Paige Rewritten by Erynn Mangum Read Free Book Online Page B

school class, but he always went to service, and he sits with us too.
    No one else is there yet, but that’s typical on the weeks when I teach the two-year-olds. I always end up here by myself for about fifteen minutes, in the lag time between services, before the others show up.
    I set my Bible and purse down to save seats.
    Right then I hear a gurgling, spitting noise and I look up to see Natalie, our youth pastor’s wife and my dear friend, standing there holding their new baby, Claire.
    â€œI can’t sneak up on anyone anymore,” Natalie gripes but smiles adoringly at her daughter. Now that Claire is sleeping better through the nights, everything is all sunshine again.
    There were days when I wondered if Natalie was going to make it.
    â€œHi, cutie patootie!” I have no idea why babies promote such goofy reactions from adults, but I partake in the tradition without much resistance.
    â€œHi,” Natalie says.
    I barely spare a glance at Natalie. “Here, let me take that huge burden out of your hands.” I make silly faces at Claire. She’s still so little that she just looks at me, pacifier bobbing in her mouth, but I do it anyway.
    Like I said. Tradition.
    â€œGosh, she’s heavier.” I shift her into the crook of my right arm.
    â€œYep. And I am getting biceps, baby.” Natalie flexes for me. “Forget Jillian Michaels. I’m going to start marketing that the best thing for weight loss is to carry a ten-pound baby around for sixteen hours a day.”
    â€œI’m not sure very many people could commit to that kind of workout,” I say.
    â€œMost likely not. How are you? I haven’t seen you in decades.”
    In all reality, I picked up lunch and brought it over to Natalie’s house two weeks ago, but she’s right. Ever since Claire was born, we just haven’t seen each other as often.
    The tiniest people seem to cause the biggest conflicts in scheduling.
    â€œI’m …” I think about my answer. “Good” might be an overstatement, considering the current Luke/Preslee drama. “Okay” though will send off warning bells in Natalie’s brain, and we’ll have to rehash my entire life after the service over lunch at her house while Rick makes sarcastic remarks the whole time.
    I end up being saved by the baby, because right then, Claire erupts in a smelly white lava covering the entire front of her dress and my left hand.
    â€œOh my!” I have never seen so much come from something so little.
    Natalie sighs and digs around in the diaper bag hanging off her shoulder, then comes out with a cloth that already looks a little damp. “Sorry,” she mumbles. “Something I’m eating this week is not working for her. I should have warned you.”
    I don’t say anything because “Uh, yeah, you should have” sounds mean and I don’t mind so much because I’ve already been snotted on, cried on, slobbered on, and I’m pretty certain I had pee rubbed on my pants during class this morning from a little boy who failed to wash his hands after using the potty.
    A shower is in my very-near future. Preferably within the next two hours.
    Natalie sops us both up and I shrug, patting Claire’s wet stomach. “Sorry, peanut.”
    â€œNo, she’s sorry. There’s no call to spit up on Auntie Paige like that.”
    If Rick and Natalie keep calling every adult “Auntie” and “Uncle,” this poor child will believe that everyone everywhere is related to her.
    I hand Claire back to Natalie as the band starts to take the stage. “All right, you need to call me,” Natalie says. “This is ridiculous that it’s been so long since we’ve seen you. And speaking of that, you can come to dinner. Tomorrow night. I’ll make that pot roast you like.”
    My mother makes an incredible pot roast. Out of this world. She’s given me the recipe seven