Once she’s done, I follow her to her room and pull back the covers. I want to keep everything as normal as possible, even though her mother making a reappearance in her life is Earth shaking for a seven-year-old. I don’t want to talk about it and give it a second to settle in. But I have to.
Naomi climbs under her covers and settles against her pillows, then reaches for her stuffed donkey, also named Abe.
“What did you think about today?” I ask her.
She lifts a shoulder and plays with Abe’s mane.
“She seems nice. She wanted to see my boots and my room. She colored with me. I like her.”
“Good,” I tell Naomi.
It’s not jealousy making my stomach hurt. It’s the anxiety of wondering if this is the last time she’ll see Rebekah. I don’t want to get her hopes up.
“Maybe we can have a sleepover like I do with Auntie Gracie and June, and Grandma,” Naomi says.
“Is that something you want?” I ask her.
“I think it sounds fun,” she says.
“I’ll think about it.” I pause. “Naomi?”
She looks up at me with her green eyes, and I lean over, kissing her forehead. “I love you, and I want you to remember you can tell me anything, okay?”
“I love you too, Dad.” She pauses. “Should I call her mom?” she asks.
“You can.”
Her lips pout. “Okay. What chapter are we on now?” she asks, snuggling under the covers.
I lean back and start the next chapter.
Is it really that simple? Could this work smoothly?
After Naomi is tucked in for the night, I get ready for bed and finally pull up Mae’s message.
Mae: When are we planning our date? I have a project that was dumped into my lap.
Cooper: I’m sorry I couldn’t respond right away. Had to take care of Naomi.
Mae: That’s okay, you don’t need to apologize for that.
I smile at my phone, also relieved, she answered so quickly.
Cooper: Were you on pins and needles?
Mae: Hardly
Cooper: You responded faster than you ever have
I wait for her to respond, and she doesn’t. A couple of minutes go by, and still nothing.Dammit Cooper.
Cooper: okay okay, I give in please answer back
Mae: hahaha.
Cooper: You tell me when you want to go
Mae: Well, we’re both busy
