v

ffectively stopped his crying, that's for sure. And I'm grateful for that. I don't have enough underst

has delicate, soft features, and in the glinting rays of sunlight that creep through the clouds above, her br

ur name?"

Car

ake is surprisingly firm for someone who just did a

says. "Do you li

us. We didn't get far on our walk before things we

Oh, okay. You're Noah's neighbor, in that case." She poi

oker night with the guys a little while ago. He's nice-fun. But even so, a flash of jealo

," she continues, and the jealous

ed, to be honest. Why should I c

, he's a good guy. I've m

d he's fitting in here i

ty good with kids," I say.

xperience? What do you me

d her bro

udied childhood development as part of my degree, b

id you

grad school, and I've been loo

ht are forming in my head, but before I can voic

the phone into her pocket, then adds, "But maybe I'll see you around sometime when I visit my br

y, holding up his new friend.

heads off down the sidewalk. I stare after her

ill beaming. He holds up his new d

ly. "That's a great dino you've got there. Do you

down at the dinosaur. Then he declares, "He d

d," I say.

in Brandon's step as he skips along, clinging to my arm,

nd dial my assistant's number.

g? What can I

ith his new toy. "How many more interviews

n two that couldn't meet until Tu

why. I just know that there's no point in meeting all of these

" she stammers. "An

explain everything later," I tell her, and

one dubious. "Whatever yo

ne, slipping it back into my pocket, and smi

w dinosaur might feel left out. Of course, once I've picked up our cupcakes from the c

h, "I guess you'll just have t

," he says, his head bowed unde

back home. I spend the rest of the evening with him, and a

g up at me with huge, round eyes. I know exactly what he wants. I pull the

ve to give him a name," I

on shakes his h

ep on it. Maybe it'll c

few moments, watching him as he drifts off to sleep. Sighing, I stan