Darcy nodded. Remembering the difficult emotions he’d struggled with that day, it was hard to talk about his son without feeling like a jerk. He went back to trying to help Emma. “You’re working too soon. Plus you’re studying, too. And looking after a baby. You don’t need to do all that. You could accept my help and stay home longer.”
“I’m coping.”
“Are you? Your eyes are all red as if you’ve been up half the night. All the time I’ve been standing here, you’ve had a crease between your eyebrows. And your voice is too tight.... You seem like you’re about to snap.”
“Could that be because you’re criticizing me? You should go. This is my workplace. I don’t have time for personal conversations.”
“It’s not criticism. It’s the truth. But for some reason you don’t want to hear it.”
She stabbed a finger in his face. “You see me one time in months and you think you know what’s going on with me. Let me tell you, you don’t have a clue.”
“I don’t know the details of your life right now, but I can guess. And I can see you’re upset and uptight. You are usually calm and in control.”
“I have a new baby. And yes, I’m juggling work and school. It’s hard. Tell me something I don’t know.”
“You don’t know how to let people help you.”
“Money,” she said contemptuously. “That’s your idea of help. I don’t need money. I need practical assistance! I need someone to change a diaper, to help with the feeding, to give me a night off from the crying baby.” Tears sprang to her eyes. “Just one goddamn night without the crying. Is that too much to ask?”
“Whoa.” Darcy stepped closer and put a hand on her shoulder. “I know you wouldn’t want me to do anything with the baby but if you need help so badly, why didn’t you take up my mother’s offer?”
“She’s too...close to you. I know she has a right, but I’m not ready.” Emma blotted her eyes with the already-soggy tissue. “I’m still mad at you basically. I wish you could be who I want you to be and I’m angry that you can’t. Or won’t.”
Darcy let out a breath. This was emotionally exhausting for both of them. “I obviously struck a nerve a minute ago. Is the baby being difficult?”
“His name is Billy, remember?” She shook his hand off. “He’s just being a baby, doing what babies do. Cry, eat, sleep, cry, eat, sleep, cry, cry.” Her voice had risen in pitch with each word. Suddenly she seemed to notice and stopped, her face paler. “I didn’t mean to say that. He’s fine. I wasn’t asking for your time.”
“My mother—”
“I like your mother a lot, but she would be subtly working to bring us back together for the sake of Billy. We both know that’s not a good idea.”
“Something we agree on.” Darcy took a step back. “Okay, I’ll go. Try to take it easy. I’m sure you’re doing everything the baby needs and more. I was only saying you need to make sure you get enough rest or you’ll get really sick. And then what?”
“Thanks for stating the obvious.” Again Emma touched the corners of her eyes with the soggy tissue.
Ah, jeez. She never cried. Now she’d done it twice in the space of minutes. It undid him. “Don’t, Em.” He put his arms around her and drew her to him.
“I’m on duty. You can’t hug me.” She tried to push him away.
“Well, I am hugging you. What are you going to do about it?” He tightened his embrace. She didn’t resist but she didn’t go into his arms, either. “I’m sorry if I was harsh. I didn’t mean to make you cry.”
“I’m not crying. I’ve got a cold.”
“What was I saying? You’re making yourself sick trying to do it all. Even you aren’t superwoman.”
“I suppose you’re going to tell me some platitude like everything’s going to be all right.” She sniffed.
“It will be. Somehow.” He laid his head on top of her hair. For three long precious seconds he simply stood there and breathed her in.
Then before he could kiss her, she pulled away. Just as well. It was better they kept their distance. She and the baby were a package deal. Take one, take the other.
“If you change your mind about the money, you know where to contact me.”
He turned and walked to the elevators. Emma had revealed a