Page 64 of Destiny

She groans. In terms of the kitchen, the food prepared has declined significantly while Bea’s been away.

“Dad!” Alessia calls me over to where she is sitting at the dining table.

“What is it?”

I’ve caved in and given them a joint cellphone, which I knew was genius because I knew they’d spend more time fighting and arguing over it then actually using it. But that night, for whatever reason, her sister allowed her to have full control of it.

“Isn’t this Bea?”

I took it from her and pressed play on the video.

“It sure looks like her,” I say. She’s singing our song with a young guy in a leather jacket.

“Who is he?” She asks while pointing at him. “He’s cute.”

“I don’t know. And you know the rule.”

“No boyfriends until we’re sixteen,” she recites before slinking down in her chair.

“That’s right.”

Of course, I trust her completely, and I know that singing with someone is inherently romantic…and two people doing it can easily be mistaken for being in love. But I still wonder who he is.

I listen to the rest of it as I start heating the coagulated mess up for our dinner. It sounds really good; I have to admit it.

Later that night, as I was getting used to doing it again, I go to bed in a quiet and cold room. In Bea’s place is a body pillow that I’d be lying. I said I didn’t hump to completion while imagining it was her.

And I wake up in the same stillness—that is if the girls don’t barge in.

I get them up and start making them some burnt eggs for breakfast.

How did I do this before Bea, I wonder. Those days feel like such a distant memory.

Then, my pocket starts vibrating. It’s her.

“Hey, baby.”

“Hi, sweetheart. How are you?”

“Good. Hey, I saw a video of you and some guy singing on the internet.”

“Wait, really? How?”

“I don’t know. Alessia found it. I assumed it was on your account or something.”

“No.”

I hear her hit a few buttons on her phone, and I hold it away from my ear.

“My love, that’s kind of loud.”

“Oh, I’m sorry. Is it okay if I call you back in a few minutes?”

“Sure, but I’ll be driving them to school in half an hour.”

“Got it.”

I serve my children when my phone goes off again.

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