Page 48 of When We Were More
“What can I get you, handsome?” Ella asks.
“Ella, you look beautiful this morning, as always.” I smile at her. She may be old enough to be my grandmother, but shenever fails to flirt with every man who comes in here. She loves Holden. He scores a lot of free donuts flirting back.
“Can you put together an assortment for us today? A sprinkle one for my little sunshine here,” I kiss Lena’s head, “whatever four my angel picks, a bear claw, then you pick the rest. Oh, but at least one that would qualify as a Danish, please.”
“You got it.” She winks at me.
A few minutes later, I put the girls back into the car, and we head for home. When we get there, Layla works on unbuckling herself while I get Lena out.
“Daddy, how long until Tillie comes? How many minutes?”
I glance at my watch. It’s nine-thirty.
“About a half hour, ladybug. You should go straighten up your bedroom in case she wants to see it.” We walk toward the house.
Her eyes get big. “Yuck. Maybe she doesn’t mind a messy bedroom. Is her bedroom messy?”
I laugh. “I haven’t seen Tillie’s bedroom. We aren’t that kind of friends.”
As soon as we’re inside, Layla rushes to her room to straighten up. Shit, I’m not sure if the bathroom I’m going to show her is clean enough. I keep Lena in my arms, and we go to check it out. It’s not perfect, but it’ll have to do.
Lena and I go to the kitchen, and I close the baby gate to prevent her from leaving the room. I set about making a fresh pot of coffee and running the dishwasher after putting the last few dishes in. When all is said and done, I still have ten minutes, so I swoop up Lena and carry her toward the laundry room.
“C’mon, baby girl. Let’s go throw a load of your stinky clothes in the wash.” I tickle her belly, and she giggles. I love the sound of any child laughing, but when they’re yours, it’s even sweeter.
As we get back to the living room, there’s a knock on the door. Layla must have heard it because she comes barreling toward us from the hallway that leads to the bedrooms.
“Can I answer, Daddy? Since you’re standing right here?”
I smile at her, happy that she knows the rule. She never answers the door. A grown-up always has to do it or tell her it’s okay.
“Yes, you can.”
I take a few steps back with Lena still in my arms, and Layla opens the front door. She’s beaming when she sees Tillie. Tillie looks down at her with a bright smile herself.
“Hi, Tillie. Welcome to our house.”
“Hello, Layla. Thank you very much for having me over.”
Layla steps back and makes a point of helping Tillie take off her coat. It’s almost comical, and she’s more of a hindrance than a help. Tillie looks at me, a brow lifted.
“I promise this is about your bathroom. Well, mostly.” Lena takes that moment to clap her hands together several times, drawing attention to herself. When Tillie looks at her, Lena grins, and clearly, she has achieved what she wanted.
“And who is this little lady?”
“Tillie, meet Lena..”
“Hi, Lena. God, they’re both beautiful, Henry.”
Lena reaches for Tillie, and I about piss my pants. Even with my family, if Lena has a choice between anyone and me, it’s always me. She’s one hundred percent a daddy’s girl. A twinge of sadness hits me. She doesn’t have much of a choice, right? Jeana left when she was so young. No wonder she’s focused on being near me all the time.
“May I?” Tillie looks up at me with uncertainty in her eyes.
“Yeah, of course.”
When Tillie lifts her arms, Lena doesn’t hesitate to go to her. She looks up at Tillie and puts her chubby little hands on Tillie’sface. Thank God this is pre-sprinkle donut and not after. Tillie takes it all in stride and smiles at my child.
“Tillie, we have a surprise for you. Do you want to come see my room while Daddy gets it ready?”
