He Thought I'd Forget novel · Chapter 5 of 32

Chapter 5: The Help

Alexis took the guest room before I'd closed the front door.

She rolled both suitcases in and sat on the bed to test it.

"Firm," she said. "Byron knows I need firm. For my back."

I stood in the doorway holding Davey and gave her the blank face.

"I'm sorry," I said. "Who are you?"

"Your helper, sweetie." She said it slow and loud. "Dr. Aldane hired me. To help you with the baby. And the house. And your little memory problem."

"Oh. That's nice of him."

"Isn't it?" She smiled at Davey. "Hi, cutie. You're going to have a sister soon."

I kept my face soft.

My arms tightened around my son until he squirmed.

By lunch she had unpacked into my closet.

She hung three maternity dresses on my side and pushed my cardigans to the end of the rail.

At the table she sat in Byron's chair and watched me eat.

Then she reached over with her fork and took a cherry tomato off my plate.

Then another.

Then half my sandwich.

"Eating for two," she said, chewing. "You don't mind, do you, Patient L?"

"What's Patient L?"

"It's you." She licked mayo off her thumb. "You're famous. There's a whole book. You're on page one."

"I don't read much," I said.

"I know. You can't." She laughed. "Sorry. That was mean. You won't remember it."

After lunch I found her in the nursery with a yellow tape measure.

She was measuring the wall beside Davey's crib.

"What are you doing?"

"Seeing if a second crib fits." She let the tape snap back. "It'll be tight. We might move his into the hall closet."

Davey was asleep ten feet away with his fist in his mouth.

I went into the bathroom, ran the faucet, and pressed a towel against my face until I could breathe.

When I came out, she was on the phone in the guest room with the door half closed.

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