The girls continued with the questions while I leaned back in my chair.
“What’s your favorite color?”
“Green. What’s yours?”
“Green as well.”
News to me, but go off, Alice.
“What about your favorite animal?”
“Ooh, Audrey, that’s a tricky one. Umm, maybe an eagle. What about you?”
“I like sloths. Daddy wants to be a sloth.”
“Does he really?”
“Yes, because they lie around doing fuck all, allll day long.”
“Audrey!”
“That’s what you said!”
“I don’t recall ever saying that, but if I did, it doesn’t mean you can. Emily will think I’m a terrible dad, saying words like that in front of you.”
“Never!” Emily’s eyes were absolutely glowing with barely contained laughter and there went my heart again, doing that slow, painful roll. “But you know what, I think that’s my cue. I’m sure you guys want to get back to your afternoon.” Emily set her mug down with a soft clink.
“Aw.” Alice’s face fell. “Do you have to?”
“I do. But thank you for showing me your playroom. It was really cool.”
The girls followed us to the front door, still chattering. I held the screen door open as she stepped through onto the porch, letting myself drag in a breath, knowing I’d be hit with her scent. No regrets.
When she turned back to say goodbye, her eyes met mine, really met them, for the first time since she’d arrived.
“I hope you’re okay.”
Her smile was soft, genuine. No performance, no deflection. Just Emily, standing on my porch, looking at me like maybe I’d done something that mattered.
“I am. Thank you.”
“Bye, Emily! I hope you come back real soon.”
“Bye, Audrey.”
She ruffled Alice’s hair, gave me one more quick glance, then she was walking down the steps, back to her place.
The girls were already racing back to the playroom, their voices fading down the hallway.
I stood there with my hand on the screen door, watching until she reached her front door and went inside.
I closed the door and headed back to the kitchen to clean up the mugs and the Tupperware container with its butterfly cupcakes. My chest still felt tight, but it was a different kind of tight now. The kind that made me think I might be in trouble.
EMILY
“Done!” Maya called out from down the hallway, before she appeared in the living room doorway, brown hair tied back in a messy bun, wearing black leggings and an old t-shirt. “Everything’s unpacked and put away. I even hung up that weird tapestry my mom gave me for Christmas.”
I looked up from where I’d been curled on the couch with my sketchbook. “The one with the wolves howling at the moon?”
