“I don’t know how single parents do this,” I said to Shane one day. She’d come over to keep me company and play with Kallie for awhile, although Kallie had fallen asleep almost as soon as the movie had started.

“Sometimes it’s better that way,” Shane said, quietly so as not to wake Kallie, who had fallen asleep pretty much right on top of her.

“Yeah, I know. I just…I don’t know. I miss her,” I sighed.

“She’ll be back. And she misses you too,” Shane replied. When she saw my confusion she smiled. “She keeps calling and telling me to make sure you two are all right.”

“She does?” I asked, and I was unable to keep myself from smiling at the thought. “She hasn’t really called here all that much…”

“Would you want her to? She’s on vacation from it. That doesn’t mean she can’t be worried about you.”

I supposed that made sense, so I shrugged and laughed when I saw Kallie snuggling into Shane. “I hope you’re comfortable. She’ll be out for at least an hour or so,” I joked. Shane just shook her head.

“She can stay as long as she wants, she’s fine.” There was silence for a minute until Shane asked, “Do you think you might want more?”

“More kids?” I asked. She nodded, and I had to think about it. “I think I would. Not now, it’s too soon for Alice. But yeah.”

“I think it’d be good. You’re good at this.”

“You really think so?” I asked. I tried my best, but I didn’t really think I was doing a very good job. And it really didn’t have anything to do with Kallie’s illness; I just thought I wasn’t too great at parenting in general.

“She’s happy, and she’s healthy aside from a disease you had no control over, so I’d say you’re doing great,” Shane replied.

She stayed the rest of the afternoon, and we didn’t really talk much. Kallie spent most of that time asleep, and I was lost in my own head. I realized that I’d wanted to have more children even before Shane had mentioned it. I knew Alice still had a long way to go before she’d be ready, if she ever was. But I was really, really hoping she would be.