Page 66 of Bending The Rules

She gave me a sleepy smile when my appearance in the room drew her attention away from the TV playing cartoons mounted high in the corner. “Hi Miss Toni,” she said, quietly, then raised a finger to her lips. For a second, I was confused, but then she pointed to something on the other side of the bed. I stepped closer, then saw a large lump I quickly identified as Justin curled up on the sofa bed.

I nodded, letting her know I understood her kind request to not wake her Daddy. I quietly pulled up a chair beside her bed. “How are you feeling?” I asked, in a low voice.

“I feel okay. Just tired, and sore.”

“Yeah, I bet. You had a scare today, at school?”

She nodded. “I was on the tire swing, and CJ was spinning it super duper fast, and I fell. But I was okay. I didn’t break my arm or anything.” – from her tone, and the expression on her face, I got the impression she was actually disappointed about that – “But then my chest felt all spinny, and my heart was bumping super super fast, like the tire swing, and it wouldn’t stop. It was really scary.”

“Itsoundsscary. But I’m really glad you’re okay.”

She cast a forlorn look in her father’s direction, then looked back at me. “I think my mommy and daddy are mad at me for having to come to the hospital. My mommy is in France, and she was crying on the phone and yelling at Daddy. And Daddy was really sad.”

“Oh sweetheart,” I said, running a hand over her forehead. “I promise you that they aren’t mad at you. They were just scared about you being okay or not. Think about when one of your friends gets hurt at school – aren’t you sad, and upset when that happens?”

Bri nodded, her eyes wide.

“See?” I asked. “You’re upset that something happened to someone that you love, but you’re not upset atthembecause something happened. The same thing applies to your Mommy and Daddy. Okay?”

“Okay Miss Toni. Are you my daddy’s girlfriend? I heard my mommy telling my stepdad that you and Daddy weren’t fooling anybody.”

I nearly choked on my own tongue. “What?!” I exclaimed, then quickly clamped a hand over my mouth, and asked again, quieter. “What? No, I’m not your Daddy’s girlfriend. We’re just really good friends.”

“Why? You’re really pretty.”

Oh God, what did I walk into?

“Um, Well… your daddy and I aren’t friends because of how we look. We’ve known each other for a really, really long time. Since we were just a little older than you are. And just because we’re a girl and a boy, doesn’t mean we have to be boyfriend and girlfriend. We’re just besties. Do you have a bestie?”

She gave me a big smile when she nodded. “Uh huh! Two. Amy – her name is really Amaryllis though, and that’s a flower. And AJ! He’s a boy, and a friend, butnotmy boyfriend.”

“That’s right,” I giggled with her. “You’re not anywhere near old enough for a boyfriend.”

“Nuh-uh,” she said, shaking her head. “Daddy said I have to be thirty, which is like, a hundred years away. Is that why Daddy isn’t your boyfriend? You’re not old enough?”

I laughed. “Uhhh, no, I can’t say that’s it. Let’s switch gears though, okay? I brought you something.”

Her eyes lit up when she saw the package I pulled from my bag. I put it into her hands, grinning as she carefully undid the kitten-covered wrapping paper I’d put on it. Somehow, her smile got even wider when she saw the brand new books inside.

“Wow,” she whispered. “I’ve never read these before.”

I grinned. “That’s because they aren’t on the market yet. I own a publishing company, and one of my authors writes books for kids. This box was waiting at the bookstore for the official release date next month, but… I think the author would be honored to have a bright, beautiful little girl like you be one of her very first readers.”

She smiled at me, then ran her hand over the glossy cover of the first book. “Madison and Naomi and the Missing Pepperoni,” she giggled. “That’s a silly title.”

“Uh-huh,” I nodded. “And your reaction isexactlythe reaction we wanted kids to have, because this book is a very silly mystery. Do you like mystery books?”

“Yeah! Can I read it now?”

“Of course! Can you read it out loud, but in a soft voice. I’d like to hear it too, but we want to let your dad finish sleeping, okay?”

“Yeah. I’m areallygood reader.”

“I can tell.”

I propped my elbows on the edge of the bed, and rested my chin in my hands, listening and laughing as Bri read the first of the books to me. She really was a beautiful child – a replica of her mother in many ways. But in many other ways, she reminded me so,somuch of a young Justin. Looks, mannerisms, personality… she was undoubtedly his miniature.

Something I never could have given him.

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