Page 100 of Wicked Arrangement

“One at a time please,” I say calmly but firmly. As Lily seems to be claiming to be the injured party I say, “Lily, why don’t you go first?” before Hope can protest, which I can tell she’s gearing up to, I add, “Hope, you’ll get a turn to speak after.”

Through gasping breaths and subsiding sobs, Lily explains, “We’re playing family and there’s a new baby girl. I want to call her Milly, but Hope wants to call her Holly, and then Hope called me stupid and pinched me!”

“I did not!” Hope declares defiantly, “But Milly is a stupid name!”

“Why don’t we come up with a name that both of you like?” I say, trying to placate them.

David, who has been quiet up until now finally chips in. “What about Marta? That was my sister’s name.”

Something in David’s tone shifts the argument completely and the girls seem to forget their issues.

The girls look at each other and nod in agreement. “I like that!” Hope says with a smile.

“Me too!” Lily agrees. “What was your sister like?”

“She was very beautiful and smart,” he says softly, his eyes filled with sadness and pain.

“Where is she now?” Hope asks, picking up on his mood shift.

I’m worried that David is going to tell the truth, that he’s going to bring up the subject of death and I don’t know what Grace has told them about it.

“Did she go to heaven like our grandpa?” Lily asks, saving my concerns.

David nods, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. “She did. You two must always remember how lucky you are to have each other. To have a sister is a gift, you should enjoy every moment together you have and try not to argue.”

The girls look at David with big trusting eyes, “We will,” they agree in unison before giving each other a big hug before resuming their game, their fight forgotten.

David and I watch them silently for a moment before I subtly pull him to the side, over near the big bay window. I whisper so the girls won’t hear. “Everything okay?”

He sighs, looking out at the forest outside. “Yes. No. I don’t know. I just wish I had more time with her, that I had more memories with her, more things to remember her by. I’m worried I’ll forget her one day.”

I give his hand a gentle squeeze. “You’ll never forget her. I didn’t know her for long, but neither will I. We’ll remember her together.”

“Thank you,” he says, voice thick with emotion. “Promise me you won’t leave me? That you’ll be part of my life no matter what happens with Yaroslav?”

He looks at me so desperately that I don’t have the heart to tell him that Yaroslav might not give me any choice. That if Yaroslav doesn’t want to be with me, I don’t know if I could bear to see him again. So instead, I tell him the truth I can offer.

“No matter what, you are my friend and this baby’s uncle,” I say, touching my stomach. “You will always be family, and I will do my best to talk to you and see you as much as I can, no matter what.”

He seems satisfied with my response, and he doesn’t ask any more questions. After a moment of reflection, we’re distracted by the girls and resume our playtime with them.

A short while later, there’s a knock at the door and Grace comes in.

“Mommy!” the girls cry, rushing over to hug their mom who hugs and kisses them, chatting about their time while she was away.

“Now girls, I need to speak to Kimmy and David for a moment, so you two play nicely while the grownups talk outside,” Grace says, the girls happily agree.

We follow Grace outside, shutting the door behind us.

“Is everything okay?” I ask, worried that there’s bad news.

“Yes, everything is fine. In fact, I daresay it’s good news, though, of course, I will be sad to see you both go. Yaroslav has asked that you return to Orlando with David tomorrow, Kimmy,” she explains.

“He has?” I ask, surprised, it was only supposed to be David going back. “Did he say why?”

Grace shakes her head, “No, but I’m sure this must be a good thing, right? And so, we must enjoy our last night together before you go, I shall miss my new friends.”

“I’ll miss you too,” I say, feeling somewhat sad to leave.

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