If only that were true, sweet girl.
“That’s not exactly how it works, kiddo.”
“Sure it is. Besides, I think you like her and she likes you so what’s the big deal? Jojo said when you like a boy, just tell him,” she said with a shrug, pushing her star-shaped sunglasses higher on her face.
I was tempted to forget the fact that this was my daughter I was talking to and not someone from school who’d just made me giddy with the idea of a girl liking me.
Check yes or no if you like me and pass me the note in history class.
Record scratch.
“Wait. Who’s Jojo?” I didn’t like any kid who was talking to mine about boys.
“Oh, she’s in my pottery class Mimi took me to. Remember?”
“Sure I know about it, silly. I signed you up for all your summer classes. But this is the first I’m hearing about Jojo. How old is this girl?” I asked grumpily.
“Oh, she’s my age but she’s so much more mature than most. She’s got a phone,” she informed me with her sunglasses now tilted down so I’m looking at her conniving little eyes. She’d been asking for a phone for a year now.
“She sounds like trouble.”
MJ laughed and continued on. “She’s okay. A bit intense. Anyway, about Vicky. I just wanted to say that I really like her. She’s funny and really listens. I mean, just look at what she came up with for my room, Daddy! This is like a dream come true. I bet Jojo would love to come see it.”
“Over my dead body,” I muttered under my breath.
Changing the subject, I asked, “I know we talk every night before bed, but you are still happy about the move, right? That’s what you’ve been saying. I want you to feel like this is home for you, especially when school starts.”
She turned and sat up so she was facing me. “Yes, Daddy. I’ve told you a million times. I’m so happy we’re here. I love being around our family. It does feel like home.”
“I know you have. Just needed to be sure.”
She didn’t turn away but was quiet for a few minutes. I watched as her mouth twisted to the side. It was her tell when she was thinking about how to say something. My daughter was not only incredibly smart, she had the emotional intelligence that rivaled most of the adults I knew.
Keeping my body angled toward her so she knew I was still paying attention, I scanned my device so I wasn’t just staring.
When she inhaled, I knew she was ready.
“Daddy?” she asked, her voice quiet and thoughtful. “Do you think Mom would want to come out and see my new room?”
It broke my heart every time we had this type of conversation.
Taking her hand, I answered, “Yeah, of course. I’ll reach out to her again.”
I was about to say more when one of the painters ran out, panic evident in his eyes. I jumped up and met him at the glass door.
“Mr. Austin, I am so sorry, but there’s been an emergency. My mother has been rushed to the hospital, and we need to leave.”
From where I was standing, I could see clearly that his two brothers were frantically packing up.
“Of course. Don’t worry about it, Matthew. Is there anything we can do?”
“Say a prayer, if you will. I’m so sorry to do this to you. It seems pretty serious. I know your party is this weekend, but she lives in Phoenix. Maybe one of us could come back, but it won’t be before the party,” he said anxiously, wringing his hands.
“None of that matters. Go. Be with your family. We will say a prayer. And if you can, let me or Vicky know how she’s doing,” I said, leading him back into the house, where I shook his brothers’ hands and then walked them out the front door.
Lifting a quick prayer for protection and healing for his family, I looked over what they had accomplished. They had worked impressively fast this week, but there were still a few walls that needed painting to finish enough for the party. Honestly, even if we had multicolored walls, it wouldn’t be a big deal.
Grabbing us each a bottle of water from the refrigerator, I considered whether I could finish the job when MJ walked in with a strange expression on her face.
