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She nodded. “I told him.”
“Okay, good. Your dad may be okay with kidnapping, but I’m not.” I said it loudly just in case Beck was within earshot.
Alice giggled. “That was only once, and didn’t you have fun with us?”
I tugged playfully on her ponytail. “Well, that’s true.”
She puffed her chest out and started exploring my back patio, her smile drooping into a frown. “There’s nothing out here.”
I glanced around the small outdoor space and tried to see it from her perspective. There were pavers with moss in between them to give the patio a lived-in, old-world vibe. There were fences on either side and a building behind. Other than that, and the small cafe table I’d schlepped outside when I first moved in, the space was bare. The only greenery was the ivy that trailed over from Beck’s side of the fence.
Huh, maybe she had a point. “Do you think I need to jazz up the place?”
“Uh, yeah,” she said with the attitude of someone twice her age.
Ohh, Beck Bennet. You’re in for it, that’s for sure.
The idea made me smile and calm down for the first time today. I’d been practically buzzing since before my alarm went off. The anticipation akin to preparing for an early morning flight.
Except this was Beck. I gulped.
“Luna? We need a fairy garden,” Alice said authoritatively.
I pointed to my chest. “You want to build a fairy garden in my yard. With me?”
Alice nodded earnestly. “We need to get you some decorations. It’s boring out here.”
I tapped my nail to my lips. “That’s a great idea. What if we put it by the tree?” I pointed to the little corner that housed the only tree and square of dirt. “We could make a little fairy door here and maybe plant some cute little trinkets.”
“Yes. Could we get a little fence?” Alice asked.
“Why not?” I shrugged.
Alice began listing a dozen other things we could buy or build for our fairy garden. Then she slumped down in the cafe chair and smacked her lips.
I smothered a chuckle. “Can I get you some water? Almond milk?” I really didn't stock kids drinks in my fridge but maybe I should start.
“Water would be great.”
“Coming right up.”
I returned and set down a glass in front of her. Turns out, I didn’t have any kids cups, so hopefully she’d be fine with the glass in front of her.
Alice took a few big gulps, carefully lifting the water with both hands while I sipped on my coffee, closing my eyes a bit to soak up the sun. There was a to-do list the length of a CVS receipt in my mind and I was mentally shifting and prioritizing as we sat there.
Then, out of nowhere, Alice said, “I heard you’re going out with Daddy today.”
The scalding hot coffee ran down my chin. I dabbed my face gently with the napkins and laid it back down on my lap, smoothing out the edges. “He told you that?”
She nodded enthusiastically.
I leaned forward, elbows planted on the small cafe table, trying to relax my face so I didn’t look too eager to get information out of her. Consider my curiosity piqued. “Does your dad usually tell you about the people he goes out with?”
Her face twisted. “What other people?”
Hmm. Interesting. “Do you happen to know what your dad has planned for me today?”
She practically bounced in her chair. I reached over to hold the water glass in place. “He did…”