DIE OF A BROKEN HEART

Catalina Gallego. 30. Married to Scott Gallego. Baker at El Pueblo Panaderia. Humboldt Hills. "I'm not the girl that gets the glory."

[catalinaxgallego]

iMessage: Gabe & Catalina

Gabe: Will she though? I don't know, it's been kind of difficult lately to spend time with her when work's been crazier than usual. Yeah I'm sure I have.

Gabe: But just in case, maybe I should grab some pan dulce for her this weekend.

Catalina: Every couple has a bump they have to climb up sometimes and I know that you love her, Gabe. You'll do anything to keep her by your side and work can be a factor that does get in the middle of some relationships you just need to figure out how you two are going to get through it.

Catalina: I'll have it ready and fresh for pick up when you say the word.

[catalinaxgallego]

iMessage: Gabe & Catalina

Gabe: A little bit but I'm not really sure what to say. I mean my work's always gonna be there.

Catalina: Yeah, she'll understand that your job kind of makes you a little busier than normal but just make sure you let her know how important she is to you as well which I'm sure you have, yeah?

[catalinaxgallego]

iMessage: Gabe & Catalina

Gabe: My cases have new leads so I've been working a lot more. We haven't spent a lot of time together lately and I think it's getting to her. Not really sure what to do about it right now.

Catalina: Have you talked to her?

[catalinaxgallego]

iMessage: Gabe & Catalina

Gabe: SOS

Gabe: I think I might be messing things up with Ivy

Catalina: Wait what?

Catalina: rewind.

Catalina: start from the beginning

[catalinaxgallego]

scott-gallego​:

“Oh. Great.” Scott’s face lit up as Catalina agreed to attend, a sense of relief flooding over him. He knew it had nothing to do with him, he just hoped, in some small way, that she might be able to forgive him. It would be a long road, but Scott would take Catalina’s lead, regardless of what that meant. His focus was entirely on what was best for their daughter, and by virtue of that, he cared immensely about Catalina’s needs. “I assumed you’d want Calli with your family for Christmas.” Scott noted absentmindedly. “— Or, whatever. Whatever you want.” He wasn’t exactly looking forward to the day there’d be some sort of custody issue, where they’d have to hire lawyers and sort out their daughter’s schedule and living arrangements. Not that Scott would ever advocate for more than his fair share. As far as he was concerned, Catalina could decide what was best for their daughter, and Scott would go along with it. 

“I know we haven’t really addressed the whole, uhm… Living together, thing. Like you’d mentioned. And I told you I’d think about it, and then everything got a little…” Scott squinted, truly trying to put his best foot forward. “There’s a part of me that wants to do exactly what you want to do, that will want to acquiesce to your every whim purely because you’re Calli’s mother. Then there’s the part of me that so desperately wants your forgiveness that I’ll give you whatever you want. And then, more than that… There’s us. Whatever we still are to each other. Friends or…” He shook his head, looking down at Calli as he fought a frown. “I didn’t want to say yes because I didn’t want to take advantage of your graciousness. Of your kind heart. God knows I already have a million times over. I just — I thought I offered you something… Some rationale, I guess. It’s not that I don’t care, Cat. And it’s not that I didn’t want to say yes right then and there.”

...

Catalina furrows her brows at his words. “I actually haven’t thought much about that.” Her gaze falls down to the infant falling asleep in her father’s arms, knowing it should have been something she thought about but she had assumed they’d handle those big issues as easily as they’ve worked out everything else. She was looking into getting her own place with Calli, adjusting her days at the bakery to make sure someone was always with their daughter whether it was his family or hers. She didn’t really think about what would happen if all of them got together for big holidays or if they even could. “I want her first holidays to be with both of us, Scott. It’s a big milestone, you know?” She lifts her eyes up towards him. “We can maybe do something with everyone or whatever.” Most of the decisions, Scott’s been patiently going along with, the day she decided to move out of his place and she was sure if she slapped divorce papers down on the table he’d sign them without arguing with her simply because it was the one thing they hadn’t talked about.

