From across the hallway

Part 22

And so it began...

The first morning of course was strange one for all of them, Missy in particular.

She got up as normal;, having a quick cuddle in bed with Emily, before they headed into the kitchen to grab some breakfast. Leaving Emily for a couple of minutes while she watched cartoons, eating her little bowl of cheerios with her mouth wide open as she did so, Missy hurriedly took a quick shower, before getting dressed in a smart navy blouse and dark grey pencil skirt and heels. Missy then took the time to get Emily changed, this morning, taking more time to pick out the toddlers clothes than hers.

Rifling through her bureau, she pulled out a cute little orange and white dress with tigers on, some little navy leggings and matching boots, before turning back to her gorgeous little daughter and smiling at her.

Emily was sat up on Missy's bed, playing with a cuddly stuffed rabbit, gabbling at it as if she was talking to a person.

Missy crouched down in front of her, caching her attention long enough for her to look up.

"So you excited about spending the day with Wade?" Missy asked a little apprehensively.

It was a big deal, passing her onto the merc every day. She had barely gotten adjusted to leaving for day-care. But at least now Missy was safe in the knowledge that Emily would be happy.

She enjoyed spending time with Wade, Missy could certainly see that. The two-year old's face would light up whenever Wade came into the room.

But part of her worried about relying on him too much...

Missy told herself that this was only a temporary solution.

She was already looking and applying for other jobs. She wasn't terribly over-qualified, but she knew that if she really put her mind to it she could find a job that paid better than this one currently did.

Then they could properly get back on their feet again. Just the two of them...her and Emily.

She couldn't rely on anyone else to take care of them. Period. So Missy would have to make sure she was able to support them both, and that was how it would stay.

Emily looked up at her Mom, gaping a little.

"Waydee tak me to feed duks," she said in a quiet voice.

Missy smiled. "Is he now? Well we'll have to remember your mittens and your hat then won't we?" she uttered in a kindly voice, as she began to get Emily dressed.

Was all of this ok? Wade looking after her child when it should be Missy doing that? How she wished she could go with them today..to the park or wherever...

Missy thought back to the early hours of this morning when she had woken on Wade's couch, her head resting on his shoulder.

She had pulled herself up gently, trying not to wake him, before picking Emily up and heading back over to her own apartment and clambering into bed.

She knew she had already gotten too close to him, but she couldn't help herself.

She was so desperate to be close to him, to feel his strong arms around her, to breathe in that musky, cotton-candy scent that lingered around him...

Every thing he did drove her crazy. She wanted him....but more importantly she wanted to be with him...

But all this...it was hard for her. To allow herself to open up as much as she already had...it was tough.

But she was frightened. Petrified even...of showing even the slightest hint of vulnerability. Especially after what had happened to them the last time.

It hurt her to even think about that...