Page 61 of The Summer Arrangement
Pulling back, she squishes my cheeks between her chubby hands. “Where were you?”
Walking further away from my bedroom, I say, “In the bathroom. What are you doing here?”
“We tried calling,” my sister adds once she’s in view.
“Sorry. I think my phone was silenced.”
Looking me over, my perceptive sister smirks. “Obviously.”
“Everything okay?” I ask when her eyes narrow.
“I should ask you the same thing,” she says in return.
Shit. She knows something’s up.
“Silly Daddy!” Milli shouts, shaking her head.
“What?” I lean in and boop her on the nose. “What’s silly?”
Poking me in the chest, she states, “Your shirt’s upside down.”
“Upside down?” I ask, glancing at it for the first time.
“I think she means inside out,” Megan deadpans as her eyes narrow perceptively. “What did you do, get dressed in the dark?”
Well, fuck. I was so worried about Lizzy, I never looked at myself. “I guess I wasn’t paying attention.”
“Obviously.” She snorts like only an older sister can. Then her perceptive eyes look me over closer. “Having a lazy weekend?” Something behind me draws her attention, and her face turns into a wide grin, and she rolls her eyes.
Milli squirms in my arms, and excitement rolls off her in waves as she yells, “My Iz! You’re here!”
The moment Milli’s feet hit the floor, she races to Lizzy like she’s the most special person on the planet.
Same kid. Same. I light up like that when she enters the room, too.
Lizzy bends just in time to scoop my daughter into her arms. Squeezing her in a tight hug, she asks, “Hey, Mills! Did you have a good time with your Aunt Megan?”
“I did. I saw the princesses on ice and went to the zoo!”
Lizzy’s interest is genuine when she asks, “What was your favorite?”
“I love Rapunzel. Her dress is bea-u-ti-ful,” She drags it out into several syllables.
“I’m sure it is,” Lizzy agrees. “What about the zoo? What kind of animals did you see?”
“I saw the giraffes. They have loooong necks that go way up here.” She reaches as high as she can into the sky. “It wasa lotof walking. There were also otters, like here. You know… The ones that clap when we visit?”
“You mean the ones at the aquarium?” Lizzy clarifies. “I haven’t seen any along the beach, have you?”
Milli’s eyes widen in shock. “They live on the beach, too?”
Oh, how I’ve failed my child.
“Technically, yes. But it’s rare,” Lizzy quickly explains. “I think some were spotted in Cannon Beach last year, but I never saw them.”
“Can we see them again?” Milli pleads, looking from Lizzy to me.
“Not today, Mills. Aunt Megan is here, and you’ve already had enough adventures for the weekend.”
