“I ordered these online at a store called Zappos,” Carmen explained to her.
“Zappos? Is that where they make light up shoes? Zzzapo.” She snapped an imaginary whip, which in her mind, was how light-up shoes came into the world.
Carmen laughed. “Maybe. Mine don’t light up, though.”
“Are you sure? You kinda need to stomp when you walk in them.”
“Pretty sure,” Carmen said. “I really like to stomp. But maybe we’ll check one more time when we get to Chili’s.”
“Are you hungry?” Isaac asked Piper, glancing back at her.
“Yes. I skipped my snack. Can we get chips and sauce?”
“Sure can.” Isaac glanced at me. “How are you?”
I shrugged. “Just fine.”
“Mom draws books,” Piper reached out and patted my arm. She was so proud of me, which was so, so sweet, but at this rate, I’d be better known by my pen name than my real name by the end of the month. Just as I’d suspected she would, Piper had already told her entire school class and the checkout lady at the grocery store. Her teacher called and wanted me to come in and do a presentation. So, that was happening. Dean would be thrilled when I told him. A pang went through me at the thought of him.Not right now, heart.
I’d been meaning to tell Carmen and Isaac on my own, but they were finding out now. From my daughter.
“She drew all the pictures in the Cookie Crimes books, and Donut Disasters, and Éclair Emergencies. And I got to see the pictures for Fudgy Fiascos. That one’s not out yet.”
“For real?” Isaac asked. “Jessica’s books?”
I nodded. “I’m her illustrator.”
“And that’s why you’re selling the business. I am so, so happy for you.” He reached out and took Carmen’s hand, like his happiness couldn’t be contained just within him. It was adorable that Carmen was the natural extension of it.
“Well, not just for that reason. But yes, the illustration thing is a part of it.”
Carmen got out her phone and looked them up. “That is so cool, Grace. I haven’t read these but I’m ordering them right now.”
“You don’t have to do that.”
“Too late. They’re arriving tomorrow. I love Amazon.”
It was nice to feel so supported, and I hated that I’d fought against letting Isaac and Carmen in on it for so long. Was I that self-conscious? I didn’t want to answer that. Of course I was.
I reached out and brushed back Piper’s hair while she talked about all her favorite parts. And she had a lot. Carmen wouldn’t even need to read the books. She got the entire play-by-play by the time we pulled into the Chili’s parking lot.
“Piper, can you not say anything to Dad about my drawing stuff? It’s still kind of new.”
“Okay.” She unbuckled her seatbelt and leaned into the front seat between Isaac and Carmen to look out the windshield, probably searching for Rob’s car. I’d told her many, many times to wait until we were parked to get up, but she rarely remembered. She was a girl on the move. I loved that about her.
Chances were good, just like the seat thing, she’d forget and tell Rob about the books. It would be fine. He’d find a way to turn it into a joke, but as long as his little digs went over Piper’s head, it didn’t matter.
We walked in and put our names down for a table. Rob texted and said he was running late. I gave him a thumbs up, my go-to response. And now I was thinking about Dean again. What must he think of my lame thumbs up in response to his invitation? It wasn’t even that I planned to say no. I just didn’t want to think about plans until Rob left. If Rob wanted to meet up tomorrow before heading to California, I’d need to keep my schedule flexible so Piper could see him again. Every once in a blue moon, he’d take Piper out to lunch or to a play place, but that was usually with his mom, and she worked nights now and needed to sleep during the day.
An older couple came in, and we stood so they could have the bench seat in the waiting area. Piper danced around me with a loose hold on my hand. As long as she didn’t run into people, I didn’t mind.
Two hands came down on my shoulders from behind, startling me, which made Rob laugh out loud. “How are my two favorite ladies?” he asked.
“Dad!” Piper reached up for him and he pulled her up into a hug. He was wearing a loud-print Hawaiian button-down and cargo shorts. It had become his thing onstage a few years back, and he probably didn’t have anything else in his wardrobe now. Bad clothes aside, he was still just as handsome as the day I met him, although he was starting to get a bit of dad-bod from the constant fast-food he ate on the run. Piper had inherited his big brown eyes, though their shape was all mine. And she got my dark hair and olive skin tone instead of his sandy hair and lightly freckled skin.
“How’s my girl?” he asked.
“Good. Mom’s gonna sell her business to a flower company.”