Her eyes never leave him as he begins to talk, a little surprised he’s even bringing up everything now. She knows he’s been walking on eggshells with practically everyone in his life but there isn’t much she knows further than that. She has no idea what’s going on between him and Dani, the last thing she really heard was the fact his ex had been surprised he was even having a baby and then that vague comment about him not wanting her to run into Ethan’s arms but other than that the topic of them was never touched and Catalina didn’t realize how much she had been ignoring all of until he started to actually talk about it. There’s us. Is there? It’s on the tip of her tongue but she doesn’t utter a single word, hell, she’s not even sure if she’s breathing. She inhales at the last word that leaves his mouth, clearing her throat. “I —” she exhales as she glances down towards Calli who is peacefully sleeping in his arms without a single care in the world. “I don’t want you to just agree to anything that comes to her because you feel like you have to whether it’s me being her mother or you trying to get forgiveness.” She reluctantly raises her eyes up to him. “What do you want, Scott?” She asks. “Forget whatever guilt you’re feeling or what you feel obligated to do... What do you want?”

[catalinaxgallego]

THE DE LEON HOUSE w/ @ethanmendoza​

It’s her weekend with Calliope and her parents decided to go visit some family in Mexico so it was just her and the baby all weekend. Catalina rocks the infant in her arms, laying her carefully into the crib. Her gaze focuses on the baby for a few seconds until she hears a knock on the door. Her brows furrowing as she turns her head to look over at her bedroom door. Who could that be? She glances towards the clock to see it’s only eight-thirty which it feels like it should have been way later with how much it felt like putting Calli down tonight was a fight. She takes a few soft steps back until she’s out of the bedroom, shutting the door behind her. She walks over to the end table by the couch, plucking up the baby monitor as she heads to the front door. 

Truly, she’s not sure who it could be because usually Scott sends a text if he ever comes over. She reaches for the locks, unlocking it and grabbing the knob to pull open the door. She sees Ethan standing there, her eyes narrowing for a second because she’s trying to figure out when the last time she saw him was. I love you, Cat. And I know it’s not enough. It’s never been enough. It’ll never be enough. But you know what? Neither does he. Inhaling, it’s hard to believe it has been a few months since she had seen him but she figured it was basically out of respect given the whole new mother thing. She grabs his arm and pulls him into the house. “Come in but stay quiet.” She still doesn’t have an answer for him because the one thing she had been focused on was making sure her and Scott could co-exist together as parents.

[catalinaxgallego]

scott-gallego​:

Scott had betrayed his family’s trust, that much was more than obvious. They had been reticent when he’d announced he’d be getting married, but meeting Catalina had led the Gallego’s to fully embrace the choice, once they could see how earnest and lovely Catalina was. The entire family had not embraced Dani in the same manner — his parents hadn’t, at least. His sisters had loved Dani as their own, but cared for Catalina just as much now. And it was a horrible thing, what Scott had done — so it would take some time to walk back his behavior, and to make amends. Ana still held him at arm’s length, and part of that, Scott understood, was that she’d looked up to him, had seen him as such a role-model, only to have that thin veneer shattered. 

“It’s not all bad.” Scott promised with a meek smile. “And it’s not —” He cleared his throat. “It’s not your job to fix it. That’s not… That’s not why I’m inviting you. To score points, or anything. It would just be nice. Not even for them. Just for me, to uh, to have everyone together.” He stalled on saying family, when, despite he and Catalina being linked for the rest of their lives, the word ‘family’ might not aptly categorize where they were at that very moment. “It’s just my parents. I don’t think Ana or Gabi are particularly keen on flying with Mateo right now.” Or being stuck in Eureka, for that matter. “And Sabey just started a new job, so she’s out as well. Which I guess makes things easier, you know. I don’t have to do a zone offense.”

...

Calli was the one and only thing Catalina cared about. The last thing she was concerned about was whatever Scott was doing in his life or anything in hers. Which probably sounded bad given she had a man who had been with her every step of the way through the pregnancy after the affair with Dani and Scott dropped a bomb on her life but the second she realized that there was going to be a little girl in the world who was going to look at her for all the answers, the last thing she was going to do was fling herself into anything new when she had her daughter to think about and it didn’t really seem like Ethan was completely interested in raising a baby that wasn’t his and losing Calli was absolutely not even an option. All the woman was concerned with was making sure Calli was happy and when the time came for the whole marriage subject to come up, she’d talk about it but right now the only thing that mattered was them being on the same page about their daughter which lately they had been. The rest would come as it was but she would be lying if she didn’t admit to getting legal advice for when the day came.

