Forty-Five

Will was sitting on the floor in front of my apartment, when I got back.

"Leave a baby, find a baby," I said. "Crazy world."

"You still have the crib and everything set up inside?" he asked.

"Yeah."

"I know someone who needs it, if that's okay with you."

"Can you get it out of there soon?" I asked.

"Tomorrow," he said. "Why don't you stay at my place tonight?"

"Fine, but I'm sleeping on the couch."

He grinned. "Lucky. So am I."

I opened the door, and walked into Dr. Parrish's office.

He looked up from his notebook and smiled. "I wasn't sure I would see you today."

"Something wrong with your eyes?" I asked. I took my usual chair, but I couldn't lean back into it. I sat hunched forward, staring at my hands.

Dr. Parrish waited.

"Humphrey is…with his new family now," I said, each word coming forth like an idea of its own, spaced and slow. I was afraid he would say, "That's good," or "You know it was the best thing," both of which were true, but unnecessary.

Instead, he said, "I'm sorry, Annie."

I nodded, and leaned back to see him watching me, concern in his face. He was a kind man. I was lucky to have known so many kind men.

"Will's home," I said, and I told him about meeting the judge and about everything that had happened afterward.

Dr. Parrish and I talked, and I realized I was glad I'd never bitten him.

At the end of our hour, he asked, "Any word on that bet?"

I smiled. "I'll let you know."