Man of My Dreams(75)
“Hi, girls!!” He bypasses me completely, walking around the car to open the back door and unbuckle the girls from their car seats.
“Daddy! Daddy!” Cara shrieks.
“Hey, baby. I’ve missed you! Let me look at you...I think you’ve grown a few inches since I saw you last.” He takes Charlie out first, hugging Cara in the other arm like his life depends on it. I watch the two kids dangle off of him like monkeys as if I’m a stranger. Is that what I’ve become—an outsider to their relationship with their dad? The thought is so damn unsettling I have to grip the steering wheel, close my eyes and count to ten.
“Hi, Mia.” He finally says. His voice is low, almost a whisper. But it’s not condescending or malicious. It’s just a simple hello.
“Hi, Dec.” I can’t look him in the eye. I’m afraid I’ll see more of that indifference that drives me bananas. Isn’t the opposite of love indifference? Is he already out of love with me? Give me a clue what you’re feeling, goddamn it! Hatred, grief, relief, happiness. Anything! I’ll take anything but that flipping blank look. “Here are their bags. Charlie’s been waking up in the middle of the night to pee so I packed the overnight diapers just in case. Cara mentioned P-O-P-C-O-R-N, but I brought a different S-N-A-C-K because you know how I feel about the other thing. And she wants to watch The Wizard of Oz, but fast forward over the part with the flying monkeys because...”
“Take a breath, Mia. I can handle this. We’re good.” He alternates glances between the girls, smiling that Dad-of-the-Year smile. “Right, ladies?”
“Yup. We good, Mommy.” Cara nods her head up and down so fast she looks like a mini bobble head doll.
Charlie, on the other hand, is making lips. Her perfect little pout is plastered in the most pathetic looking frown. I know this look all too well. She’s about to have a crying fit.
I quickly open my arms and Charlie launches into them, clasping her tiny arms around my neck with the power of a mini vice. “What’s the matter, baby?” I whisper in her ear.
But she doesn’t answer. Silent sobs form first, morphing into wails, then howls, that would turn the most uncaring stone of a mother into mush. And I’m far from stone. “Baby girl, you’re going to spend some time with Daddy. He misses you. Don’t you miss him, too?”
Charlie’s sobs become stifled against the skin of my neck. Little thing knows how to hold it back not to make Daddy feel bad.
“Charlie, we’re going to watch the munchkins tonight. I’ll even let you sleep with Pinky Bear. Don’t cry.” Poor Cara is so excited about her slumber party at Dad’s cool new place she’ll do anything to help.
The cries start to ease up, but she’s still holding on for dear life.
Declan pats her back, cupping her head of blond ringlets. “Grams and Gramps might come by too, sweet girl.”
Charlie’s head pops up and spins around. Her lashes are stuck together with tears, but her blue eyes are bright at the mention of Grams and Gramps. She loosens her grip on my neck and shimmies her way down my body to the floor.
Cara holds out her hand and Pinky Bear for her sister. The two share a hug and it makes my own eyes tear up. At least they have each other. “Girls, can I have a big hug and kiss before I go?”
Charlie stands, wilting against her sister. “You come in, Mommy?” Oh, no not the lips again. I need to forget the lips. I’m not exactly comfortable making myself at home in Declan’s new digs.
I squat down to her eye-level, holding her soft, beautiful hands in mine. Suddenly my plans for the day seem trivial in comparison to spending time with my babies. “Mommy has an appointment, Charlie. Why don’t you let Cara bring you in? Daddy told me he has chocolate milk in the fridge. That always makes you feel better, doesn’t it, baby?”
Declan gives me a sideways glance, “Mia, you’re more than welcome to come in for a little while, get them settled.”
I just can’t. Not only will it be weird, but it will only prolong the inevitable. She’ll never let me leave without hysterics once I set foot in there. I do appreciate the offer. The softness in his voice tells me he doesn’t hate me after all. “Thanks, Declan, but I really do have to get going.” I turn to the girls, clutching each of their chins. “Mommy will be back tomorrow. It’s just like when you sleep at Nana and Papa’s; stars with them, sun with me. But this time it’s Daddy! How lucky are you girls? You get to have your own special time with him.” I drop my voice down to an exaggerated whisper, making them think I have a special secret for their ears only. “Daddy’s afraid of the wicked witch. You have to hold his hand when she appears, okay? Don’t make him watch it all alone tonight.”