“You don’t need to take care of Tali or anything, I just think it would be fun for us to go.”
“First off, I'm honored to be invited.Second, I don’t mind helping with this princess, so don’t even worry about that.Just let me know what time we’re leaving and what I should wear.”
“I will.Thank you, Winnie.”I stand to my full height as I realize I need to leave if I don’t want to be late for work.
“For what?”She tilts her head to the side, watching me carefully.
“For being so easygoing and willing to help.I don’t know what I’d do without you.”I tug her into my arms and hug her for longer than is probably acceptable.
I release her and run a hand through my hair.I don’t know why I just hugged her, it just felt like the right thing to do, but now I'm not sure.
“I love you, Tali girl.I’ll see you when I get home.”I kiss Tali’s forehead before grabbing my duffle bag off the floor and heading towards the door to put on my shoes.“If you need anything, don’t hesitate to call me.I can come home at any time.”
“We’ll be ok, but I will call if we need you for anything.”
I love the way she doesn’t brush off my worries.That she promises to call if she needs me, while also assuring me she won't.She knows exactly how to deal with my anxieties and I'm grateful for that.
“I'm assuming we’re keeping Tali’s existence quiet?”Smithy asks as he slides up next to me in the dugout.
We’re playing a mock game today.Something to get us ready for the first game of the season.I'm pretty happy they split up the starting lineup and Wheeler isn't on my team today.I need some distance from him.
I know he didn’t do anything wrong, but if he talks to me, I'm bound to yell at him for the way he behaved in front of my daughter and how he talked to Winnie.He shouldn’t be raising his voice to her.
“I’d like to keep her to myself until Saturday,” I say softly.
“Are you bringing her to the picnic?”Smithy’s eyebrows raise as well as his voice.
“Yeah, Winnie’s coming too.”
“Ugh, that might cause some problems.”He scrubs a hand down his face and glances at Wheeler.
The two of them have been close since college, but I know he’ll always consider Liliana his best friend over Wheeler.
I can only imagine what was said between Wheeler and Smithy since Saturday night.I'm sure Wheeler was talking his ear off.
“He feels like Winnie’s slipping through his fingers and he doesn’t know how to stop it,” Smithy says quietly enough that no one else can hear us.
“I didn’t do anything.”
“I know you didn’t,” Smithy sighs.“Wheeler does too, deep down.He doesn’t know how to handle Winnie, Tali, and you looking like a family.”
“What do you mean?We don’t look like a family.”I frown out at the field, trying to figure out what he’s talking about.
“You do though.Tali looks so much like Winnie.If I didn’t know any of you, I’d assume they were mother and daughter.Plus, the way Winnie made you a plate and jumped up to get drinks so you didn’t have to… You guys are comfortable around each other and it shows.”
“I'm not trying to date her, Smithy.But we are living together, we have to be comfortable or this will be awkward.”
“I get it and you’re not doing anything wrong.Wheeler’s just having a hard time accepting this.A hard time knowing she’ll spend more time at your house than his.You’re going to be more important to her, her top priority, and he can't stop it.”
“How do I fix it?”
“I don’t think you can.”
“Should I un-invite Winnie to the picnic?”My stomach sinks with the idea of telling Winnie she can't come.She seemed really happy to be invited.
“Nah, Wheeler needs to move on.I’ve been telling him that for years.They’ve never been on the same page.”
My mind drifts to Winnie again.Everyone keeps making comments about the two of them and I'm not sure what to make of it.Even she said they were great together, yet they’re not good for each other.I don’t really understand it, but I want to.
