“Mm hmm.”
I won’t. My sister is not a fan. And she’ll go ballistic when she hears what Danny pulled this time. I walk down the hall and hold the phone out to Mia.
“It’s your dad. He’s got a surprise for you.”
Avery’s expression darkens. I hold up a palm. She lightly shakes her head, her lips thin, eyes narrowed.
Mia grabs the phone and jumps up. “Hi, Daddy!”
She runs down the hall toward her room. We can still hear snippets of her side of their conversation like, “Uh huh.” Pause. “Yeah. I have next week off for spring break.” And then the squeals.
“He’s got a family thing,” I say to Avery. “Next week the Collins family is getting together over spring break. Mia’s invited.”
“Next week?” She rolls her eyes. “Way to give you notice.”
“I know.” I plop down on the couch.
She’s on the floor in front of the coffee table. Exploding Kittens is spread out, ready to play.
“You’re a saint. You know that, right?” Avery says.
“I just know his limits. No use trying to change what won’t be changed.”
“Saint.”
“Whatever.”
Mia comes running down the hall, her face lit up with the biggest smile. “Daddy is taking me to see my cousins and Gran and Gramp and all the family!”
“Pretty exciting,” Avery says.
“It’s soooo exciting!” Mia corrects her. “Next week.”
Mia looks over at me, the joy leaks out of her face, replaced by an expression of concern. “Are you sad, Mommy?” She comes closer and puts her hands on my cheeks. “Are you sad you’re not going?”
“No, Spike. I’m fine. That’s your other family. You need to enjoy them with Daddy.”
Her hands still cup my face, and if she keeps it up, I’m going to spring a leak and start crying.
“But, Mommy?”
“Yes.”
She looks straight into my eyes. “Are you sad we’re not going to go hiking on spring break and decorate T-shirts and get ice cream like we planned?”
“I’ll miss you,” I tell her, cupping her cheeks while she holds mine. “But I’ll be happy thinking about all the fun you’re having with your dad. And we can take hikes and decorate tees and get ice cream another time. I promise.”
It won’t be the same. The budding wildflowers along the trails will only bloom for a few weeks.
“That’s really mature of you,” Mia says, her face dead serious.
Avery and I burst into laughter.
“Where did you hear that?” Avery asks between laughs.
“Mommy sometimes tells me that.”
“Yep. I get the gold medal for best co-parent in small-town Tennessee.” I raise my arms in the air like an olympian, clasping my palms together and ending with a bow.
