Robin Jones Gunn - Sunset Lullaby

Christy closed her eyes. She felt the tingling sensation rush against her skin as her slender frame dove beneath the frothy wave and came up on the other side with glistening dots of seawater clinging to her eyelashes. She smoothed back her long, nutmeg-brown hair so it cascaded over her shoulders like a mermaid s veil.

Christy looked across the shimmering saltwater and there he was. Only a few feet away, watching her with his familiar heart-crushing grin.

Todd.

He swam closer and his hand reached for hers. Their fingers knit together effortlessly as they had done a thousand times. He pulled her close. His screaming silver-blue eyes were lit by flecks of the golden California summer sunshine as they floated together and he whispered, Forever, Kilikina.

Her heart melted every time she heard Todd say her Hawaiian name. He smiled at her and tilted his head the way he always did when he was about to kiss her. Christy anticipated the salty taste of his lips and the soaring feeling that still lifted her after all these years of being Todd Spencers one and only.

She waited, eyes closed, heart ready, lips expectant.

Nothing happened.

Todd?

Forcing her eyes to open, Christy squinted and blinked. Todd was nowhere to be seen. She was alone. At home. On the couch.

On the floor in front of her was a box of newborn diapers. On the end table was an empty carton of key lime yogurt and an A, B, C puzzle missing the L and the X.

To Christys right was an oversized chair, and wedged securely between the arms of the chair was a portable bassinet. Inside the bassinet was a baby. Her baby. Todds baby. Their second child. A boy.

Cole.

The reality of her true life rushed over her like an invisible gust of ocean sea spray. All the bliss from her twenty-minute nap vaporized. Christy drew in a deep breath.

Still squinting, she forced her weary body to rise from the sofa. She shuffled over to the bassinet and smiled at the treasure nestled inside. Ever since Cole Bryan Spencer entered the world seven weeks ago on April 13 at nine pounds, eleven ounces, he had let his presence be known.

At this moment, though, he was asleep and appeared to be contentedly floating in the fairyland Christy wished she could return to. Sleep had become a luxury. Dreams were rare these days, as were any real-life dreamy kisses or intimate moments with Todd.

Christy leaned closer and smoothed her fingers over Coles round head and his barely there fuzzy blond hair. The sensation reminded her of the baby chicks she loved to hold when she was a little girl growing up on the farm in Wisconsin. She hoped her son didnt mind her gesture of motherly affection because she loved his little noggin and everything else about him.

Cole, you are the cutest chubby-cheeked, bright-eyed baby boy who has ever entered the world. You know that, dont you?

He released a slight flutter of a breath. An infant purr.

A toddler-sized thump sounded upstairs. Christy waited for the familiar squeak of Hanas bedroom door. At two and a half years old, big sister Hana seemed to be still deciding what she thought of this bundle of tough competition.

During Coles first week, Hana discovered that her tiny brother could outwail her. Even during her worst meltdown moments, Coles boisterous cries rose above hers. Hana took the challenge and increased her volume. The times when both Hana and Cole went into weeping and wailing mode in tandem were Christys worst moments of motherhood.

Christy hadnt heard Hanas door open yet, so she started to get up to go check on her when her cell phone vibrated on the end table, sounding like a flustered bee. She reached for it and walked over to the foot of the stairs as she read the text from Todd.

WON T BE HOME TILL SIX. HOW S EVERYTHING GOING?

Six? Christy frowned and kept muttering to herself. You said you were going to come home early today.

She tapped out a message reflecting her exasperation. It was the third night that week that Todd had stayed after hours at the high school where he taught in order to work on the upcoming missions trip to Africa. The group of seventeen students was leaving for Kenya in less than a month, and the full responsibility of organizing the trip was riding on Todds shoulders.

WE HAVE NO GROCERIES HERE, REMEMBER? I SENT YOU A LIST EARLIER. YOU SAID YOU D GET FOOD AND BE HOME BY FOUR TODAY. WHAT HAPPENED?

Just before hitting the Send button, Christy paused. She heard Hanas bedroom door open and the padding sound of Hanas little feet coming down the hall to the top of the stairs.

Christy knew Todd was drowning in details. There was no grace in the message shed written. Her words would only ignite all the wrong kind of communication between them. Theyd already floundered through two quarrels that week. Was it worth it to start a third one?

Deleting her text letter by letter, she retyped her reply.

OK.

That was all she wanted to communicate to him right now. His coming home late again was going to have to be OK. Having an empty fridge was OK. The baby was OK. Hana was OK. Everything was OK. Nothing was great. But everything, including Christy, was just oh-kay.

Todd texted back. THANKS FOR UNDERSTANDING. I LOVE YOU.

Christy pressed her lips together and frowned again.

If you knew how NOT understanding I feel right now, you would not be thanking me.

Hana appeared at the top of the stairs with her stuffed bunny under her arm and wearing her pacifier on her finger like a ring. Mommy, I wake.

Yes, I see. Christy kept her voice low and motioned for Hana to come join her on the couch. Christy sat down first and then welcomed Hana into her arms and up on her lap. Did you have a good nap?

Hana nodded. Her tousled blonde hair tickled Christy s neck as she cuddled up close. It seemed Hana realized that her baby brother wasnt occupying the prime real estate in Christys arms, and she was determined to make up for the many lap cuddles shed missed out on.

Christy hummed quietly and rocked Hana side to side. Christy loved Hanas tickly hair. It was beachy blonde like her daddys and fell into feathery curls that skimmed the top of her shoulders. She had her daddys silver-blue eyes, whereas Coles eyes seemed to be staying closer to Christys distinct blue-green mix.

I your baby, Hana said happily.

Youre my big girl, Christy said softly.

No, I your baby, Hana repeated. She stuck her pacifier in her mouth and kept swaying even though Christy had stopped.

What did that advice blog say about regression of the older sibling? Am I supposed to let her act out being a baby, or am I supposed to get her to focus on all the advantages of being a big sister? I cant remember.

Before Christy could select a course of action, another text from Todd redirected her attention.

OK IF I BRING 2 GUYS HOME WITH ME AT 8? WE LL HAVE TEAM LEADER MEETING AT OUR HOUSE INSTEAD OF HERE.

All her frustrated feelings returned. With both her arms around Hana on her lap, Christy typed a concise summary of what she wanted to say to him earlier.

WE HAVE NO GROCERIES.

Todd replied with, WANT ME TO BRING PIZZA?

Before she could think through how she wanted to reply, another text popped up on her screen.

LASAGNA OVERLOAD AT MY HOUSE. YOU GUYS WANT SOME?

Christy stared at the message. The timing was just a little too perfect.

The text was from Jennalyn, her neighbor and new friend. More than once Jennalyn had shown up at just the right moment during their fledgling friendship. Christy responded to Jennalyn with a YES PLEASE!