Page 19 of Endless Southern Love

Satisfied with her responses, I take the laundry bucket and head into her room. Ana and I are big on co-parenting, and not undermining the other parent. We keep the same chore list at both homes and have the same expectations when it comes to school, extracurricular activities, and Goldie’s general well-being. This works for us, not only as parents who aren’t together, but also for Goldie. Having the same rules at each house is helpful to her.

She comes out of the bathroom, with her wet hair dripping down the back of her bathrobe. She hands me a towel. “Can you scrunch?”

“Sure can. Did you put all the products in?”

Goldie nods as I start soaking the excess water from her hair. “Can I get my hair cut?”

“Sure, but let’s talk to Mom first, okay?”

“Okay. I think I need a trim.”

“Do you know what a trim is?” I ask her.

Goldie looks at me, her eyes unreadable. I don’t know if I’ve insulted her seven-year-old intelligence or confused her.

“I saw it on Mommy’s phone. A girl gave herself a trim and Mommy said I can’t ever cut my hair by myself.”

“Listen to your mom,” I say. “Please don’t cut your hair. We’ll talk to Mommy and see what she says about a trim.”

Once I’m done, I excuse myself so she can get dressed. When I come back, she’s sitting on the edge of bed with a book and comb on her lap. I hand her my phone, take the comb, and maneuver to sit behind her.

While I start combing through her hair, she FaceTimes her mom.

“Hi, Mommy!” Goldie’s voice changes and it’s not for the better. I know she misses Ana greatly. I’m thankful any bruising Ana had is gone now.

“Hey, sweetie. Is Daddy combing your hair?”

I lean to the side and wave the comb at her, and then back to my task.

“Mommy, when are you coming here?” Before Ana has a chance to answer, Goldie looks at me. “Mommy can come here, right?”

“Of course she can. Mommy knows this.”

“Soon,” Ana says. “I’ll be there to visit soon.”

“You can sleep in my room,” Goldie tells her, even though I have a guest bedroom for Ana. “We can have a bunch of sleepovers.”

“I can’t wait. How was school?”

Goldie sighs. “It’s okay. Daddy told my teacher about the mean boys pulling my hair. They did it again today. Can I get my hair cut?”

“Wait, what?” I ask, moving to the side again. “How come you didn’t tell me?”

Goldie shrugs. “The boys still did it after I told.”

“Yeah, that’s not okay for them to do that,” Ana says. “Your dad will go back in tomorrow and talk to the principal.”

I will?

“I don’t like her either,” Goldie says.

“How come?” Ana asks before I have a chance.

“She made me sit with the other kids in class at lunch time and some of them made fun of me.”

Ana’s gaze meets mine.

“I’ll take care of it,” I tell Ana, and then I look at our daughter. “You can tell me these things. No matter what. It’s my job to protect you.”

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