head back home to my duplex. I’m stripping off my soaking wet clothes in my bathroom when my best friend Kaitlin rings me.
“Emmie! What are you up to?” Her singsong greeting chirps against my ear. No matter how annoyed or angry I am, the sound of her voice always perks me up.
“Just trying to give myself heatstroke by going for a run. How about you?”
“Show-off. Libby’s teething, which means she’s a howling, restless mess. I’m taking her to the indoor playground at the mall to hopefully help her burn off some energy. Wanna come? I need to be around an adult for a while.”
Spending time with Kaitlin and her baby daughter is my favorite pick-me-up. “Let me get cleaned up. Meet you there in a half hour.”
When I arrive, I spot Kaitlin sitting on a bench near the main play area. Baby Libby bounces happily on her lap. I bend down to hug Kaitlin and then scoop up Libby. She squeals with delight.
“I swear, you are the only person she will let grab her out of her mama’s arms,” Kaitlin says.
I scoot next to Kaitlin on the bench while Libby balances her impossibly tiny feet on the tops of my legs.
“I consider that to be the highest compliment a person could ever receive.” I kiss Libby’s chubby cheeks, and she giggles. “You love your auntie Emmie, don’t you?”
From my purse, I fish out a small container of ice cubes and hold one up to Libby’s mouth.
Kaitlin squeezes me in a one-armed side hug. “You’re amazing. I completely forgot to bring the bag of ice cubes I set aside in the freezer.”
“You’re busy remembering a million things every day. I can manage a single cup of ice cubes.”
Kaitlin hands me a box of my favorite chocolate truffles. “For babysitting last weekend. You’re an angel. Ethan and I needed that date night like you wouldn’t believe.”
I toss the gold box in my purse. “Of course. I’m always on call as a babysitter for you guys.”
“I mean it. You’re more of an aunt to her than my own sister is. That blanket and plushie you bought her are her absolute favorites. And the baby shower you threw.” She shakes her head, a wistful smile on her face. “Everyone still raves about it, and it’s been over a year. No one’s ever done something so thoughtful and sweet for me in my life.”
She gives my leg a soft squeeze, and I can’t help but grin. Kaitlin’s shower was a blast. Pink streamers and balloons everywhere, and a multitiered cake from her favorite local bakery. I stayed up until two a.m. the night before baking macarons for the gift bags. It was exhausting but worth it. Anything for my amazing best friend and her perfect baby.
“You’re wonderful for spending your free time with this little one.” Kaitlin tickles Libby’s socked foot.
Spending time with baby Libby is a joy, and I’m more than happy to be her go-to babysitter. Besides, it’s not like my Saturday nights are all that busy since I’m a single woman with zero dating prospects.
“I can’t believe she’s almost a year old already,” I say. “She’s going to be walking soon, you know.”
Kaitlin groans. “I know, oh God. Then she’ll be running around, crashing into things. She’s growing so fast.”
“She looks exactly like you.”
When Libby finishes her ice cube, she’s all smiles. I turn her around on my lap so she faces the playground area. Both Libby and Kaitlin have honey blond hair, green eyes, and angelic rosebud mouths.
“Is Ethan annoyed his baby looks nothing like him?”
Kaitlin laughs and shakes her head. “Not at all. He says he’s happy to have a beautiful baby girl who looks just like her mom.”
I laugh through a bittersweet tinge. It’s an odd feeling being the last single one in my circle of close friends. Whenever they talk about their lives or I spend time with their families, it’s a gentle reminder of how far behind I am in the relationship department. Nearly a yearlong dry spell and counting.
I blow a raspberry on Libby’s back and she giggles. “The sound of a baby’s laughter is exactly what I need to hear after the day I’ve had,” I say.
“What happened?”
“Just annoying work stuff. I have to do a project with that jerkoff coworker I told you about. We had a planning session today, and he was a total prick. Shoot, sorry.” I shouldn’t use such salty language in front of Libby and the surrounding little ones.
“Don’t worry