“Maybe what?”
He touches my upper arm. “You’ll figure it out. I need to run, get my shake, and head back to the city.” He begins to run in place.
“Don’t forget about the charity dinner later this week,” he says as he runs backwards. “You are expected not to come alone,” he calls out.
I wave him off in the air with a little two-finger salute.
I take my time with a cool-off walk back to the house, making a mental note that I only left the house because I knew April was there in case Handley woke, which clearly happened as I hear them in the playroom as I walk past the hall. I backtrack a step but stay hidden as I listen.
“So, what should a princess expect?” Hadley wonders. They're sitting in her little tent with books scattered around on the floor. My daughter is still in her pajamas, whereas April is ready for the day in jeans and an off-the-shoulder sweater while she strokes Pickles' head.
“That her prince decorates the room with candles and makes it a special evening when he asks her for her hand in marriage. Most definitely not in their apartment while they wait for a taxi to pick them up and he suggests they get married.” I can hear the truth in her voice. Honestly, it kind of sounds like Jeff’s proposal, well… sucked.
“Hmm. Should there be cake?”
“Maybe. The prince should go all out on grand gestures.”
“Can the princess be happy without both parents at her wedding?”
April’s shock at the question is apparent in her pause. “Why, of course. What makes you ask that?”
“Because I only have a daddy.”
“And? I only have a mommy; well, she found her prince recently, but he isn’t my dad. Anyways, I still have every plan to be happy on my wedding day.”
“Why don’t you have a dad?”
“I was specially chosen by my mom. Sometimes we only have one parent, and that just means they have more love to share. I’ll let you in on a little secret.” I can hear her pretending to whisper. “They normally give us extra cookies because they want us to be happy.”
I laugh softly, before I clear my throat and make my presence known.
They both look up at me.
“There you two are.”
“He’s up.” Hadley doesn’t sound thrilled.
April swipes Hadley’s ponytail to the side. “Yes, because your daddy works extra hard to stay in shape to make millions of dollars off of throwing balls so he can buy you all the cookies in the world to show his love.”
Why do I feel like a melting puddle of goo? And why does it not filter through my brain when I tell April, “Throwing a curveball at April makes my day complete, which is why you’re coming with me to this charity dinner later this week… as my plus-one.”
11
APRIL
What nerve that man has. I chop my peppers with extra vigor, slight aggression escaping me on every knife cut.
He actually thinks he can just order me to attend some charity event with him. He didn’t even ask, just demanded. I don’t even have anything to wear. I mean, I didn’t exactly add black-tie attire to my suitcase for this last-minute trip. I stuck to a wardrobe appropriate for sweater weather, jeans and layers of shirts.
My phone vibrates on the counter, and I see my mother is calling. Blowing out a relaxing breath, I prepare myself for this and tap the green button.
“April, finally! I feel like you’ve been avoiding me the last few days.” My mom seems to be sitting behind her at-home desk, with her blondish-brown hair tied in a low shoulder-length ponytail.
“Sorry.” I lean against my propped elbow. “I’ve been busy with a project.”
“Clearly. Where are you? That doesn’t look like your place.”
“It’s not. I’m at Spencer’s house.”
