Two by Two(24)

"Hi, sweetheart. How are you feeling?"

"I'm hungry," London responded.

"That's a good sign," Vivian said. She put her hand on London's forehead, held it, then smiled. "I think your fever's gone."

"I feel a little better."

"Russ? Would you put some Cheerios in a bowl? Without milk?"

"Sure," I said.

"Let's try cereal without the milk, okay? I don't want your tummy to get upset."

I brought the Cheerios to the table along with my coffee and took a seat beside them.

"You were really sick," I said. "Your mom and I have been really worried about you."

"And we're going to take it easy today, okay?"

London nodded as she munched. I was glad to see her eating.

"Thanks for holding me when I was sick, Mommy."

"Of course, sweet girl. I always hold you when you're sick."

"I know," London said.

I took a sip of coffee, waiting for Vivian to say that I'd helped out as well.

But she didn't.





Kids are resilient. I know this because my mom and dad have used that  expression for as long as I can remember, especially when describing  their own parenting philosophy to Marge and me. Why, why, why did you do  such things to us? we would ask. Ah, no worries. Kids are resilient.

In all fairness, there was some truth to their words. When London came  downstairs on Sunday morning, she seemed to have forgotten completely  about her tantrum from the night before. She was in a chatty mood and  was even happier when I let her have Lucky Charms while I went upstairs  to clean her hamster cage. I filled half a plastic bag with soiled  shavings-it was disgusting-and tossed it into the garbage can. In the  far corner, I saw London's bicycle and, though it was already getting  hot outside, I knew what she and I could do this morning.

"Hey," I said to London when I got back inside. "Do you want to do something fun this morning?

"What?" she asked.

"Why don't we go bike riding again? Maybe without the training wheels."

"I'll fall," she said.

"I promise that you won't fall. I'll be right beside you and I'll hold on to the seat."

"I haven't ridden a bike in a long time."

And never without training wheels, I thought. "That's okay. If you don't like it or you get scared, we can stop."

"I'm not scared," she said. "But Mommy won't like it if I'm all sweaty."

"If you get sweaty, you'll just wash up. No big deal. Do you want to give it a try?"

She thought about it. "Maybe for a little while," she hedged. "When's Mommy coming home?"

As if my wife heard our daughter from miles away, my cell phone rang.  Vivian's name popped up on the screen. "Well, let's find out. It's your  mom," I said, reaching for it. "She must have been thinking about you." I  connected the call and hit the speaker. "Hey, babe. How are you? How  did it go? I've got you on speaker and London is here."

"Hey, baby girl!" Vivian said. "How are you! I'm so sorry I didn't call  you yesterday. I've been running around like crazy since I've been here.  How are you? How was yesterday?"         

     



 

"It was so much fun," London answered. "I went to Nana's and then Daddy  and me and Auntie Marge and Auntie Liz went to see a movie, and it was  really funny … "

While Vivian chatted with London, I refilled my coffee and motioned that  I was going back to the bedroom to change. I tossed on some shorts and a  T-shirt and the pair of shoes I used to wear to the gym. Back in the  kitchen, London was telling her mom about the hamsters and Vivian  finally asked for me.

I picked up the phone, taking it off speaker.

"Hey there," I said.

"She's in a good mood. Sounds like you two have been having a lot of fun. I'm jealous."

I hesitated, thinking about last night. "It's been okay. How did last night go on your end?"

"Amazingly, it went off without a hitch. Walter was thrilled. The video  presentations were great and so was the music. People went crazy for  it."

"I'm glad it worked out."

"It did. We raised a lot of money. Turns out Walter isn't the only one  who's frustrated with the current administration and Congress when it  comes to development. The regulations are getting ridiculous. Developers  are really getting squeezed, and it's almost impossible to turn a  profit anymore."

As evidenced by Walter's private jet, I thought. "What time will you be home?"

"I'm hoping around one. But we may be having lunch with a developer from  Mississippi. If that happens, it'll probably be closer to three."

"Hold on for a second," I said. I moved from the kitchen to the living room. "What about the blueberry farm?"

"I don't know if we'll be able to make it."

"But you promised London you'd go."

"I didn't promise."

"I was right there, Viv. I heard you. And I backed you up last night."

"What does that mean?"

I recounted what had happened the night before.

"Well, that's just great," she said. "You shouldn't have reminded her."

"You're saying this is my fault?"

"She's going to be even more upset."

"Because you said you'd take her."

"Just stop, Russ, okay? I was on the go for almost twenty hours straight  and I've had almost no sleep. Just talk to her, okay? Explain it to  her."

"What do you want me to tell her?"

"Please don't use that tone with me. I'm not the one who set up the  lunch. I'm at Walter's mercy here, and there's a lot of money at stake."

"Spannerman already has a lot of money. He's a billionaire."

I heard her let out a long exhale. "Like I told you," she said, her  voice taut. "I still might make it. If the lunch doesn't work out, I'll  be home by one. I should know more in an hour or two."

"All right," I said, thinking about London. "Let me know."





I decided not to tell London anything until I knew more and she followed  me outside, watching as I got things ready. Because the bike was  covered in dust, I brought out the hose and rinsed it, then toweled it  dry. I pumped the tires and made sure there were no major leaks. After  that, I had to hunt for a wrench-why do tools always seem to vanish?-and  removed the training wheels. Because London had grown, I raised the  seat and handlebars, and when it was finally ready, London followed me  out to the street and hopped on.

"Do you remember what to do?" I said, adjusting her helmet.

"I'm supposed to pedal," she said. "But you're not going to let go, right?"

"I won't let go until you're ready."

"What if I'm not ready?"

"Then I won't let go."

London began to pedal and wobbled to the left and right as I held the  seat, jogging while bent at the waist. Soon I was breathing hard and  sweat began to drip. Then pour. We went back and forth countless times  and just when it felt like I was going to have to tell her that I needed  a break, her balance began to improve, at least on the straightaways.  Little by little, I was able to lessen my grip on the seat. After that, I  was able to use only my fingers, just enough to be able to grab her if  she tilted.

And then, I was able to let go.

Not long at first-only a few seconds-and the next time was about the  same. Then, when I thought she was ready, I said the magic words.

"I'm going to let go for a second," I gasped.

"No, Daddy!"

"You can do it! Just try! I'll be right here to catch you!" I let go of  the seat and sped up, jogging beside the bike for no more than a second  or two. London saw me, her face a picture of wonder, and then I resumed  my original position and took hold of her seat again.         

     



 

"I was riding, Daddy!" she shouted. "Without your help!"

I held the seat as we turned around at the end of the cul-de-sac, and  when she was balanced, I let go again, that time for five or six  seconds. Then a span of ten seconds. Then she cruised the entire  straightaway.

"I'm riding, Daddy! I'm riding a bike!" she squealed, and though I was  sweating hard and out of breath and felt like I was dying, I was somehow  able to shout back, "I know, sweetheart! You're riding a bike!"





By the time London was ready to quit, my entire body hurt and my shirt  was soaked through. I rolled the bike into the garage and followed  London inside; the blast of air-conditioning was the very proof of God's  existence.

"Daddy needs a break," I said, still trying to catch my breath.

"Okay, Daddy," she said. I went to the bathroom and hopped in a shower  with the water somewhere between cool and cold. I stayed beneath the  spray until I finally felt halfway human, then dressed again and went to  the kitchen.

There was a text from Vivian.

Lunch was canceled. I'm heading to the airport now. Tell London I'll be home soon.

I found London in the living room, playing with her Barbies.