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)
THIRTY-FIVE
Deacon
I have all Willow’s favorite things ready. I have a package of baby clothes for her favorite baby doll. I have some pink hair bows that I know she’ll love. I have a cupcake with a unicorn horn and three new books for us to read at bedtime. I don’t think I’ve missed anything. I just want to make sure I have all weapons in my arsenal after Gabby and I sit down with Willow after dinner this evening. I insisted that we tell her on a non-handover day so it doesn’t add to an already stressful time.
When Gabby insisted that Willow needed to know about the change in nesting arrangements as soon as possible, I insisted that it should be on a day when I was at the townhouse. I want to be the one who picks up the pieces if Willow falls apart because I know I have my daughter’s best interests at heart. I know Gabby cares about Willow. But she has a vested interest in making sure Willow has a good reaction to the news. I want to encourage an authentic reaction, no matter if it’s inconvenient for Gabby.
Gabby didn’t argue at my insistence over the logistics.
“Mommy’s going to be here any minute,” I say to Willow, as she eats her final forkful of pasta.
“Please may I have a yogurt?” Willow asks. She’s not even asked why her mother is coming around tonight. She’s acting like it’s perfectly normal for Gabby and me to be here together for the evening.
Before I can stand up, Lucia clears her plate and places a yogurt and a spoon in front of her.
“Thank you,” Willow says.
The doorbell rings and the sound of the key in the lock tells me Gabby has arrived.
“Is that Mommy?” Willow asks, grinning.
“I think so,” I say, a fixed smile on my face.
Willow pushes out her chair and goes running into Gabby’s arms. Even though co-parenting is easy with Gabby, compared to the horror stories I’ve heard, often I wish it was just me and Willow. But seeing her excited to see her mum sends a slice of guilt through me. I’ve been feeling so resentful towards my ex. But Gabby’s not a bad person, and Willow needs her mother. She needs us both.
“Hey, beautiful.” Despite being pregnant, Gabby still lifts Willow into her arms and brings her back over to the kitchen table. “Looks like you need to finish your yogurt.”
Willow slides back into her chair and Gabby takes the seat opposite me.
“How come you’re here today, Mommy? Usually I don’t see you when Daddy’s here with me.”
Gabby flashes me a look that says, This kid is far too smart for us.
I flash her one back that says, We’re fucked as she gets older.
We smile at each other, and I know she’s thinking the same thing as me. We’re the luckiest parents on earth to have a daughter as bright and happy as Willow. I just want it to stay that way.
“Well, Daddy and I want to talk to you about something.”
Willow takes another spoonful of yogurt. “About getting a dog?” she asks.
Gabby laughs. “Your dad isn’t getting a dog.”
She pushes out her bottom lip and does her fake sad face before laughing. “I know. Daddy doesn’t want a pet.” She shrugs.
“We wanted to talk to you about something else,” Gabby says. “About a change in where we all live.”
That gets Willow’s attention. She frowns and looks between us. My stomach drops and I feel completely helpless. I know this change is inevitable, but that doesn’t stop me from hating the entire thing.
“Mommy and Ray have a house where we live.”
Willow nods. “Where you stay when you’re not here with me and Daddy sleeps here.”
“Right,” Gabby says. “And we want you to come and sleep over at that house.”
“When?” Willow says.
Gabby let’s out a breath. “Instead of Mommy coming to stay here, we thought you could come and stay with Mommy and Ray.”
“I’m not going to live here anymore?”
“Yes, you will,” I say. “Daddy will live here all the time, and on Wednesday night, Thursday night, Friday night, and Saturday night, you’ll be here with Daddy, as usual.”
“And then, when I would normally come and sleep here,” Gabby says, “you’d come to Mommy’s house.”
Willow’s silent for a second. “So I would go to your house and then come home.”
“Right,” I say. “You’d still be coming home every week.”
“But Mommy’s house would be your home too,” Gabby says. “You’d have a bedroom there. We can decorate it together. Pick out a bedspread and some shelves for your books.”
“But my toys are here,” Willow says. “I won’t have them when I’m staying with you. And what about Lucia?” she asks, talking about her nanny.
“Lucia would come to Mommy’s house,” Gabby says.
“And my toys too?” Willow asks.
“Some of them,” Gabby says.