Page 51 of Teasing

That’s my mother, and the other woman besides Annabelle is my Aunt Amelia.

Emmie

Well, they’re outside with pink Sweet Temptations bakery bags.

The doorbell rings again, and I take a deep breath.

This ought to be interesting.

Emmie

Go enjoy dinner.

I slide my phone in the back pocket of my shorts and check my reflection in the stainless-steel refrigerator. This is not at all how I thought I’d meet Maverick’s mom, but here goes nothing.

I make my way to the front door, trying to convince myself that these women are just dropping off sweets for Rosie and I have nothing to worry about. But I’m pretty sure that’s not the case. Shoulders back. Head up. I’ve got this.

I crack open the door and smile, looking between the three women before focusing on the beautiful ballet teacher I’ve known for years. “Hey, Annabelle. What are you doing here? Is everything okay?”

All three women smile in an equally unnerving way.

“Oh, she’s pretty,” says the tall brunette, who I think is Maverick’s mom, and the owner of Sweet Temptations smiles.

“Told you so.” The tiny woman who looks like Snow White extends her hand. “I’ve seen you around before, but we’ve never officially met. I’m Amelia, and this is Maverick’s mom, Lenny.” She holds up a pink bag. “We brought cupcakes.”

Lenny holds up a bottle in either hand. “And wine.”

“I told you not to lead with that,” Annabelle whispers, but judging by her volume, I think these ladies might have already had a bottle or two.

“Mimi?” Rosie runs over when she hears her grandmother’s voice.

“Briar Rose.” Lenny squats down and squeezes her tightly to her chest. “I missed you.”

Rosie giggles. “I missed you too, Mimi. Did you bring my pony?”

“What pony?” Amelia asks as she walks by me into the house and hands me the bag of cupcakes.

“The one Mimi and Grandpop are getting me,” Rosie announces proudly, and Lenny places a finger over her own lips as Annabelle and Amelia both laugh... hard.

“Oh, Maverick is going to kill you.” Amelia kisses Rosie’s cheek and grabs the bottles from Lenny’s hands. “How many glasses?”

“Four,” Annabelle calls out as she follows her into the kitchen, and I watch, wondering what the heck is happening.

“Umm... three. I’m not drinking,” I tell them, but Amelia waves her hand over her head without looking back.

Lenny stands up and looks at me, like she’s waiting for something.

“I’ve got Rosie. I can’t drink,” I finally say, and she smiles again, like I just passed a test.

“Three glasses, Amelia,” she yells down the hall, and I get the distinct impression I’m about to be interrogated.

Rosie takes Lenny’s hand and tugs. “Emmie was going to read me a bedtime story. Can you read me one instead?”

“I’d love to, Briar Rose.” She picks her up and turns to me. “Say goodnight to Emmie.”

Rosie leans forward and kisses my cheek. “Night, Emmie. If you get scared tonight, Butterfly can sleep with you.”

This little girl may never know how she’s helped heal a piece of me I thought was irrevocably broken, but she has in her own innocent way, and I’ll never forget it.

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