At first, Gina glanced suspiciously at her oatmeal, but when I started eating it, she dug right in. Kids are much smarter than we give them credit for, so I held my breath as she ate, fully expecting her to know that I sneaked something healthy into her meal.
“Your dad told me your uncle got you this doll?”
“I love her!” she said then kissed the doll. I loved how affectionate she was. “Her name is Sally.”
“That’s a pretty name,” I said. “What else did you do yesterday?”
“Did Daddy tell you about his date?” Gina asked, completely ignoring my question.
“Um, not really,” I said.
“He told me that he’s not going out with your friend anymore.”
“Oh.”
“He was in a good mood yesterday.”
“He was?” I asked. Even after the awkward goodbye we shared, he had been in a good mood? After this morning and his nonchalant attitude about everything, I had no idea what to think. But hearing he had been in a good mood helped improve mine as well. I tried to hide my smile with a sip from my mug. With Gina reporting to me about Noah’s mood, I was sure she’d say something to him if I reacted too much either way.
“Yeah. He was smiling like you are.”
I wiped the smile from my face. I thought I hid it enough, but Gina was observant. Almost too much sometimes.
Gina sighed. “Do you have any other friends for Daddy?”
I almost choked on my oatmeal. “I don’t.” Like hell was I going to set him up ever again. Especially after sleeping with him.
“Oh,” she said.
“These things aren’t to be rushed,” I said, trying to cheer her up. “I’m sure someone will come along.”
She nodded and focused on her meal again.
Later that morning, we stopped by the record shop on the way to the fabric store. Tuckering Gina out early would help get her down for a nap easier that afternoon and then I could focus on preparing the quilt for us. When we entered the store, Gina ran over to Sierra, who was behind the counter, painting her nails.
Gina almost knocked over a bowl of lollies on the counter. With my quick reflexes from working with kids, I was able to grab it before they scattered all over the counter and floor.
“Can I have one?” Gina asked me.
“No,” I said firmly. “Not before lunch.”
“Oh, come on,” Sierra said.
I narrowed my eyes at her.
Sierra ignored me and spoke to Gina. “Give me a second, and I’ll get you the record.”
There was no one else in the shop that morning, so we had the place to ourselves. I desperately wanted to tell Sierra about everything that happened this weekend. It wasn’t a conversation to be told through text. And Gina would be busy dancing in a few moments so we could quickly chat.
Sierra came around the counter, waving one hand out at her side to air dry the nail polish.
Something crinkled, and I saw Sierra slip Gina one of the lollies.
I gritted my teeth. At least I was sticking firmly to my answer.
After setting up the record for Gina, Sierra went back to the counter, and I leaned against it, watching Gina.
“I said no candy,” I said to her.