Adopted Parents by Candy Halliday

aspect of Ahn’s life that had been carefully structured and monitored. There were the play groups with scheduled dates. And toddler music classes. And a million other progressive-parent babyisms that Hallie knew from listening to Janet rattle on for hours were part of the whole stay-at-home-mom regimen.
    Could she really live that kind of lifestyle? Even temporarily?
    “Well? What are you waiting for?” Roberta’s impatient question broke Hallie’s train of thought. And from the expression on her face Roberta was convinced Hallie couldn’t handle the demanding job of caring for Ahn.
    “Pick the child up,” Roberta said. “Take her downstairs so you can fix her lunch.”
    Hallie picked up Ahn, but she handed her to Roberta when Ahn went rigid in her arms. “I think I’d rather take one thing at a time.” Yeah, she hated that she was confirming Roberta’s worst opinion but it seemed easier to forestall a tantrum from Ahn than to go out of her way to prove Roberta wrong. Seemed both Hallie and Ahn needed to ease into this relationship.
    “That’s too bad.” Roberta bent to place Ahn on the floor with a toy. When she straightened, she said, “Time is something you don’t have. I’m past ready to go home. And I’m too old to be taking care of a baby. I just don’t have the energy. I’ll stay the rest of this week and give you a crash course on how to take care of her. That’s my offer. Take it or leave it.”
    Hallie stared at her.
    “What?” Roberta said. “You think I didn’t know the minute you decided to change a diaper that you had also decided to take that quack psychologist’s advice? My question is, how are you and Nate going to survive playing house without killing each other?”
    Roberta wanted details? Hallie would give her details.
    “Nate and I had a long talk this morning,” Hallie admitted. “We cleared the air between us. And we won’t be playing house. Nate will be living in the cottage the same way he always has. And I’ll be living here in the house with Ahn.” And where had that decision come from? Especially without consulting Nate first? Was this her typical knee-jerk reaction to Roberta’s domination? While that factored, Hallie had to admit there was something more to this sudden change of heart. Ahn deserved more than Hallie had given her so far and this was her chance to do better.
    “If you believe that arrangement will last,” Roberta said, “then you’ll believe I’m going to use Janet and David’s monetary gift to get a boob job.”
    Hallie’s mouth dropped open.
    “Oh, please,” Roberta said. “Do you really think it’s been a secret that you and Nate had a fling back in the day and that you’ve been mad at him all these years because he dumped you?”
    Hallie’s mouth closed. “Whatever happened between us back in the day is over. And I intend for it to stay that way.”
    Roberta laughed. “That’s the signal you think you’re sending Nate by quitting your job so the two of you can play mommy and daddy? I don’t think so.”
    Hallie wasn’t only over the edge, she was the splat at the bottom of the cliff.
    “I don’t want to talk about this any further, Roberta. I’m serious. I’m going to go lie down now and sleep off this headache. And yes, I am going to take you up on your offer to stay the rest of the week and show me how to take care of Ahn. I’ll sincerely appreciate it if you’ll do that. But whatever happened between Nate and I, or whatever might happen between us in the future, frankly is none of your business.”
    Hallie pushed past her out of the nursery.
    “What are you going to do when you have a head ache while you’re taking care of Ahn?” Roberta called after her. “You won’t be able to lie down and sleep it off then.”
    “I’ll suck it up and deal.” Hallie headed for Janet and David’s bedroom, where she’d been staying since the accident.
    Slamming the bedroom door definitely didn’t help the headache. But