Violetta Craft's Arc

Chapter 49 of 65

The thermometer read a hundred point two. Violetta held Elowen against her chest on the kitchen tile and thought about the year of Saturdays she had asked Jordie to give her. One year of breakfasts before she would consider letting him back in. She looked at Elowen's flushed cheeks and heard how thin the baby's breath sounded. A year was a long time to make a child wait for her father. She called Jordie. He picked up on the first ring. "Can you come here?" she asked. "Not for Elowen. For me." "Fifteen minutes." She gave Elowen infant Tylenol and set her in the playpen with the wooden spoon. Lymber watched from the doorway and did not ask. "I need to tell him something," Violetta said. "Go tell him." Jordie's car pulled up in twelve minutes. Violetta met him on the porch and closed the door behind her. He stood on the step with his hands in his jacket pockets. He looked scared. "Is she worse?" "She's the same. Sit down." He sat on the top step. She sat beside him. "I can't do a year of Saturdays," she said. His jaw tightened. He looked at the driveway. "I mean I don't want to," she said. "Elowen needs both of us. In one house. Not two hours every other week. Not breakfast once a week. She's going to remember this soon. I want her to remember us together." He turned his head. "You messed up," she said. "I'm not pretending you didn't. But I've been holding it over you like a hammer. I'm tired of carrying it. She shouldn't grow up watching me carry it." "Violetta." "Let me finish. I'm not moving back to the rental. I want somewhere new. Something small. Two bedrooms. A room I can sew in. Your name and mine on the lease." "Yes." "You don't get to disappear again. One time and I'm out. For good." "I know." She let out a breath. Her hands were shaking. He put his hand over hers on the step and did not squeeze. "Elowen's fever climbed to a hundred point two," she said. "I need to call the pediatrician." "Call. I'll drive." She called from the porch. The nurse said to bring Elowen in that afternoon. Violetta hung up and stood. "I have to tell my mom." Jordie stayed on the step. She went inside. Lymber was already holding Elowen with the diaper bag packed by her foot. "He's driving us," Violetta said. "And he's moving back in. Not here. A new place. Us." Lymber nodded once. She did not smile and she did not frown. "Okay," Lymber said. She handed Elowen over. "Go." Violetta carried her daughter out to Jordie's car. He was already holding the back door open.