I was the first to wake up the next morning, my heart still hurting but my mind clear. I’d also learned a valuable lesson last night. And that was to never fall asleep first.
I felt wrappers braided into my hair, and I was sure I had something drawn on my face as well. I just hoped they hadn’t used Sharpie.
After I confirmed I had a giant heart on my forehead, I washed it off—lucky for me they were feeling generous and used lipstick—and pulled Willa’s fluffy robe over my pj’s.
I heard Lena crying next door and went over. My knock was answered within seconds, and I was met with a tired looking Nora, who was trying to calm Lena while Luca was holding on to her leg, asking for breakfast.
“If you come in, I might not let you leave again,” Nora greeted me and pulled me inside. I stumbled after her and she only let me go once I was standing in her kitchen.
I got cereal down for Luca and lifted him into his chair. “Do you want blueberries, strawberries, or banana with your cereal today? Or all three?” I asked.
“All fee,” he yelled and smiled big.
“All righty then, one healthy bowl of cereal coming right up.”
I mixed the milk and cereal and added the fruit before I handed it over to him with a spoon.
“Fank you, Esteballa,” he said.
“You are very welcome, cuddlewuddle.”
He giggled at my nickname for him and shook his head. “That’s not my name.”
“Oh yeah? What is it then? Pumpkin? Strawberry? Pear?”
“I’m not a pumelkin.”
He kept giggling and I smiled at him. After he calmed down, he started eating his breakfast.
Nora came back in and I held my arms out to a still-crying Lena. Nora didn’t hesitate handing her over.
“What’s wrong, baby girl?” I asked Lena and started walking around the apartment.
“She’s teething, not sleeping, and wants to be cuddled all the time,” Nora sighed and poured herself a cup of coffee. “Now I’m cranky, exhausted, and have no patience left. Which is a terrible combination for my parenting skills and keeping my head together at work.”
“Why don’t you go back to bed? I’ve got this,” I said and winked at Luca who was still busy slurping up his disgustingly healthy breakfast.
“You don’t mind?” she asked.
“I don’t have to be at work until eight. And it’s only six. That means you can get at least another hour. Doesn’t take me long to get ready.”
Without another word she turned on her heels and sprinted to her room.
“Do you want to go visit Wills and Maisie?” I asked Luca once he was finished with his breakfast.
“Yes,” he cheered and pumped his fist in the air.
“Let’s get dressed and then we can have a playdate next door.”
And for the next hour, Maisie, Willa, and I built a kick-ass blanket fort with Luca while Lena slept through most of it.
“Where did you get that dress from? Didn’t the personal shopper buy you something for tonight?” David asked with a frown on his face.
“She did,” I said, not elaborating further. I hated all her choices, the conservative wardrobe so far from my style that I hardly recognized myself every time I wore one of the things she bought.
“Then why aren’t you wearing it?” he asked, not done questioning my wardrobe for tonight. Which was ridiculous, since we weren’t even at one of his dinners. Tonight there were no connections to be made or people to impress. Willa’s engagement party was family and close friends only. David was only here because he insisted it looked bad if I went on my own. Not sure who exactly would find out if I went by myself, but I had given up trying to understand how his mind worked.
“I can hardly get changed now, can I?” I asked and frowned down at my green maxi dress. It was fitted around the bodice and hung to the floor in soft waves. It was made of silk and speckled with small white flowers. I adored the light fabric and the way it flowed around my body.
