Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 103050 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 515(@200wpm)___ 412(@250wpm)___ 344(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 103050 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 515(@200wpm)___ 412(@250wpm)___ 344(@300wpm)
I chuckle at Willow trying to make me feel better. She’s the best kid in the world.
“I know. But I can still miss you. I’ll be okay. I’ll see you soon. I’ll just miss you.”
She grins at me. “My tooth might be loose by then.”
She hasn’t lost any teeth yet, but she’s really hoping it’s going to happen soon.
“You never know.”
“You think it will?” she asks.
“Maybe.”
The sound of the key in the lock has me checking my watch. It’s exactly 7:55 a.m. The time that we agreed Gabby should arrive. I have five minutes to leave.
“You want to help Daddy with his suitcase?” I ask. Gabby and I have a bedroom each, so I don’t have to move everything out every week. I still have most of my stuff here and just take a few things to the hotel that I know I’ll need. Gabby keeps telling me to get an apartment, but it doesn’t feel right. I want my home to be wherever Willow is. The time away from her, I spend it working, so I can focus on my daughter when I’m with her.
Willow pulls up the handle on my suitcase and heads out. I follow her with my garment bag.
Gabby’s waiting at the bottom of the stairs. Willow abandons my suitcase when she sees her mom and squeals. It’s the exact sound she uses when she sees me.
I’m okay with that.
As separated couples go, Gabby and I are as good as it gets. Maybe it’s because we were never married, but we don’t hate each other. Our daughter isn’t some pawn in a game of psychological warfare. She’s happy. And it’s nice that she’s excited to see us both.
“Good to see you, Gabby. I’ll call tonight as usual.” Whoever isn’t with Willow gets a daily phone call with her just after dinner.
“Actually, do you have a moment?”
I pause and check my watch. It’s 7:59 a.m. I should be leaving. I always pay for Saturday night at Hotel on Ninth Street so I can get there early on a Sunday morning. That’s where I should be headed right now. I have a day of spreadsheets ahead of me.
“Of course,” I say, but what I’m thinking is, What does she want? Maybe she wants to alternate Saturday nights with me again. We did that for a while in the beginning. It worked. But I prefer it how it is now. I like waking up with Willow on two days where we don’t have to get ready for school.
“Sweetheart,” Gabby says, addressing Willow. “Can you go upstairs and set up a tea party and I’ll be up there as soon as I’ve said goodbye to your dad.”
“But I want to say goodbye too,” she says. Her arms reach up to me, and I lift her up again, giving her a big hug.
“I love you,” I say. “I’ll speak to you tonight.”
She slides out of my arms, and without a backward look, she runs upstairs to her imaginary tea party.
“What’s going on?” I ask Gabby.
“I have some news,” she says, a slight blush creeping over her cheeks. “I wanted to tell you before I tell Willow.”
I frown, willing her to get on with it. My imagination is nearly as good as my six-year-old’s. I’m half expecting her to say she’s moving to Chile and wants to take Willow with her.
Over my dead body.
“You know I’ve been dating Ray a while now,” she says. “Well, he’s asked me to marry him.”
I physically take a step back. “Oh, right.” I smile awkwardly and try to find an appropriate response. But nothing feels appropriate because I know I’m supposed to be pleased for her. But all I can do is listen to the warning that sounds in my ears.
Gabby started dating Ray almost as soon as we split up. We’d agreed to keep each other informed if we had serious relationships, and not to introduce anyone to Willow without telling the other first.
When Gabby had told me she wanted Ray to meet Willow, I’d insisted on meeting him first. I was ready to hate him.
But I didn’t. It helped that every background check that I’d had carried out on him came through clear. I knew this guy’s inside leg measurement along with his credit score. He owns a restaurant on the Upper East Side that’s been in his family for fifty years. He’s a good guy.
Gabby and I agreed that Ray wouldn’t sleep over, and she’s always stuck by that agreement.
“I’m not sure what I’m supposed to say in these situations,” I say.
“You don’t need to say anything. I just wanted you to hear it from me. We’re going to tell Willow at lunch today. Ray’s coming over in a couple of hours.”
They’re going to tell her today? Shouldn’t I be there? I don’t know how Willow will handle this. I’ve been delivered bad news as a kid. I know what it feels like. The conversation where you’re told isn’t the worst bit. It’s the hours, days, weeks, months after. It’s knowing life will never be the same again.