Her head tilts to the side a little, her expression not really changing as he says that he wasn’t exactly inviting her to score points or even get on anyone’s good side. She knew that eventually the both of them would have to attend family get togethers to show Calli that her parents could co-exist together. “Okay, that sounds good. Just send me a text with the details and I’ll be there.” She smiles as she glances down at Calli in his arms, her index finger brushing along her forehead when he starts talking about his siblings. “Right, the weather changing and stuff. I don’t know if I’d fly out there with Calli right now either.” She lifts her eyes up towards Scott, realizing the how close the holidays were coming and how it had bee a year since she found out she was having Calli. She pulls her hand away from the baby as she nods her head at his words. “We can save that for the holidays.” She teases. “Well, I’ll be there.”

[womenaremagyc]

[catalinaxgallego]

scott-gallego​:

Scott’s gaze focused on Catalina as the door swung open, soft smile summoned as she greeted him. “Hey.” He greeted in reply, taking the unspoken invitation to enter the home, looking around until she found Cali, at which point his gaze returned promptly to Catalina. He lost track as she began speaking, watching her, but only registering that it was his turn to speak a few moments after it’d been initially appropriate to render a response. “October 28th. Right. I’ll put it in my calendar.” Scott quickly replied, nodding along. His gaze broke from Catalina to look at Calliope, if only to assure himself he’d not been staring, even though he had been. “Yeah, yeah, we know the drill.” He nodded with a broader smile. “Right, baby?” He said in a softer, ‘baby’ voice as he reached for his daughter as she was offered, greeting her with soft noises and a kiss on the forehead. Once she was resting against his chest, Scott looked to Catalina again, another dragging pause as he mulled over the right words.

“— So, my parents will be in town, this weekend. I mean, you know that. I told you that. But I thought I’d remind you. Just in case —” He knit his brow, distracting himself by pretending to adjust Cali. “If you wanted to join us, that’s all. I’m sure they’d love to see you. They’re certainly not here to see me.” He jested, though as ever, there was a kernel of truth to the statement. Ana was still holding firmly to her cold shoulder, and things with Scott’s family had been, well, awkward, to say the least. But he was doing his best, trying as hard as he could to work past it, to earn their respect again. It wasn’t as if he had any legs to stand on in terms of complaining about his fall from grace, he’d been the one who’d orchestrated it, after all. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to put you on the spot, or anything. I just know they would, like to see you. That’s all.”

...

Truthfully, things were good with Scott. Somehow the both of them shifted out of the awkward in between stage to being the best co-parents she knew that they could be. She drops her gaze to their daughter in his arms, a wide smile on her features as she reaches over to brush her finger along the small cheek. She pulls her hand back with a smile on her features as she drifts her gaze from their daughter to Scott when he begins to talk about how his parents are in town. She constantly texts his mother photos of their daughter all the time and she may have sent her a reminder text message that she’d be in town but she knows fixing his relationship with his family is important to him and there’s no way she’s stepping in on that. 

“It’s...” She chews on her lower lip as she keeps her gaze on him. “It’s still that bad with them?” She can’t believe that next month is the year anniversary of her finding out that they were having this little one. “Hey,” she reaches out, putting her hand on his arm. “If you want me there, I’m there.” She gives his arm a little squeeze. “Just give me a time and place. Is it just your parents or is Ana coming too?” She also knows things have been hard there. She turns and reaches down, plucking the diaper bag off the table. “We’re family now. Whatever you need, I’m there for you.”

[catalinaxgallego]

scott-gallego​:

CLOSED START FOR: @catalinaxgallego​ LOCATION: de leon family home, humboldt hills

Calliope was growing up — at least, every day seemed to bring on a new development, every month a new milestone. And every day was the last first for something, a keen reminder to cherish the time that Scott had with his daughter, even if it was split between he and Catalina. Which was — well, it was less than ideal. But Scott was keeping a respectful distance, particularly when he had no real way of knowing where Ethan and Cat stood. All Scott knew was that he was staying out of it, even if he really, really didn’t want to. Constantly reminding himself it was none of his business, that he truly had no place to talk.

But he couldn’t help the strange stirring. Jealousy, maybe. Not that he could do anything about, not that he could say a word. Because Scott’s honor may have failed him in the past, but he was working on reclaiming it. And part of that was letting Catalina go, because he simply couldn’t have the best of both worlds. It was Scott’s weekend, which meant he was arriving to Catalina’s after finishing work, quite eager to see his daughter. Not that this weekend was really Scott’s weekend, since his parents would be arriving the following morning and would likely be monopolizing their only granddaughter’s time. 

