Page 90 of Heartache & Playdates
“Well, when I was really young, I imagined you were Prince Eric, fromThe Little Mermaid.” She glanced over at me. “Actually, you sort of have a Prince Eric vibe.”
I wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or not.
“Then when I got older, I imagined you were David Beckham. I don’t know why. I’m not a soccer, er I guess football fan. It’s so weird that we are the only country in the world that calls it soccer. Everywhere else it’s football. I mean, they literally kick the ball with their feet. If anything should be called football, it should be what we call soccer. Don’t you think that’s weird?”
“Yeah.” I had always thought that was weird.
She shook her head. “Anyway, it wasn’t that I was a huge Victoria fan either, the Spice Girls were before my time. I think it was just because he was always on the tabloid covers with his kids, and I’m around their age. And I don’t know, he just seemed like such a great dad. I guess that’s why I used to imagine that you were like him.”
I waited for her to tell me that I had David Beckham vibes, but sadly that didn’t happen.
“Prince Eric and David Beckham, huh? Those are pretty big shoes to fill. Sorry to disappoint.”
“Are you kidding me?”
I noticed she said that a lot. I liked that I knew things she said a lot. Well, one thing.
We talked a little bit more about her dinner and when I parked at the house, I’d barely stopped the car before she hopped out. We made our way to the front door and before I could knock, it opened. Hannah was standing there with Lizzy.
“Hey, guys, this is Lina.”
Before the introduction was even able to leave my mouth, Hannah ran out and threw her arms around Lina’s waist. Lina hugged her right back.
“Hey, Peanut no love for me?”
“Hi, Dad.” My obligatory greeting was cut short when Hannah grabbed Lina’s hand and started to drag her inside. “Do you want to come see my room?”
“Um, yeah, sure. Hi!” Lina said to Lizzy as she passed her.
“Hi!” Lizzy smiled widely.
We watched as Hannah talked a mile a minute about her favorite color, her favorite animal, her favorite movie, her favorite TV show. Lina was taking it all in and interjecting her favorites every few sentences.
As they disappeared upstairs, Lizzy turned to me. “Well, I think she’s a little excited to have a big sister.”
“I think Lina’s excited to be a big sister, too.”
It was strange that my ex was pregnant at the same time that Lina came into our lives. A lot was changing quickly for Hannah, and although she seemed to be handling it all really well, I was still trying to give her time to adjust to the new situations.
“How are you feeling?” I asked.
“Tired. But other than that, okay. Robbie’s been a big help when Ryan’s gone.”
“Is he around?” Robbie was Ryan’s little brother. I hadn’t seen him since the wedding, he was Ryan’s best man. That was five years ago, and I remembered he was a senior in high school then. He’d moved in with them last week because he’d gotten a job at the same firehouse Ryan worked at.
“He’s actually at the station. Today was his first paramedic shift.”
I nodded. “I’m glad you have help here, but you know I’m only a phone call away. If you need anything with Hannah, or for you.”
“I know, thanks.”
“I’m serious, Lizzy. I know you are woman hear you roar, but you can ask for help.”
She batted her eyes at me. “Does that offer extend to playdates?”
I rolled my eyes. “No. That’s the only thing it doesn’t extend to.”
She smiled, pleased with herself for getting a reaction out of me.
