Page 111 of Born to Make You Smile

“Grace wants to take us to Joly’s,” Mackenzie said as if she could sense the tension. “Can we go? Please, Daddy?”

“You don’t mind, do you?” I said to him.

“Not at all. But, girls, don’t be too late. You have piano in the morning.”

“You’re not coming with us?” Mackenzie asked, looking over at her father with a frown.

“No. You two go along with Grace. I have some things to take care of here.”

Every muscle in my body ached to reach out and hold him.

But I knew we weren’t quite ready for that.

I wasn’t ready.

As we walked into Joly’s, I was struck with the boisterous sounds of the video games and the decadent scent of warm vanilla. The place, commonly referred to as adessert café meets arcade,was loud and crazy at times, but the girls loved it. Thankfully, we got seated right away at a bubblegum-pink booth. My eyes focused on the kitschy, cartoon fruits painted on the walls, then on the games scattered throughout the room.

The three of us ordered our own crepes with ice cream. I knew it’d be too much. We could have easily shared one between the three of us, but I couldn’t help but spoil them.

Mackenzie bounced in her seat. “Grace. Are you coming to my birthday party in two weeks?”

I actually wasn’t invited, but I didn’t want to tell her that.

“Unfortunately, I won’t be able to make it, but I’ll take you out. Here or someplace else. Just us two.”

“Oh. Okay.” Her expression sank, almost as if she was about to cry.

My heart pinched. I wished it didn’t have to be this way.

“Can I go do the claw machine for a bit? I saw a penguin I wanted. Do you have money, Grace?”

“Here,” I said, handing her just about all the coins in my wallet as if it would make up for missing her party. “Lots of money, just for you.”

“You’ll never get it,” Charlotte said sardonically.

“Charlotte,” I scolded, then whispered. “Try to be a little more supportive. You have to cheer her on. Boost her confidence.”

“Yeah, fine. Good luck, Mac!” Charlotte exclaimed, then she nodded at me. “Better?”

“A little,” I said with a smile.

After Mackenzie ran off to the claw machine, Charlotte leaned in close. “Did you and my dad break up?”

I stared at her, stunned. “What do you mean?”

“Please.” She rolled her eyes. “I’m almost thirteen. You think I didn’t notice? It was like, really obvious. But now…”

She frowned.

“Yeah. We’re no longer together,” I said with a sigh. “It’s kinda complicated.”

“He misses you. So, so much. And he’s super grumpy without you. He listens to really depressing songs. Like, really awful. If I have to hear ‘Ain’t No Sunshine’ one more time…”

I chuckled with a wince. Poor Gavin.

“Please tell me you’ll work it out and get back together.” She looked at me with hopeful eyes.

“I don’t know, Char. I can’t tell you that right now. But if we do, it’ll take some time.”

---