That Would Be Enough

7

Lin and Kate woke up the next morning, limbs tangled beneath the sheets in Lin's bed. Kate turned over and bed and smirked when she saw Lin's bed head.

"What?" He smirked.

Kate reached out and tried to press down the wisp of hair that refused to stay in place.

"It won't stay down until I take a shower," he told her, well aware of his morning hair issues. He leaned over and gave her a quick kiss. "Join me?"

Kate had slept in one of Lin's t-shirts and a pair of panties. She followed him to the bathroom, where Lin turned on the shower as they both began to strip. Lin took her hand and they both stepped into the warm stream. They soon began kissing passionately and made love again up against the shower wall.

After the shower was finished, they dried off and headed to the kitchen for some breakfast. Kate had to put on the same clothes she'd worn the day before, and mentally made a note to go home and change before she picked her daughter up. Lin nuzzled her neck and was affectionate as they sat on the couch, enjoying some morning coffee. Soon, though, it was time to face the day.

Kate took her coffee mug to the kitchen and set it down. "I better go pick up Maddie," she told him. "She runs my mother ragged."

Lin grinned as they stopped at his front door. He leaned in and captured her lips in one final kiss.

"I'll see you soon," he said quietly.

Kate took the subway to her place, changed, and then headed to her parents' place in Brooklyn. When she entered, her mother was on the couch, looking exhausted, as her daughter sang and danced at the top of her lungs along with TV.

"Hi, Mom," she greeted. "Hi Maddie!"

Madeline ran over to greet her mother. Kate bent down to plant a kiss on her daughter's head. "Were you a good girl for grandma?"

"Uh-huh," she said. "We played Barbies and we went to the park."

"Sounds fun," she commented. "Go get your stuff and we'll go home."

Her mother stood up, sighing. "She didn't brush her teeth last night," she reported. "I was just glad to get her to bed."

Kate smiled, understanding how exhausting her four year old could be. "That's okay, Mom. One night won't hurt."

Madeline came up a few moments later, pulling her Sofia The First overnight bag. "Tell Grandma thanks and goodbye."

The little girl gave her grandmother a last hug before they left to catch the subway home. Madeline was hungry for a snack, so Kate cut up a few strawberries and sat her down at the table.

"Mama, when's Lin coming over again?" She asked, catching Kate off guard. They'd only spent a few hours together, but her daughter was already in love.

"I don't know, baby," she said as she cleaned up in the kitchen. "Do you want him to come over?"

"Uh-huh," she stuffed a strawberry in her mouth. "I want to do his hair again."

Kate grinned, remembering how Lin had been such a good sport about it. Anyone who let her do their hair was a friend in Madeline's book.

"Maybe I'll invite him over for dinner tomorrow," she said. "What should we cook?"

"Mac & Cheese!" She suggested, causing Kate to laugh.

"Maybe for you," she said. "I'll have to think of something else for the grown ups to eat."

Kate had the day off work, so they had the afternoon to go play in Central Park and maybe get a treat at a coffee shop. About halfway through the afternoon, Kate noticed her daughter starting to lag.

"Sweetie, come her and let's check your blood sugar," she called, pulling out the Blood Glucose Monitoring Device out of her purse, one she always kept on hand. Madeline had been born with Type 1 diabetes, which required constant monitoring.

The little girl whined at having to stop and knowing she'd have to get her finger pricked. That was the worst park. Maddie sat down dutifully and Kate ran a hand over her forehead. "How are you feeling?"

"Tired," she complained.

"When you get this way, you need to let mommy know," she said, as she got a new test strip ready. "Ready? 1-2-3," she pressed the button that would give her daughter's finger a tiny prick. Maddie whimpered a little as her mother gathered the small drop of blood.

"Good girl," she praised her as she loaded the strip into the reader. The device beeped with the results. "Sixty-two. Let's have a snack."

Kate pulled out a pouch of fruit snacks, one of Maddie's favorites. She quickly gobbled them down and sat to have a drink of water. Quickly, she began to feel better.

"Why don't you play for 15 more minutes, then we'll go home for dinner."

Maddie raced back to the playground, and Kate sat back to relax for a few more minutes. Her phone beeped with a text message. It was from Lin.

How's your day going?

She smiled and started typing her response.

Great. At the park with Maddie. Dinner tomorrow?

Sure! What can I bring?

Just yourself. See you then.

A few minutes later, it was time to leave. Kate called her daughter over and gathered their things together. When they reached their apartment complex, they stopped at the mail room to check their mailbox. Kate pulled out several envelopes and they made their way upstairs in the elevator.

Madeline immediately went to her toys as Kate sat on the couch to go through the mail. She sighed when she saw an envelope from the Department of Child Services. Swallowing, she opened it up and pulled out the letter.

Her eyes quickly darted over the words and she closed her eyes in worry. Her ex-husband was petitioning for joint custody.