Margo had failed to anticipate how awkward Shyanne would be with the baby. When Bodhi was placed in her arms, something odd seemed to happen to her elbows — as though marionette strings had pulled them too high. Even her happy smile couldn't disguise her mounting panic. It was true that Bodhi cried whenever Shyanne held him.
The sitter from Care.com practically rushed out saying everything had been great. Later, hunting for ice cream, Margo opened the freezer. The six bags of milk she'd left were still there, completely untouched. It was almost like Theresa hadn't even tried to feed him.
Shyanne called mid-shift threatening to leave Bodhi with the bartender. Tessa grabbed the phone from Margo's hand. You should be ashamed of yourself, she told Shyanne. Bring him here. I'll watch him myself. Tessa's eyeliner was smudged beneath her eyes, adding to the impression she made of a refined and beautiful bulldog.
Bodhi slept on Tessa's massive bosom for the rest of the shift. All the drunk regulars came over to admire him. Tessa held forth about the secret to babies — always ending with giving the baby some whiskey on the corner of a washcloth to suck on, though this was not how she'd gotten Bodhi to sleep at all.
If you can't get a regular sitter by your next shift, you're fired. Then: I'm not going to actually fire you. I mean, I will, but I'll hate it so much, please don't make me. Margo nodded. She couldn't look at Tessa. She couldn't look at anybody. She walked out. Bodhi cried the whole way home.
The texts confirmed it. Almost two years, over. She ate two bowls of Crunch Berries until she could feel the sugar and food dye moving in her bloodstream like magic. Underneath her panic, a secret part of her was a little thrilled to be fired. To no longer grind black pepper. To no longer get ranch dressing on her hand.
They'd found a new place. Moving out in a week. We're gonna get a guinea pig! Kat the Smaller whispered, clasping her little hands under her chin. Kat the Larger raised her eyebrows — and it made her beanie lift slightly. Too small for her head, incrementally peeling off. Margo stood there watching it happen. Kat the Larger did not pull the beanie down.
Congratulations! Digital confetti rained down the screen. $1,236 a month. $200 after rent. She picked up the phone, set it down, picked it back up, and called Jinx. It rang and rang. Dad, this is Margo. I'm in a really bad spot... I need help. It kills me to say that. But I'm scared. Love you. She felt sure he would call her back. She knew he would call.
Later that week, eating microwave pizza among towers of the Kats' moving boxes, she scalded the roof of her mouth. Her mom called. Kenny wanted to meet her. He didn't know about the baby. I am not pretending I don't have a baby, Mom. Shyanne said she knew Margo was going to be this way. Then hung up on her.