Page 109 of The One I Want
“I know you miss her, sweetheart,” I say as I lift her up and sit her on the bathroom counter.
“She misses us too,” she says. “She said so.”
“When?”
Magnolia’s eyes double in size as she realizes she said something she wasn’t supposed to.
“It’s okay, sweetheart. If you talked to Betsy you won’t be in trouble.”
She lets out a breath. “Good. Because we’ve talked to her every day.”
This is a surprise. “Every day?”
“Yup. She calls Emerson every night before bed so she can tell us goodnight and remind us of stuff for school.”
I didn’t know this. “Before or after I put you guys to bed?”
“Um…Before? Yes. Before. We don’t get out of bed to go talk to Betsy.”
I rub my face. I’m not mad, I’m just…surprised? I shouldn’t be. That’s the most Betsy thing ever. It’s also kind of sad that she calls the kids more than their mother does.
The woman you compared her to…
“Betsy showed us her dress for Whitley’s wedding today. Daddy, she’s going to look like a princess.”
“I bet.” My jaw is clenched, and I’m gripping onto the counter like I’m about to rip it out of the wall.
I did this. I know I did this. But I stand by what I did. It sucked and it hurt, but she needed to be pushed in the right direction. She needed to try for that interview. She needs to see what else is out there.
I know all of that. That doesn’t mean I have to like it.
I also know I need to change this subject before Magnolia somehow gets it out of me that I’m the reason Betsy isn’t here anymore.
“Is your bag packed to go stay at Grams?”
She shakes her head.
“How about you go do that then?”
“Fine,” she groans as I lift her off the counter. “Daddy, make sure you tell Betsy she looks pretty tonight. Girls like to hear that stuff.”
I give her a kiss on her nose. “I love you, sweetheart.”
The kiss makes her giggle as I set her down, and she sprints out of my bathroom.
I grab the tie and sloppily put it on. Whatever. I was dreading going to this wedding anyway, knowing Betsy was going to be there. But now? Fuck, I don’t know if I can see her.
I walk out of the room after spraying my cologne and grabbing my wallet.
“Kids! Let’s go!” I say. I’m taking them to my mom’s for the night, which they’re probably grateful for. I haven’t exactly been a load of fun this past week.
All three kids meet me at the front door, overnight bags in hand.
“You guys ready?”
Emerson opens the door and ushers Magnolia out, who apparently is moving into my mother’s judging by the three bags she’s carrying.
“Dad?”
