Page 36 of One Hotlanta Night
“Who’s he?” She points at Michael, almost petulantly. I bark out a laugh. She must be feeling better if her feisty self is comingout. Her eyes narrow as she weighs Michael’s presence. If he’s bothered by it, he doesn’t show it.
Merriment dances in his eyes as he adopts a serious tone, holding his hand out to her. “I’m Michael, and I’m your Aunt Vivian’s—”
“Friend,” I interrupt.
Despite those passionate words from the first phone call and our daily conversations since, we haven’t actually defined what our relationship is, or if it evenisa relationship, and I just met this guy, never mind that he called me his girlfriend—surely he was kidding, who evendoesthat?---or the fact that it feels like I’ve known him all my life, and what am I evendoinghere on a date when I said I was taking a break from guys, and…
My rapid spiraling is broken when Raelynn tentatively holds out her hand and instead of shaking it, Michael presses a light kiss to her knuckles.
“Enchanted to meet you, Miss Raelynn,” he says as he releases her and she giggles.Way to turn on the charm, I think as I raise my eyebrows at him. He winks at me, and turns his attention back to the four-year-old. “Feeling better, sweet girl?” he asks, adopting my tone and term of endearment.
She nods slowly. “Are you a prince?”
This time it’s Michael’s turn to laugh. “Why do you say that?”
“Because you’re handsome and you kissed my hand. And Mom says Aunt Viv needs a prince after all those frogs she’s had to go through.”
Okay, just shoot me now. “Raelynn!” I exclaim, heat suffusing my face. Michael’s shoulders shake with withheld laughter as he tries to school his expression into a serious one.
“Well, I’m the oldest son in my family, so I guess you could call me a prince.” His gaze meets mine. “And I’d very much like to beherprince.” If my insides melt anymore, I’m going to slip right off this seat and into a puddle on the floor.
I’m still staring slack-jawed at him when Claire comes rushing in with Derrick right behind her. “Baby,” she exclaims as Raelynn’s arms finally loosen their grip and reach out for her mother.
“Mommy!” There is no substitute for a mother’s love. Even I can admit that.
Claire hugs her daughter tightly as she looks over her shoulder at me. Her eyebrows lift and I nod; it’s time to retest. “Where’s her kit?” she mouths and I realize I’d left everything in my car in my haste to get Raelynn treated.
“I forgot it in the car. I’ll be right back,” I say when Michael stops me with his hand out.
“Give me your keys. I’ll get it for you.” Not even trying to argue, I hand them over. I know Claire needs a full update on everything from what Raelynn ate to her sugars to her activity level. “It’s in the pink bag with dalmatians on it,” I tell him. Giving my shoulder a squeeze, he strides toward the front doors as I turn back to Claire to give her a rundown of the day.
“I honestly think she kept dropping because she didn’t want to eat anything. She’d come back to the 80s for a while, but you know how apple juice runs through her if she doesn’t eat… I wasn’t sure what else to do. And figured if nothing else, she’d go for mac and cheese,” I finish as my shoulders slump.
Raelynn clings to her mother like a monkey, and my heart hates that this little girl has to go through this. It’s not fair, and I’d take it away from her in a second if I could.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper, tears pricking my eyes. I don’t often feel helpless, but today was a struggle. My childhood friend was ten when she was diagnosed, and watching her choke down food to stave off lows was painful. How much harder it is to be four and have to eat when you’re not hungry. It isn’t fair, none of it. Not for her; not for Claire.
“Viv, if there’s anyone I trust Raelynn with, it’s you,” Claire says, reaching out to squeeze my arm. “You of all people know this hasn’t been easy, and you did exactly what I would have if I’d been home.” Sighing, she presses a kiss to her daughter’s tangled hair. I’d intended to get all the snarls brushed out before leaving the house, but with the way the afternoon had gone, that was the last thing on my mind.
“Do you feel like you could eat now, honey?” she asks softly. Raelynn shrugs. Derrick hustles out of the kitchen and rounds the bar with a small bowl in hand, a bar towel draped ceremoniously over his arm.
“Did zomeone order zee world-famous mac and cheese?” he asks Raelynn in a fake French accent. She giggles at him just like she did with Michael and I know we’re headed in the right direction.
As if I’ve summoned him, Michael races back in, the girl’s little pink bag in tow. “You could’ve just told me it was the Lisa Frank,” he teases as he hands it over.
He shrugs at my surprised glance. “What? I’ve got a younger sister.” I give him a grateful smile as I retrieve her kit.
“Now, sweetie, you know we’ve got to test again before we can eat,” Claire says, reminding her that she can’t just dig in. “How much tea did you give her?” she asks with a quick look to Derrick.
“I only filled the cup halfway, just like you’ve shown me,” he tries to reassure Claire, whose face is still creased with worry.
“Because I don’t want her to—”
“Have a rebound high,” he finishes. “I know, Claire. I don’t want that rollercoaster for her either.”
“Okay,” she agrees shakily. “Thank you,” she says as an afterthought, and the care in Derrick’s eyes is unmistakable when he looks at her. The warmth lingers when he switches his gaze over to Raelynn.
“Think you can test for me, princess?” he asks gently.
