“No, she likes wine.” I coughed hard, choking on my shake as my brows bunched together and I narrowed my eyes at her in confusion on how and why Ceona knew that bit of information.
“And how do you know that, Cece?”
“Jo-Jo told me one day. He wants to get her some too. He said she works a lot and he knows she likes it. He said she’s always in a better mood when she has some. Daddy, what is wine? Can I have some too?” I laughed at her son letting out all her secrets to the world. Well, to my seven-year-old who would tell the world if she could.
“No. It’s a grown-up drink only and I can’t bring that to the park with me. So, we’ll have to think of something else. Maybe a slushie instead of the popsicle.” Ceona tilted her head and tapped her chin, making me chuckle.
“Okay, but maybe we can all get them. Can I get a blue one?”
I nodded. “Okay, so, tomorrow I’m bringing slushies and you two can’t ruin the surprise to Jo-Jo before I get there, okay?” They nodded but I wasn’t too convinced about Ceona not telling Jo-Jo. I was sure Neela would forget until she got her cup in her hand tomorrow.
I held out my pinkies, waiting for Ceona and Neela to lock their tiny ones around mine as they both giggled wildly.
“Deal.”
Then it was set, I now had a solid plan to spark up a conversation with Olive tomorrow and I couldn’t wait.
Chapter
Five
Olive
“Mommy, my dad wants to talk to you!” Jo-Jo yelled as he walked into the kitchen with my phone outstretched in his hand. Jasiel called almost an hour ago and had been on the phone with Jo-Jo since. It was the perfect opportunity for me to start dinner without hearing the same damn question on repeat about whether dinner is ready.
I tapped the counter for him to put it down. My hands were busy shucking the corn I was preparing for the grill. Jo-Jo hit the speaker button for me.
“Mommy, is the food almost done? I’m starving.” Jo-Jo whined as he leaned into me, hugging me around my waist.
“Starving? You not feeding my son, Olive?” Jasiel asked jokingly.
I smirked as I shook my head. “I did skip the second snack after he came home from camp. My bad. It’s almost done, Jo-Jo. Do you want to eat inside or on the deck?”
“Ooh, outside.” I kissed his head, sending him running off from my affection.
“He a growing boy, Liv. You gotta start keeping snacks around for him to start grabbing on his own.” I rolled my eyes asI placed the fresh corn in the bowl I had in the sink filled with water.
“Did you want to talk to me about Jo-Jo’s snack intake or did you want to have a conversation worth having?”
“Damn, I wanted a check in. Jo-Jo can’t tell me how it’s really going on.”
“It’s going. The camp’s first field trip is Friday. They’re going to the beach. But wait, guess what, Jo-Jo made a friend at camp. She’s a sweetheart who comes with a little sister who is the cutest. You would die laughing at her trying to keep up with them on the jungle gym.”
“A girl?” I chuckled at Jasiel’s quizzical tone as I imagined his raised eyebrow and squinted eyes.
“Yes. I’m not sure how it happened, but here we are. They play even after the camp is over. So, my days have consisted of sitting on a park bench with snacks and shit for them for an extra twenty minutes or so.”
“Damn. So they out here tough already. Well, we wanted this, right?”
“Yeah, I guess. I don’t think I prepared myself for it to be a little girl, but right, here we are.”
We grew quiet as I began to wash the corn next. Since it was just Jo-Jo and me, I only did a couple; some for today and leftovers tomorrow.
After a few more minutes, Jasiel spoke again. “Is that all? How’s work?”
“Work is work. I did meet someone though. Well, kinda. It’s complicated.”
“Wait, not Olive Reed met a man. This I have to hear.”