Knocking on the door, Scott stood patiently, still dressed in his fatigues as he’d come rushing over from the base the second he’d been able that day. 

...

Catalina pulls the front door open only a few seconds after the knock occurs. “Hey. I was just finishing packing up the weekend back.” She steps back from the door, leaving it in a way that indicated he can walk right in. The both of them simply fell into the rightful pattern of becoming the best co-parents they could. Equally keeping their noses out of each other’s business and it was the least she could do to respect whatever was going on in her husband’s life. She walks over to the onesies folded on the ground next to the bag that’s only a few feet away from Calliope who is laying on her tummy and cooing. It’s hard to believe three months had come and go. Fifteen weeks to exact. 

 “Don’t forget we have our four month check up appointment on October 28th at 9am. Let me know if you need me to text that to you I got confirmation this morning.” She smiles widely as Calliope’s eyes fall on her. “Hi. You see Daddy?” Their daughter’s face lighting up the second her eyes scan the room to find him. “We’re doing a lot of drooling which means constantly wiping at her mouth.” She murmurs, seeing some drool start to leave Calliope’s mouth. She plucks the baby cloth off the floor and moves to wipe her mouth. Calliope laughs. She moves back and puts the cloth on the ground as she begins to finish packing up the weekend bag. “There should be plenty of breast milk in the bag but if you need more... Well, you know the drill.” She chuckles as she moves over to pick up their daughter up off the floor. “Car seat is right there on the couch.” She says as she stands up with their daughter in her arms, kissing the top of her head. “Uh, that’s it.” She moves to hand Calliope to Scott, lifting her eyes up towards him. 

[catalinaxgallego]

gabealvarcz​:

“The first six weeks, you mean when the kid’s in it’s prime for cuteness, I see what you’re doing,” Gabe teased with a grin before shaking his head with amusement. “Wait you’re looking for a new place? What about the dad? Doesn’t he have a house or something?” At least that’s what he had heard and he was sure there could be other reasons why Catalina chose to do things on her own or gain a bit more independence. “Yeah well don’t go around telling everyone that, I’m supposed to be a big bad detective,” he couldn’t help the easy smile that rose to his features. “Good to know, you won’t believe how difficult it is to find a good baker around here.”

...

Catalina laughed. “I’ll take lots of pictures for you,” she mused as she leaned her elbows down against the surface of the counter, using her index finger to push his treats in his direction. “I think it would be a little awkward if Scott and I live together when we aren’t... together.” She brushed her tongue along her lower lip, shrugging her shoulders. “I just... I don’t know if there is anything there to save between the both of us.” She laughed. “Right, right. Don’t worry your secret is safe with me.” She scrunched up her nose at his words. “Well, I appreciate the compliments. Maybe when I’m on maternity leave I’ll open a shop out of the house so you can come get something.”

[catalinaxgallego]

kevinnor​:

“Well, not just where sweet things are concerned,” Kevin clarified. He wouldn’t even really call himself a sweet tooth kind of person, because he was just as happy to finish a fancy meal with a cheese plate as with a cake or tart or something. It was just that while he was reasonably competent at making food, he was hopeless with anything that vaguely bordered on baking, and why shouldn’t he take advantage of someone else’s skill, all while supporting a local business. “But that sounds perfect, thank you. Is tres leches a caramel thing?” He was taking a stab in the dark, based solely on that one ice cream flavor that had leche in the name, though nothing going into the box looked especially caramel colored. “I’ll definitely bring you back a review,” he assured her. “It’s the very least I can do, when you’ve gone to all this trouble.”

...

Catalina let her eyes rest on him. “Yeah? What else do you like to snack on?” It was always easy to talk about food and sometimes the more you knew about what kind of stuff people liked to munch on whenever they could get their hands on it... Well, it made it easier to figure out what desserts they could possibly want to try. “It’s a type of sponge cake, it’s light with many air bubbles.” She chuckled. “It’s honestly one of my favorites, it basically melts in your mouth.” She smiled as she put the cake in the box and placed it on the counter, moving to the register. “It will be eight dollars.” She smiled. “I would love to hear what you have to say about it and we can always give you something new every time.”

