Looking down at my jeans and dirty t-shirt, I blew out a frustrated breath.
“All good, Ms. Lazzara?” the electrician, Carl, asked from the ladder he was on.
“Oh, yeah. All good, thanks.” I patted down my hair, unsure of how it looked. Not knowing why he was home so early, I tried to make sure I didn’t appear as disheveled as I felt.
“Daddy! You came home to help us?” I heard MJ cry out, her voice getting louder as she approached her bedroom.
A moment later, Miles entered carrying MJ in his arms. She was showing him what we had accomplished so far. He listened and responded to her, but his eyes stayed on me.
“Hi,” I said, waving quickly, as if I were hailing a cab. I shifted nervously but smiled, hoping he wouldn’t notice.
Nah, he didn’t notice, right?
“Hi.” Luckily, he looked as fidgety as I did. “Looks great in here.”
“Vicky’s been working so hard, Daddy. Isn’t she fantastic?” MJ asked, her wide grin making me smile in return.
“They were your ideas, sweet girl. I just made them happen,” I answered, looking up at her.
Don’t look in his eyes. Don’t do it, girl.
It was pointless to resist. Our eyes always found each other in whatever room we were in. We were like two magnets, I thought, as he looked at me.
“Put me down now. You’re making me feel like a kid,” MJ scolded. He laughed and obeyed.
“It’s amazing, Vicky. What an imagination you have,” Angelica said when she entered, bringing in a box that must’ve just been delivered.
“Oh, that’s probably the glow-in-the-dark chalk I ordered. I thought you could write a quote you love with it. That way, it could stay there as long as you need, and you can see it when you go to bed,” I said, watching MJ's eyes widen with excitement.
“Vicky, you’re the best,” she exclaimed, running to me and giving me a crushing hug.
“Right back atcha, MJ.” I held her and could smell her bubblegum shampoo. “Open the box and let’s try it out. The chalkboard paint should be dry.”
Angelica turned to Miles with a gleam in her eye. “So, are you just here for lunch or home for good today?”
“Home for good. I had a light day, so I thought I’d help,” he answered, his eyes shifting between us. “Here, kiddo. Let me help.”
“If that’s the case, I’ll get a jump on a few things at home then,” Angelica said. Without waiting for him to answer, she kissed MJ on the head. “Send me some pictures tonight, okay, sweetie?”
“Absolutely. Love you, Mimi,” she answered, pulling out the box of chalk.
“Love you, too. You guys have fun,” she sang as she raced down the hall, Miles shaking his head at her hasty exit.
“That should do it,” Carl said, tightening the last planet in place and slowly walking down the ladder.
“Will you do the honors, MJ?” he asked, pointing to the light switch.
“Ten-four, Mr. Carl,” she answered with a serious tone.
Miles looked at me for an answer, and I whispered, “Carl has an old-fashioned CB radio he’s been telling her about.” He nodded in understanding as we all looked up. MJ had turned the bigger lights off, and now the planets bathed the space in yellow, blue, orange, and red.
“Wow,” she said. “This is the best roomever. I can’t wait to bring Jojo to see it.”
I hid my smile when Miles sternly said, “Absolutely not.”
I walked Carl out and thanked him for everything. There was still the extra desk for her projects to put together. It would’ve been easy to find someone to do that for me, but I loved being a part of the process.
When I got back to her bedroom, Miles had already opened the desk box and was pulling out pieces.
