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I put a hand between us when our lips part. “I can’t believe how much you’ve grown.”
“Ugh. Don’t remind me. If I’m this big at almost sixteen weeks, imagine what I’ll be like at thirty-seven.”
I trace her jawline with my finger. “You’ll be even more beautiful than you are right now.”
“You say that now, but—”
I put two fingers against her lips to shut her up. “I’ll say it every day, sweetheart. Because there is nothing more beautiful than you growing larger with our children.”
She kisses my fingers, then lowers my hand from her mouth and motions to Bug. “Did you talk to her about the sleeping arrangements?”
“She’ll stay in one of your parents’ guest rooms.” I squeeze her hip. “She wasn’t thrilled that I’d be staying in your apartment, but she’s going to have to get used to it sooner or later.”
A look of sadness washes over her. “She’s still upset.”
“I’m not sure upset is the word I’d use. Brooding maybe.”
“I should go say hello.”
I lace our fingers together as we walk over. Bug’s eyes go to our entwined hands, then to Allie’s stomach.
“Hey, Darla,” Allie says, trying to sound chipper. “How was your flight?”
“Boring.” She turns to Charlie. “Want me to take Bex for a walk?”
I take a step toward my daughter and whisper, “We talked about this. Donotbe rude to her.”
She rolls her eyes and turns back to Allie. “Our flight was boring because the Wi-Fi wasn’t working and the meal sucked and the landing was a tad bumpy.” She looks back up at me. “Nowcan I walk the dog?”
I flick my wrist. “Go.”
“Give her time,” my sister says, looking empathetic. “Lots of changes going on in her life. Not to mention she’s a teenager and that alone makes her difficult.”
I want to agree, but I can’t. Because Bug has never been difficult. Compared to horror stories I’ve heard from friends and co-workers, my daughter has been a dream. Until now.
Chris and Sarah come out to greet us, and Sarah goes along with Bug as she walks Bex down the sidewalk. Bug seems to like Allie’s parents. She likes Allie’s brothers. She likes Allie’s house. She just doesn’t like Allie.
Chris takes Bug’s suitcase. “Come on, let’s get you settled.”
We didn’t bring much, just a carry-on each. We’ll only be here for three days. If it were up to me, we’d already be living here. We’d be living here yesterday. But Bug only has a few more weeks with Mel and I don’t want to take that away from her with everything else going on. I did insist, however, that she be involved in our house-hunting process. I want her to feel like she’s part of everything we do moving forward. If there’s any hope of her and Allie having a relationship, she needs to feel included every step of the way.
Once inside, I set my bag by the stairs that lead from the kitchen up to Allie’s apartment. What I really want to do is take her in my arms and carry her upstairs. Have a repeat of the day we went to the doctor when we spent hours upon hours worshiping each other’s bodies.
It’s evident she’s thinking the same thing when she catches me looking up the stairs. She wraps her arms around me. “Was your flight really that awful?”
I shake my head. “She likes to be dramatic.”
“Do you know that when you leave here on Monday, it will be the last time you leave as a Floridian? When you come back in two weeks, you’ll be a bonafide New Yorker.”
I swipe a piece of hair off her forehead. “I like the sound of that.”
She pulls me toward the kitchen counter. “You must be hungry if the meal sucked. Want me to make you a sandwich?”
“A sandwich sounds great. Thank you. How about I take my things upstairs and wash up?” I kiss her cheek. “Be back in a minute.”
I park my suitcase in the living room of her apartment and quickly use the bathroom, not wanting to waste any time. When I go back down the stairs, I hear two voices in the kitchen—Bug and Allie. I stop, wanting to give them a minute. Maybe Ishouldn’t stand here eavesdropping, but the two of them need time together if we’re going to get Bug past this.
“My dad doesn’t like mustard,” Bug says.