Page 13 of Undeniable You

But Larison laughed. “Crap, okay, I really need to go. I have a meeting with a plumber about the toilet and then flooring is getting delivered and I wasn’t there last time and they brought the wrong order and now we’re behind and—” she was interrupted by Juniper’s return.

“Mama, I’m still hungry. Can I have a snack?”

Larison looked at her phone and I could see that she needed to get out of her.

“I’ve got this.” I told her.

“Hey, Juniper, what would you like to have?” I asked her.

Juniper thought about that. “Crackers and cheese and apples and peanut butter.”

Well then.

Larison looked at the fridge and sighed.

“Told you, I’ve got this,” I said, moving past her and starting to assemble the snack to give them a little bit of privacy. I tried not to listen, but the apartment wasn’t that big.

“Listen. I want you to be good and listen to Jo. And I’ll see you this afternoon. Say it with me: I am kind.”

“I am kind,” Juniper repeated.

“I am brave.”

“I am smart.”

“I am awesome.”

“I am going to have a great day!”

Larison had gotten progressively louder with each phrase until she and Juniper were almost yelling.

“That’s my girl,” Larison said, giving Juniper a big hug and saying something in her ear.

“Have a good day,” I said, meeting Larison’s eyes. They were a little shiny with unshed tears, but she nodded and glanced once more at her daughter.

“Bye, Mama!” Juniper said just before the door closed.

The silence in the apartment was intense.

“Hey Juniper, where’s the peanut butter?” I asked her even though I knew.

Juniper trotted over to me and pulled over a stool to reach the cabinet above the counter.

So far, she didn’t seem upset her mom had left, but it might take a while for reality to set in. I’d just have to keep her busy.

A few hours later,I wished I could take a nap. Or beg Juniper to take a nap. Because I had no idea where her energy came from, but I needed some of it. This job was going to make me up my caffeine intake.

In spite of that, I was having a great time with Juniper. We got along right away, and she seemed to respect my authority and listened to me when I explained what she couldn’t do and why she couldn’t do it. I’d always been of the mind that kids were curious, and it was better to explain why running with kniveswas a bad idea than to simply tell them not to do it because I was an adult and she was a child.

We also hit the library because it was one of my favorite places, and hers as well. She threw herself in my lap as I sat on a beanbag chair and kept handing me book after book. I had to cut her off eventually or else I was going to lose my voice before the day was out.

Larison had been in constant contact and I’d even held up the phone so Juniper could video chat with her at one point. I knew this wasn’t easy for her, so I kept reassuring her that Juniper and I were doing well together and that she didn’t have anything to worry about.

I wanted to visit Larison and see how the bookshop was coming along, but it seemed important to give both her and Juniper this first day apart to see how it felt.

Juniper brought Mozzarella with us and set him on my knee when I read to her. It was so cute how much she loved the little dragon. If she wanted another one, I’d get one for her. I was already thinking ahead to holidays and birthdays and wondering what it would be like to see this kid growing up.

And then I remembered that this was just for the summer. Sure, I might stay in touch with Larison and Juniper, but it wouldn’t be the same.

---