[catalinaxgallego]

gabealvarcz​

“I’m serious, I grew up with siblings and cousins I grew up with? Too many. I’m a pro at babysitting,” Gabe said with a chuckle despite the fact that his words were very true. Having a large family certainly had its perks and he hoped one day he’d also have some kids of his own, but for now he’d settle for babysitting duty. “Yeah, we are. It’s nice, you know, having someone to come home to. Or even to have a place that’ll feel like a real home now,” Gabe shrugged his shoulders, not wanting to get too sentimental about it all. “Guess that means I’m gonna be ordering extra pan dulce every week now, bet you’re gonna be happy about that,” he joked with a smirk. 

...

Catalina let a smile come along her features. “I’ll keep this in mind. I plan to at least spend the first six weeks not leaving her side but after that it’s kind of up in the air. I’m looking at apartments for her and I that we can move into after the six weeks are up. So, if you know any good apartments that would be good for a single mom and her two month old,” she laughed as she set the box on the counter, letting her eyes rest on him as he started to talk about how nice it was having someone to come home too. “Look at you,” she mused. “I knew you were a softie,” She teased. “Well, you’ll have to deal with my mother the second Callie decides to vacate the housing situation she has now for at least six weeks... but.” She pulled off her gloves, tossing them into the trash can as she pulled out her little note pad, holding up. “I have your order written down so you won’t have to repeat it to anyone else.”

[catalinaxgallego]

kevinnor​:

“Afraid not,” Kevin confirmed, his attention finally shifting fully from available choices to the very pregnant woman on staff. Was she the owner? Part of Kevin hoped so; it had to be a tough job, being on your feet, but he could understand wanting to hang around until you absolutely could not if you owned the place. If you didn’t, well, he rather hoped maternity leave included some time pre as well as post partum. “And, well, I know this doesn’t help, but not really? I like pretty much everything.” A conversation with a friend from a few months back flashed in his mind, and he added, “I do typically go for a red velvet cake on my birthday, though.”

...

Catalina let her eyes focus on the man with a smile on her features. “Sweet tooth kind of a person?” She chuckled. “I pretty much eat everything and anything as well.” She smiled as she turned her head towards the display case. “I’ll give you one of our sample boxes and then a piece of Tres Leches Cake especially since it sounds like you like cake.” She grabbed a box and started putting different desserts into the box. “Hopefully they meet your standards,” she teased.

[catalinaxgallego]

lj-lewis​:

He watched somewhat guiltily as she moved about, feeling bad for making her get up in the first place.  He was a tough man, raised on a ranch, his life made of back breaking chores and labor, and yet he still couldn’t imagine going about his daily life while growing a human being.  That was hardcore.  “Yeah I can only imagine at this point it feels like a game of hurry up and wait.” he chuckled softly, “Do you want me to cross my fingers for an early delivery? Or is that bad luck?”  He hadn’t been around many pregnant women, if that hadn’t been obvious.  “Depends on what kind,” he added, continuing their small talk, “This type of errand?” he gestured to the large and beautiful display of pastries between them, “The best.  Having to go wait in line at the pharmacy for my Aunt’s medicine?  Maybe less so.”  — “Any chance you have any fresh chamuco?”

...

Catalina laughed. “Yeah, they always say the last month is the worst part and they sure are right.” She smiled as she nodded her head, extending her index finger towards him. “Please do cross your fingers because if I’m one of those women that’s over a week late I’m not sure my sanity would be able to handle it.” She teased. She glanced towards the pastries in the display case, letting the smile stay on her features as she nodded her head. “They do say getting baked goods is the best part of the errand filled days. It’s like a little treat for yourself for being an adult and getting shit done.” She laughed. “Those pharmacy lines are the worst,” she nodded her head as she turned to walk into the kitchen, grabbing a to-go box on her way in. She came out a few seconds later, placing the box on the counter and pushing it towards him. “Fresh out of the oven about five minutes before you got here. They shouldn’t be burn your mouth hot anymore.”

[catalinaxgallego]

scott-gallego​:

Scott’s eyes crinkled as he looked over at Catalina, small humored smile on his face. He could agree readily — being a kid had certainly been easier. And their daughter would have it easy, that he promised himself daily. “Well —” He cleared his throat. “You don’t have to go back to work. If you don’t want to.” Scott wasn’t truly clear on how child support or whatever custody arrangement they came to would work, but if it was Catalina’s wish to stay home with their daughter for as long as she wanted, he’d simply find a way to support that. Scott would do whatever Catalina wanted, really. A part of him still wondered when the bubble would burst, when Ethan would get his way, when Catalina would turn her back on Scott, start a life with someone new, when he’d just be some secondary figure in his daughter’s life. He’d spiraled enough about it, to himself. “— Oh.” Scott let out a soft breath of surprise at Catalina’s question, having never given the thought any consideration before that moment. “I, um…” He squinted his eyes, looking down at his hands. “We can think about it. Yeah.” He couldn’t comprehend that that was what Catalina would truly want — or if it was what he necessarily wanted, either. “I’m sorry — to not have an answer. But I’ll think about it. I will.”

