed unimportant."
He smiled inwardly.
"You know Wood, this has been the most civil conversation we've had in months, and I'm holding a baby no less."
He couldn't help but smile slightly. Their eyes caught each other's briefly, a lingering feeling of adoration silently floating between the two.
"Woody, take Emma for a sec," she quickly put Emma in his arms and raced to his toilet before puking her guts out. After rinsing out her mouth and washing her hands, Jordan sat down, noticing how content Woody seemed as he held Emma.
"You okay?" he asked, eyes still on the sleeping baby in his arms.
"I've been throwing up for the past week and a half. It's a side effect of this new solution we're using at work. It's bad."
"Sorry about that, it sounds like…" he paused, pretending to be preoccupied with the baby.
"Like what Woody?"
"It's nothing, just, you know, sounds like a pain."
He smiled down at Emma who had fallen asleep in his arms peacefully, "I've always wanted kids. They are just gems." His face turned a sunburned pink.
"I always figured I'd screw kids up for life. But Wood, I'm so sorry…if you had rid yourself of me before either of us became attached, you could have a wife and kids by now."
"It was as much of my own making," he smiled, "Besides, I'm not sure I really could get married right now…or anytime soon."
She just smiled sadly at him.
"Uh, I'm so hungry," Woody complained.
Jordan leaned over his bed, her shirt resting on his head as she pressed the call button.
"Hey!" Woody shouted, "What was that for?"
"What was what for?"
"You just…I don't know, kicked me or something…on the head."
She jumped back slightly, "What? Oh, sorry, umm, must've bumped you with my elbow" she said nervously rubbing her elbow. Regaining composure, she said, "Woody, I'm so sorry I prevented you from having a family."
She removed Emma from his arms and gathered up her bags, heading for the door, "Really, Woody, I'm so sorry."
"Just go before I blame you."