“Come on. I’m going to need some liquid courage if you want to hear my tragic story.”
I reach out and grab her hand and pretend to let her help me to my feet. I know I shouldn’t smile, but I can’t help.
She’s letting me in.
When Sadie and I got into the house, Sophia was waiting for us. She wanted to know if she could stay at my parents’ house for the night.
It’s clear to me she’s still not feeling great about what happened with the toilet and Sadie yesterday. I think Sadie could feel it too because she excused herself to her apartment shortly after we got inside and told me she’d be back for dinner.
As much as I want her to stay home soI can help her through it, I’m proud of my daughter for not only telling me what happened, but also asking for space. Even though she didn’t flat out say it, I know that’s what she needs. I mean, she isn’t even five, cut her some slack.
She hasn’t had a sleepover at my parents’ place in a couple weeks, and they’re all too eager to have their favorite girl over for the night.
Sophia and I have just finished packing her overnight bag when I hear the door open, followed by my mom’s voice. “Anybody home?”
“Mummo!” Sophia is too excited to finish the task at hand and she runs out of her room, charging down the steps toward my waiting parents. I grab Sophia’s purple goat and follow her down the steps.
My mom and dad are busy hugging Sophia to even acknowledge my presence. It hits me just now that since I hired Sadie, they haven’t been over to see us as much as usual. I know that’s exactly what I wanted for them, more freedom to do what they please, but seeing Sophia with them now makes me feel guilty for the first time since making the new arrangements.
“Thank you guys for taking her for the night. She really missed you.”
The three of them finally pull away from each other. My dad reaches his hand out to take Sophia’s bag and waves me off. “You don’t have to thank us, son. We’re happy to do it. You should know that by now.”
I nod once and walk with them to the front door. My mom grabs my arm and rests her head against me.
“Any big plans on your night off? No hockey. No Sophia. It’s been a while since you’ve had a night to yourself.” Her voice is light and teasing and by the playful smile on her face, I know she’s wondering if I have a hot date tonight. My mother was never the meddling type but over the past year, especially since everything that happened with my dad, she’s becomeway too interested in my love life. She doesn’t exactly push, but she’s always sliding in a comment or question about if I met anyone new lately. I think she’s afraid of me being alone.
Before I can let her down easy, Sophia answers the question for me.
“Miss Sadie is coming back over for dinner.”
My mother picks her head up off my arm, her eyes widening and a grin spreading across her face at the same time I hear a door close behind me near the garage.
As if Sophia conjured her up herself, Sadie comes walking down the hallway. Every head turns her way and Sadie halts mid-step.
“Oh. Hi, everyone. I hope I’m not interrupting?” Sadie rocks awkwardly and waits in the middle of the hallway.
Sadie met my parents briefly the day she moved into her apartment. They had stopped by to introduce themselves. My mother and Sadie bonded over sage cleansing and interior design, but luckily it was Canasta night so they had to leave shortly after. There wasn’t enough time for my mother to play matchmaker. But thinking about it now, maybe I could’ve used her help.
No, that’s crazy thinking. I do not need my mother to help set me up with the woman I can’t stop thinking about.
Before I can save Sadie and explain that my parents were just leaving, my mom releases herself from me and walks over to Sadie. She latches onto Sadie’s arm just as she latched onto mine moments ago.
“Of course not, dear! We’re just picking up Sophia for a sleepover. But you probably already knew that.”
Sadie’s eyes widen in shock at my mother’s accusation but I don’t miss the chuckle she tries to hide behind her hand.
“?iti.” I use the Finnish word for “mother,” hoping it grabs her attention.
I walk over to the two of them and put my arm around my mom’s shoulders. I lead her away from Sadie to the doorwhere my dad stands with a smirk of his own on his face. Traitor.
“As much as I’d love for you to stay and chat…” Sadie laughs behind me, and my mother looks at me accusingly. “Don’t you have a movie you need to get to?”
Thankfully my dad ends his smirking and comes to take my mother from me. “He’s right, dear. We should get going.” As he leads her to the door he winks at me over his shoulder.
Good grief.
I stand in the doorway and wave to them as they back out the driveway. I don’t stop waving until their car is out of sight and I can no longer see Sophia’s hand reaching out the back window.
