Page 58 of Overachiever
“I’m in.”
* * *
The only family of Remee’s I’ve met is her mother, and only for a few minutes. To say it didn’t go well is an understatement, but right away it’s clear it won’t be the same with Rachel. She’s nice, and we have no difficulty carrying on a conversation while Remee takes the first turn playing with her nephew.
The kid is awesome. A true born smart ass and troublemaker. Rachel laughs when I comment on that fact.
“He’s a handful, but so was I at his age. Remee was always the good one. I get a call at least every other week from his preschool. Last week he was trying to sell imaginary friends to the other kids in trade for their lunch snacks.”
The kid isn’t just awesome. He’s a genius.
“This week they’re concerned because he hasn’t been playing with the other kids at recess. He just goes to the edge of the play yard and lies in the grass. He’s always been social so I’m not sure what’s going on.”
“What does he say?”
“That he just likes to lie there.”
“Kids are weird sometimes. I used to climb inside a hollowed out tree and pretend to be a Keebler Elf.”
Rachel laughs and covers her mouth, sitting back to give the waitress space to set down our pizza. “Please tell me Remee knows that story.”
“Strangely, it hasn’t come up.”
Remee must’ve seen them deliver our food because she returns with Colby. He clambers into the booth next to his mom, and Remee slides in next to me. “Are you having fun?” Rachel asks, sliding a slice of pizza onto his plate.
“Uh-huh. Can Aunt Remee come live with us? She can stay with me while you work.”
Rachel grins at Remee before answering her son. “Aunt Remee goes to school like you do.”
Remee smiles at him. “I have to go home tonight, but I promise I’ll visit again, and we can video chat if it’s okay with your mom.”
“Of course you can,” Rachel says.
Considering what I’ve learned about her family and upbringing, I’m so happy to see how much her sister and nephew want a relationship with her. It makes me realize how lucky I’ve always been to have such a loving family. We don’t talk enough since me and my two older brothers have left for school and jobs. I need to visit before school starts.
“I used to video chat with my girlfriend,” Colby says, through a mouthful of pizza. He looks at me. “Is Aunt Remee your girlfriend?”
“Yes she is. What’s your girlfriend’s name?”
Colby shrugs. “Penny. But she’s not my girlfriend anymore. I don’t like her because she’s stupid and a tattletale.”
Rachel gives him a disapproving look. “It’s not nice to call people stupid.”
“She is, though! She told Ms. Jill that I said the B word but asshole don’t even start with B.”
“Colby,” Rachel groans, covering her face with her palm while I try to choke to death on the soft drink in my throat.
“What? It doesn’t.”
“Just…eat.”
After we’ve eaten, I take Colby to go play while Remee hangs out with her sister. “What do you want to do?”
“Ball pit!” he cries.
“Oh, we’re going to get along good.”
Chapter Twenty
