“Hey,” she says shyly.
I walk around the island and pull her into my chest, wrapping my arms around her. “I missed you,” I mumble into her hair.
“You really are a stage-five clinger.”
“What’s a stage-five clinger?” Naomi asks.
Mae snorts into my chest, and I look at my daughter. “It’s what you are when you didn’t get enough sleep the night before.”
Naomi makes a face. “Did you not get enough sleep last night?” she asks me.
Mae starts laughing into my chest, and I rub her back.
“No, princess, I did not.”
Naomi shrugs and goes back to her puzzle.
“You’re sure this is okay?” Mae asks.
“I wouldn’t have invited you if I didn’t think so,” I say under my breath.
Mae takes a step back to slip off her sneakers. “What can I do to help?” she asks.
“Can you set the table? The casserole is almost done.”
“You made casserole?”
“Princess casserole!” Naomi yells.
“It’s her favorite: barbecue chicken and baked mac and cheese. Two things I knew how to make at the time. I manage to sneak some carrots and stuff in there for vegetables.”
Mae smiles and glances at Naomi. “Princess casserole is very fitting.”
“Did you have a good time with the girls?” I ask her.
Mae nods and her eyes brighten. I’m glad she’s making friends here. Yet another reason to stay and be with me.Yep, I’m a goner.
“It was fun. I got a new outfit for our next date night.”
“Oh? I can’t wait to see it,” I say, pointedly looking her up and down.
A pink blush creeps over her cheeks, and she looks away. “I haven’t splurged on clothes like this in a while.”
“I’m glad you enjoyed yourself.”
The timer dings, and I pull the dish out of the oven and pour each of us a glass of tea.
When we finish dinner, Mae plays with Naomi until it’s time for bed, and all feels right in the world. Things don’t feel lopsided, like I’m not the only one carrying the weight of life. I’m not my own anymore, which is a dangerous place to be. I know I’ve never been truly alone, with my amazing family. But it ultimately falls on me, and doing this single, is exhausting. Worth it, but exhausting nonetheless.
After I get Naomi to bed. I find Mae washing and drying dishes in the kitchen.
Coming up behind her, I slide my hand over her hip and kiss her temple. “Thank you for doing the dishes.”
“No problem.”
I grab a chair and spin it around, hooking my leg over the seat to sit down and rest my elbows on the back.
“Okay, I’m ready.”
