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"Good That’s good" Eli ignored Penny’s s his na him over He’d rather deal with more of her pointed questions about his love life than think about all the reasons he needed to stay away from Kaylee Wilhelm

CHAPTER TWO

IT ONLY TOOK Kay a few minutes to drive to the new aparto It was always a thrill to drive up and realize she lived here It wasn’t the flashiest or s she’d accomplished completely on her own

The terees in the time it had taken her to drive home Kay shivered and pulled the zipper of her coat all the way up to the top of her throat She covered Hope with another baby blanket to keep her war up the two flights of stairs as fast as she could Her fingers struggled to turn the key in the lock, they were so cold

"What I wouldn’t give for a hot bath right now" She finally got the door open and then dropped the diaper bag as soon as she made it inside Hope ju such a good job today, huh?"

She uncovered her daughter and tickled her chubby little belly as she unfastened the buckles holding her into the car seat Once she was free, Hope kicked and squirmed happily She cooed nonsense words as they walked down the hall to her bedroo next to her bed and pulled it into the bathrooirl so I can shower Hmm? Can you do that for Mama?"

Hope gurgled and gnawed on the end of her fist while watching Kay with her big bright eyes With her perfectly stails, she looked like a little doll Kay blew gently on the baby’s face until she let out a belly laugh Her heart flipped over the way it did every tihter still had the power to stun her It was theHope into the bouncy seat and giving her the plastic unicorn to bite on, Kay stripped quickly and stepped into the shower Experience had taught her that she had about three ot antsy

She soaped her body quickly and then scrubbed her hands over her face At the sound of the first soft whimper, Kay stuck her head around the shower curtain and blew a loud kiss Hope grinned and swung her legs vigorously, bouncing herself up and down in the seat

After rinsing off, Kay grabbed her towel and wrapped it around her body, shivering slightly as the cool air hit her skin

"Oh, irl I remember the days when I could take a bubble bath for an hour and had tiood day if I re shoes"

Kay s black hair and twisted it into a low ponytail Hope srimaced A few seconds later, Kay kneas tie

"You just had to wait until after I showered, huh?" She laughed softly as Hope just continued to regard her with a sour look

Kay changed into a soft, nubby pink sweater and jeans and pulled on thick socks Then she went back up front to retrieve the diaper bag

"Okay, let’s get you clean and then you can play with your blocks" Kay strapped Hope on the changing table in her room and then reached underneath for the wipes and a clean diaper When her hand hit empty space, she re in the diaper bag She’d been planning to go to the store before the snow started But she had enough to last the and pulled out the box of wipes Then a change of clothes A board book She started pulling things out frantically Hope’s favorite blankie A pacifier

"I couldn’t have left all the diapers at Moot to the bottoht where she stood and let her head fall forward into her hands Her heart raced as the stress of the last feeeks finally caught up with her

She’d never claiirl power but of necessity She could take care of Hope, record another album, and work full time because she hadn’t seen any other choices Sure, she could have given up on recording and it would ht sessions or appearances She could spend et soh it would ht now, she couldn’t do it It wouldopportunity It wouldup on her dreams If she didn’t reach for her dreams, what kind of role iven up on her career as a singer when she got pregnant with Kaylee She was determined not to make that same mistake

There were times when her mom looked like she was aabout the old days Her ive it all up for Hope, but she couldn’t Did that make her a bad , wretched moment, Kay shook her head There had been many days she’d wondered what her mother would be like if she’d kept her career If she’d be kinder Happier If she’d have a little hter instead of criticism Kay was determined that Hope would never have to think about that