“Your mom said you needed me,” I say as I sit beside her on thebed.
“I needed to say good-night.”
“Was thatit?”
She gives me an offended look. “Yes.”
“Your mom said you were really upset.” I was expecting to walk into a tantrum like ones I’ve seen in public before, the kind where the parents look like they wish a sinkhole would suddenly open up belowthem.
She crosses her arms, as best she can, anyway. It’s more of an awkward ‘x’ in front of her. “I told Mommy I wanted you to come here and say good-night, and she said we didn’t need to. She said you were probablyasleep.”
“I see.” Inod.
“Mommy said I could call you, but I saidno way, Jose.” Her little head shakes, and I catch my laugh in my throat, where I keep it firmly inplace.
“Well, I’m here now. What can I do foryou?”
“I want you to do that thing you said your mom did when you were a little boy. When she called you abug.”
Ohhh. While Aubrey ordered Claire’s lunch at the zoo I’d told Claire a story about how my mom put me to sleep at night. I never imagined it would lead us here, to a late nightmeltdown.
“OK, hop into bed.” I hold back the covers far enough for her to slip inside. She wiggles down into them, and I pull them up to her chin. “You have a broken arm, so we’re going to do a modified version. Your right arm can go under the blanket, but your left arm sticks out.Deal?”
“Deal,” she nodsexcitedly.
I start down at her legs, tucking the comforter in on either side, working my way up until I’m around her right shoulder. “There,” I say, leaning down to kiss her forehead. “Snug as a bug in arug.”
She giggles. “Good night,Daddy.”
My heart lurches. “Good night,Claire.”
Her eyes stay on me until I close her door. I leave the house and find Aubrey in the same position I left herin.
“Where’s your dad?” I ask. His truck’s in thedriveway.
“Asleep. He has an early wake up tomorrow. He’s going to Tucson forwork.”
I lean against one of the brick pillars that support the patio roof. “Does that mean he’ll stay overnight? If so, you don’t have to eat alone tomorrow night. I can take you and Claireout.”
“That’s very sweet, but it’s only a day trip. He should be home by dinnertime.” Aubrey shifts, her eyes on me. “How wasClaire?”
The laugh I held back comes out now. “She said she told youno way,Jose.”
Aubrey laughs too. “We’re going to have to work on hersass.”
“She wanted me to tuck herin.”
Aubrey rolls her eyes. “I know ‘snug as a bug in a rug’ as well asyou.”
I shrug. “What can I say? Yours must leave something to bedesired.”
She scoffs. “Hardly. I wouldn’t have given in so quickly if my dad weren’tsleeping.”
“I’m glad you did. It’s been killing me that I haven’t seen her since yesterday morning.” I look into her eyes as I say it. I need her to understand how serious I am. “I want to tuck her in. Everynight.”
“Isaac.” Aubrey sighs. I can’t help that it makes me think of the last time she said my name like that, thought the tone might have been different that night five yearsearlier.
“Give you time, I know. I get it.” I push off the wall and head for my truck. When I get there, I turn and say loud enough for her to hear me, “If she wants me here tomorrow night, I’m here.OK?”
