Page 64 of Stuck With You
“Do you want to go down the slide a few more times before we go home for lunch?”
“I don’t want to g-go,” Ollie whines as I let his swing slow.
“Bud, Frankie needs a nap, and if we stay too much longer, my fingers might fall off.” I rub them together, missing my gloves, which are likely still on the counter.
“They won’t fall off.” Ollie scoots off the swing and drops to the ground.
“They might.” I grab him and find his ribs through his coat with my numb fingertips. “And then the tickle monster will have to tickle you with toes instead.”
He squeals, and I release him. He takes off, running toward the slide, and I pull Frankie from the swing.
“What about you, Love Bug? I bet you’re getting hungry.”
She claps her hands, and I put her on my hip to follow Ollie.
He climbs the stairs and goes down the short slide.
I’ve missed this. The freedom to take the kids to the library and the park whenever I want. It was only a couple of weeks without my car, but it felt like an eternity. It’s funny how something as simple as transportation can make you realize how fortunate you are, even when it feels like so much is against you.
I set Frankie on the steps and let her crawl up. Ollie zooms past and up the swirly ladder. “One more time, and then we have to go.”
Frankie makes it to the top and crawls toward the bridge. I scoop her up as Ollie zips down the slide.
“All right, you two. Let’s go.”
“Aw.” Ollie stomps his foot. “Can we come back t-t-tomorrow?”
“We’ll see, ok? Maybe we can rake the leaves while Frankie naps.”
“Can I jump in them?” He takes my hand as we walk to the car.
“I don’t know. There are so many; I might lose you in the pile.”
He grins up at me. “Grover will f-find me.”
At home, I throw chicken nuggets in the oven while Ollie and Frankie sing the alphabet along with the Muppets.
My phone buzzes on the counter, and I swipe to answer. “You’re up already?”
Roxie groans. “Yeesss. My dad is stopping by to discuss an opportunity.”
“Really?” I fill two sippy cups with water. “Sounds intriguing.”
She moans. “Is there the stench of desperation in the air? It smells like another lame-ass attempt to pull me into the fold where I can be controlled and manipulated.”
Roxie’s family comes from a long line of wealth and superiority. They are the kind of people who will never understand that life can’t always be wrapped up in neat, pretty bows. They live by formality and structure, expecting everyone to do the same and bend to their whims.
Roxie doesn’t play by their rules and is determined to break the mold in every way possible. She made that loud and clear, starting with giving up a full ride to a prestigious college to manage the local bar.
“Do you have any idea what it’s about?” I ask.
“No, but I’m sure it’ll make me want to call the newspaper before running through the streets naked as payback.” She yawns. “Tell me something good so I can focus on that while he’s piling on the thick layers of family duty and disappointment.”
“I got my car back,” I say, living on that high for as long as possible.
“You’re a free woman again! How does it feel to be released from buses and other people’s cars?”
“A-mazing!!” I sing. “Except for the whole, I have to pay for the repairs thing.”
