Casey had William paint their bedroom light brown and the nursery pastel pink. She
left the living room and third bedroom white, partly by choice, partly because they
couldn’t afford more paint.
They finished everything except the baby furniture. It still needed to be
assembled. Casey wanted it assembled before the baby arrived. She was due in
fourteen days.
The crib instructions might as well have been in code. Parts vanished between
steps. From the third bedroom, he heard laughter. Casey and Willow were in there.
William had suggested that Casey use the extra bedroom as her art studio.
Over the course of the pregnancy, Casey and Willow had become close. She came over
most days, especially when William had to work late at the gas station. It
surprised him at first, but he was also glad his own relationship with Willow had
improved.
William finally found the missing piece under part of the assembled crib. As he
attached it, he heard Willow shout, “OH MY GOD!” followed by both girls laughing.
He was glad at least they were having fun. His hand cramped up, and his left leg
became numb. The crib was only halfway done. He had boxes for the changing table
and the armoire to go. He’d be working all night.
He stood to shake out his leg. Pins and needles hit hard at first, then gradually
faded. He rubbed his cramped hand.
The laughter in the next room grew louder.
Twenty minutes later, he finished the crib and gave it a shake. It seemed to be
assembled correctly. He considered climbing in to test it but thought better of it.
He dropped in the mattress and moved the crib to where Casey wanted it. Then he
packed up the Styrofoam.