...

Catalina lifted her eyes up towards him as she tilted her head to the side. “I couldn’t ask you or my parents to do that.” When it came to deciding whether or not it was time to make the ending of their marriage official or not she had to at least get her own place and that meant working. “I appreciate the thought though.” She sat in the chair, leaning back against it as she rested her head back. She hadn’t done much socializing since Callie was born and if she was honest she still couldn’t figure out how she would even began to fix whatever it was Ethan and her were. In the last nine months, it was the last thing that was on her mind. Someone coming back into her life, a certain someone she had spent pretty much her entire life wanting to be with had been put into a box in the back of her mind and buried behind everything else. Plus after her last conversation with him she didn’t imagine he would stick around Eureka anyway. He clearly wanted something she wasn’t willing to give and he had no interest in being apart of Callie’s life the way he would have to be if the two of them finally gave them an actual shot. She focuses her gaze upon Scott as she observed the expressions to cross them after her statement. “Maybe it was... a jump.” She cleared her throat as she turns her head to look over at the monitor, picking it up. “I know the last nine months I haven’t exactly been willing to talk about everything. Now that she’s here and she’s healthy. We should start pulling out the pins.” She glanced back towards Scott. “As much as I don’t want to think about it, these six week are going to go by fast and I have to put things into motion if we decide sharing custody is what we want to do.” She cleared her throat as she put down the monitor. “We also should meet with a lawyer and get some divorce papers drawn up.” Green hues move up towards her ex-husband. “I want you to know that I don’t want anything. All I want is for you to be apart of her life. I don’t need you to spilt anything with me or spousal support or any money for that matter. I have some money set aside to get me and Callie a little place once we move out of here.” She nodded her head. “I’ve been avoiding all of it for too long and it’s not fair to you, to me, to Callie... or to anyone else in our lives.” Assuming that him and Dani were still... a thing. “So, let me know when you want to start pulling pins out of the issues we’ve been... putting aside.” She stood up. “As for now I’m going to take advantage of the fact that you’re awake and take a shower.” She pointed at him. “I’ll try not to take up all the hot water, alright?” She chuckled. 

[catalinaxgallego]

scott-gallego​:

“I guess I never knew just how much they sleep. She literally only wakes up to eat. That’s a hell of a life.” Scott huffed out a laugh, amused at their daughter for doing nothing at all. When she was awake, he watched her stare, taking in his face, or Catalina’s, as if she really understood who they were to her. He knew he was only imagining things, but Scott had a fear — when Catalina and Calliope moved out, she wouldn’t need him. Her cries in the middle of the night wouldn’t be for him, but for Catalina. She innately knew her own mother, but Scott… Well that was a different matter entirely. He wasn’t jealous, only concerned. But he would do anything to slow down the next six weeks, to live in them and form a bond as strong as was possible. “Oh, I’m fine. I’m bred to work without sleep. I am in the Navy.” He joked lightly, smile forming. “I don’t even know if I could sleep. I find myself waking up all of the time, worrying if she’s still breathing, if she’s okay.”

...

“Every two hours,” the brunette chuckled. “You never realize how much better it was to be a kid than an adult.” She teased as she leaned back against the chair, glancing towards the monitor. Her dark hues focused on the screen until she saw Calli’s chest raise and fall. Honestly, the last thing that had been on her mind was leaving this house which only had Ethan’s words whispering in the back of her head at all hours of the day. She turned her head to look over at Scott as she laughed softly. “I don’t know how I’m gonna go back to work after this,” she said. “I understand that one completely.” She kept her eyes on the father of her daughter. “Even if I do fall asleep, it’s only for a few seconds because I’ll jolt awake and have this need to make sure she’s still breathing.” She glanced back towards the monitor. “Do you think it would be crazy if we...” Her sentence stopped before she inhaled, adjusting herself on the seat to turn and face Scott. “What if Calliope and I didn’t move out after six weeks? Just two parents that live together to raise their daughter at least until she’s old enough to understand it...” She cleared her throat. “Or is that... weird?”