The Ex-Husband of Alice Langley

40

PARIS SWIFT-KELCE
Lauren and I are driving to work together, and the familiar hum of the engine is punctuated by my nervous tapping on the steering wheel. I glance over at her; her knee is bouncing up and down, a quick rhythm that betrays her own anxiety. Today marks the end of our maternity leave and the first day back at work, and I can feel a mix of excitement and dread swirling in my stomach.

"She's going to be fine," I say, forcing the words out in a calm tone, even as panic simmers beneath the surface.

"Totally fine. She's with your mom," Lauren reassures me, but I can hear the uncertainty in her voice.

"My mom has raised two kids before. She knows what she's doing. Right?" I ask, half-hoping for some validation.

"You turned out good," Lauren replies, trying to inject some humor into the moment.

"Did we leave her with everything? We went through the checklist, right?" I press, my mind racing through a mental inventory of all the baby essentials we painstakingly packed.

"Diapers, pacifiers, portable crib, toys, baby seat, stroller, stroller pillow, blankets, wipes, burp cloths, extra onesies, baby soap, lotion, hand sanitizer, first aid kit, diaper cream, breast milk, bottle warmer, and bottles," Lauren recites, her voice steady but a hint of anxiety creeping in.

"What about her kitty? She cries without Meowington!" I exclaim, a wave of panic washing over me.

"Oh god, did we forget Meowington?" Lauren gasps, her eyes wide with horror as she glances at me, her earlier confidence evaporating.

"Oh god, I need to call my mom right now," I say, reaching for my phone, my fingers fumbling slightly as I dial.

The phone rings, and with each beep, my heart races faster. I imagine Clara's tiny face scrunching up in distress without her beloved stuffed cat. What kind of parents forget a comfort item?

"Please pick up, please pick up," I mutter under my breath, feeling like a failure already. Finally, my mom answers.

"Hello?" Her cheerful voice cuts through my anxiety.

"Mom! Did we leave Meowington?" I ask, desperation lacing my tone.

"Of course not, sweetie! He's right here with us!" she replies, and I can hear the reassuring sound of Clara's gentle coos in the background.

"Thank goodness," I breathe a sigh of relief, glancing at Lauren, who's grinning now, her knee finally stilling.

"Everything is good," I say into the phone, feeling a wave of calm wash over me. "I'll call you later."

As I hang up, Lauren sighs in relief, her shoulders dropping as if a weight has been lifted. "Thank god we remembered Meowington," she says, a hint of laughter still in her voice.

"I miss Clara so much," I reply, glancing over at her, my heart heavy with worry. "Do you think she's okay? Should I call my mom back? Clara was making some noise in the background. What if she was getting upset?" I can almost picture her little face scrunching up in dismay, and it makes my stomach twist.

Lauren rolls her eyes playfully but softens her expression. "She was cooing, Paris! You know, those sweet little sounds babies make when they're content. I mean, I'm worried too, but we also have to think logically. We can't be checking on Clara every five minutes! We'd never get anything done!"

I take a deep breath, trying to calm the rising tide of anxiety. "But what if she's not happy? What if she's crying and my mom doesn't know how to soothe her? She's only three months old; she needs us!"

Lauren reaches over and places a reassuring hand on my arm, her touch grounding me. "You're a wonderful mom, but you have to trust your mom too. She raised two kids and survived. Remember how she always talks about the wild things you and your brother did as kids? She's got this."