Page 8 of Between the Lines
I kick the front door shut and run after Daisy, racking my brain about this weekend.
“Uhm . . . I think I’m free . . .”
What day is it again?
“Daisy, no! Drop Hamburger’s tail!” I screech, prying her little fingers open as the cat presses his ears to his head, obviously considering biting. Daisy starts crying immediately—a shriek that makes me wince.
“Oh no, what’s wrong with my angel?” Penny coos and I pinch the bridge of my nose.
“I wouldn’t let her bite the cat and she’s angry.”
“She is so funny.” Penny laughs and I glance at Daisy, who has crocodile tears. I hand her my keys, and she forgets all about being upset.
“Yep—” I scan the messy kitchen. Shit, I forgot the pasta salad in the stroller outside.
“Are you okay?” Penny asks and I bark a laugh.
“Fine, it’s just been a day,” I reply quickly. My chest grows tight as I briskly pick Daisy up and jog outside to grab my dinner.
“I hear you. Like I was saying, it’s been three weeks since we had a family dinner, and I miss you two. Would Saturday work for you?”
Daisy yanks on my gold hoop earring, and I yelp. The people on the sidewalk snap their gazes my way, but I ignore them, rushing back inside.
“Okay, Saturday works,” I reply mindlessly, dropping Daisy into her playpen in the living room. She starts to cry, chubby hands clasped around the padded rail. Hamburger watches from his perch on the back of the sofa, judging my mothering skills.
“Great! I’ll text Danny,” Penny responds, oblivious to the chaos stirring on the other end of the phone. “We’ll all come over at, like, four?”
“No!” I reply so sharpy, even Daisy snaps out of her fit for a moment. “Sorry, it’s chaos this week, and I haven’t had time to clean the house.” I bite down on my fist as I think of the pots lining the upstairs hallway. “Let’s do your house this time.”
I wait with bated breath.
“It’s going to be a tight squeeze . . .” Penny replies.
My sister bought a little beach cottage in Wrightsville Beach right before Daisy was born. Impeccable timing—since she’s made it her life mission to co-parent. Must be an eldest daughter thing.
“We don’t mind.” My voice is so bright, even I don’t buy it.
“Okay, we’ll make it work then. See you Saturday!” She hangs up before I can get in another word.
I drag my feet over to the sofa, drop my phone, and fling myself into the cushions. Daisy stands in her playpen, watching me. I turn my head and offer her a tired smile.
“Can you please relax for Mommy for just one day?” I ask her as Hamburger leaps onto my chest, nuzzling his furry face into my chin.
“Alright, Hammy, you’ve had all day to figure this out. How are we going to come up with nineteen thousand dollars?”
He jumps onto the coffee table, knocking a stack of Nan’s milk-glass coasters to the ground with a thud. Daisy claps, laughing.
My phone buzzes loudly again, and I lazily lift one arm, feeling around on the couch for it, too damn tired to move my body.
Severe thunderstorm warning tonight.
Lovely.
Reluctantly, I sit up, puffing out a large breath, mustering the energy to finish out the day.
“Well, here we go again, Nan,” I laugh, talking aloud to my deceased grandmother. If she can hear me. I twist my hair into a bun high on my head, my neck sticky with sweat, and push off the sofa.
Daisy is momentarily occupied, so I take advantage of the rare opportunity to get something done by grabbing a few more pots from the kitchen and hauling them up the large oak staircase to the second floor, in preparation for tonight.
