Page 96 of Sunshine
“We need to consult a child psychologist,” Annalise replies, reaching for her phone.
This is something I’ve been contemplating for weeks now, and Poppy made the same suggestion two nights ago. Only I’ve got a slightly different plan.
I stop Annalise before she has a chance to pull up the search function. “I’ve already reached out to three family psychologists in San Francisco. Izzy isn’t the only one who needs support.Ineed help, Annalise. It’s hard doing this alone, and the older Izzy gets, the more complex it is. Our family is unconventional, and we need to make some changes. I don’t have all the answers, and I don’t think any one thing is responsible for Izzy’s anxiety, but…”
Annalise sets down her phone and turns her full attention on me. “But…what?”
I flex my hands into fists under the table and talk through the worry of saying the wrong thing and pushing Annalise offside.
“The morning she found out about your visit this week, Izzy came home sick from school,” I explain. “She was anxious about what your arrival meant for her, and whether Poppy would leave because of it. I think Izzy’s struggling with the concepts of separation and permanence.”
Annalise lifts her chin, and if she were anyone else, I’d think she was steeling herself. “Okay.”
“I’m as much to blame for not talking about this earlier,” I go on, “but I think our parenting arrangements need to change. They’re too casual, and Izzy needs routine and predictability. She needs to know when you’re visiting and for how long. And it’s confusing for all of us when you stay here on the ranch. Are we a family? Are we not? Are her parents together? Are they not? Izzy needs clear boundaries to better understand the relationship between you and me, especially now that…”
“Now that…?” Annalise leans in and examines me from underneath her lashes, eyes alight with shrewd intelligence. “You’re involved with the nanny?”
I freeze and watch with a kind of stunned detachment as Annalise raises her glass to her lips.
“I’m in love,” I say when I finally find my tongue. “We’re in love. How did you know?”
“You forget I knowyou,” she replies, which tells me nothing—or maybe everything. “Are you going to marry her?”
“Yes.” I’m not even surprised by the vehemence in my tone. The answer is yes. One way or another, I’m putting a ring on Poppy’s finger.
Annalise sets down her glass with a small smile. “And does Poppy—I mean, Penelope—know this?”
I chuckle quietly at her arrogance and shake my head as I slump back in my seat. “Poppy. And no, not yet. I’ve got a few wrinkles to iron out first, but I’m working on it.”
She nods. “I want you to be happy, Dylan, but we’re talking about Isobel here. If I’m reading between the lines correctly, you want me to be involved in your sessions with the family psychologist? Use that as a forum to negotiate new parameters around visitation?”
I sag a little and try not to sigh with relief. “Yes. That’s exactly what I was hoping for.”
“And Poppy? I’d like to meet her while I’m here. If she’s going to be my daughter’s stepmother, I’d prefer to be on good terms. Is she free tonight?”
I almost can’t believe how reasonable she’s being. “I’d like that. Poppy would too. We just…” I glance around the room and then drop my head. “We haven’t told anyone we’re together yet. If you could keep this to yourself while you’re here, I’d appreciate it.”
“Would you like to tell me why?”
“It’s…complicated.”
“And Isobel?” Annalise’s tone turns a little sharp, and I try not to feel accused. “What does she know about this?”
She has a right to be protective and I should welcome it—sheshouldhave Izzy’s best interests at heart—but she’s never held me to account before. Then again, I’m the one who wanted change. I can’t pick and choose the consequences.
Still, it’s hard not to sound defensive. “My first priority is Izzy’s well-being, and it always will be. I have no intention of confusing Izzy and won’t say anything until things between Poppy and me are made official. She knows Poppy is a family friend—Daisy’s best friend—and that Poppy is her nanny. She also adores Poppy, and they’ve grown very close. I think—I know—Izzy will be happy for us.”
“All right.” Annalise drops her napkin in her lap. “I’ll leave it to you to suggest a suitable family therapist, but given my travel commitments, I assume you’re comfortable with my attending virtually?”
“I guessed that would be the case,” I agree.
“Good.” Annalise nods to herself. “I’m glad we had this conversation, Dylan, but if there’s nothing more we need to discuss, I’d like to see my daughter.”
Both Daisy and Poppy are at the house when I arrive to collect Izzy. She looks adorable in her boots and jeans with her hair brushed until it shines, and when I offer her my hand, she latches on and doesn’t let go.
“Are you all right, Little Bee?” I ask.
“Yes. I’m excited to see Mommy.”
