The Weeks Between • HS

Week 3 • Nola

The girls have not stopped talking about swimming, and ask nearly everyday to go again. I told them that we have to wait for the floaties I ordered to arrive, which means we have one more day to wait. I did that, mostly, so that we didn't overstep Harry's generosity, making him tire of being with these three little beauties before we even get a chance to know him properly.

Early in the afternoon, the doorbell rings and I look at my phone, showing the feed from front door camera I ordered. I see Harry delivering the vegetable bounty. Normally he just leaves it, but he must have something else to add, since he rang.

"Hi," I say as I open the door to a quiet house.

"Here is what I harvested this morning. It has all been washed," he says, handing me the basket and looking down at his feet then looking around with a surprised look on his face. "It's so quiet. Where are the girls?"

"Napping," I say with triumphant smirk. "Isn't it glorious," I add with a chuckle, standing against the foyer wall as Harry stands just inside the door.

"I shouldn't disturb your peace and quiet, then. I did want to ask, though, if you were interested in doing yoga together tomorrow morning?"

"Sure, but it'll have to be early. I need to get it done before the girls wake up."

"That's fine. What time is early?"

"6:00am?"

Harry gives me a shocked look. "Alright, so 6:00. Want to come to my house or stay at yours for the girls?"

"Lets meet on my back patio." I suggest and he nods, turning in the doorway to go back out through the front door.

"Well, I will see you tomorrow, Nola," he says. "You should go and binge something on T.V. while you can," he adds with a smile.

"Oh, I plan on it." And I did.

•••••

The next morning, my alarm vibrates at 5:20am. I am a combination of annoyed and excited. Hattie has been sleeping through the night some nights, so when she does I have to pump when I wake up. Today, she did sleep all night but I hear her starting to fuss.

I go to her room quickly, hoping to grab her fast enough that she doesn't fully wake up. I successfully feed her, put her back down, and rush back to my room to get ready.

I hop through a quick shower, and check my phone when I get out, noticing that it is 5:56am. SHIT! I pull on a pair of yoga pants and a sports bra, not even caring that my scar is on full display. The pants are high, so just the top of it is showing.

I tiptoe down the stairs, twisting my hair into a wet braid as I descend. Turning the corner, to the kitchen, I can see Harry sitting on a chair on the patio through the kitchen door. I walk over to open the door and quietly invite him in for a minute. "Hi," I whisper. "Sorry, Hattie was up, so I am running a bit late."

"No problem. Is she all sorted?"

"Yeah, but I need coffee before my body will move. Plus, I am a much nicer person when I have it first" I joke and he nods with a smile. "Would you like any?"

"Sure. Thank you," he says in an overly courteous voice for this ungodly hour.

I brew our coffee, and hand him a mug, grabbing my yoga mat and my phone and iPad as we head out the door. He looks at everything in my hands and takes the yoga mat from me, laying it down next to his. "Expecting a call?" he jokes.

"No, but the girls monitors are on here, and it is easier to see all three if I have them on the bigger screen," I say, pulling up the sleeping beauties on the iPad screen.