scowling. “What are we going
to do about her?”
I give a shrug. “I don’t know, Rick. She’s never done anything like this before.”
“That you know of.”
I hate it when he acts smug. Especially when our daughter turned into a liar and a sneak on his watch.
“I do know it, buster.”
“All right, you two. It’s one in the morning.” Little Miss Voice-of-reason sounds weary. “Let’s hash all of this out in the
morning. Claire, do you want to crash here? We have plenty of room.”
Not even if the only thing between me and sure frostbite was the warmth of Rick’s hearth. “No thanks. Helen is waiting up
for me.” I toss a glance back to Rick. “Don’t punish her without me.”
I start to turn toward the door when Jakey’s sleepy little voice reaches my ears. “Mommy?” I glance up the steps and my heart
melts at the sight of my youngest child rubbing his eyes. His race-car pj’s are crumpled from sleep.
“What are you doing up, sweetie?”
“I’m thirsty.”
Darcy heads towards the kitchen. “I’ll get you some water, Jakey. Do you want to come down here and kiss your mom good night?”
My heart clenches as his little legs negotiate the enormous steps. I smile and open my arms. He clasps me so tightly around
the waist, I feel the blood rushing to my head. “You okay, bud?”
“Can I come home with you?”
Rick steps forward. “Remember, Jake, your house has to be fixed? Your mom is staying over at Mrs. Lewis’s house.”
As though his dad hadn’t spoken, Jake bends his neck back and looks up at me. “Can’t I stay with you?”
“Not tonight, sweetheart.” What’s a mom to say at a time like this? He’s always loved coming to his dad’s house, but I guess
it’s not the same when you factor in the uncertainty of not knowing how long you’ll be staying. It’s obviously messing with
his sense of security. “How about I tuck you back in bed?”
His little head bobs. I lift my gaze to Rick’s just to make sure. I resent his nod. I mean, since when does a mom have to
ask permission to tuck in her baby? Darcy returns with Jake’s water and he takes just a sip then gives it back.
She holds out her hand. “Want me to tuck you in, Jakey?”
A frown creases his perfect young skin. “No. Mommy’s going to.”
Surprise lifts her equally flawless skin. Hurt flashes across her eyes. “All right.”
My heart goes out to her a little, but come on. He
is
mine. “He just misses me.” I pat her arm as Jake grabs mine and pulls me toward the steps.
From the corner of my eye I notice Rick move next to Darcy and slip an arm about her shoulders. They’re waiting for me at
the bottom of the steps fifteen minutes later after I’ve read Jakey a story, sung him a song, and kissed him ten times.
“Hey, you two. Sorry to keep you up. Well, actually, blame Ari. She’s the one who caused all this.”
Rick walks me to the door. “What are we going to do about her?” He gives me a preemptive look. “And let’s don’t start fighting
about which of us is more lenient, please?”
“I wasn’t going to.” I wish I had the guts to stick out my tongue. “I’ve been thinking about her punishment. We should definitely
take away all driving privileges for at least a month. And ground her from going anywhere with any of her friends who drive.”
He nods in uncommon cooperation. “I agree. And maybe she should have to volunteer at the homeless shelter?”
I feel the blood drain from my face to Lord knows where. “I don’t want her to do that!”
“Why not?”
“Because she’s too young to be exposed to that sort of life.”
He folds his arms across his chest. When Rick folds his arms across his chest it can only mean one thing: he’s making a stand.
I don’t feel all that intimidating in SpongeBob jammies and leopard-spotted slippers. Nevertheless I pull myself up to my
full height and dig in my fuzzy heels.
“If she keeps sneaking out at night
to do about her?”
I give a shrug. “I don’t know, Rick. She’s never done anything like this before.”
“That you know of.”
I hate it when he acts smug. Especially when our daughter turned into a liar and a sneak on his watch.
“I do know it, buster.”
“All right, you two. It’s one in the morning.” Little Miss Voice-of-reason sounds weary. “Let’s hash all of this out in the
morning. Claire, do you want to crash here? We have plenty of room.”
Not even if the only thing between me and sure frostbite was the warmth of Rick’s hearth. “No thanks. Helen is waiting up
for me.” I toss a glance back to Rick. “Don’t punish her without me.”
I start to turn toward the door when Jakey’s sleepy little voice reaches my ears. “Mommy?” I glance up the steps and my heart
melts at the sight of my youngest child rubbing his eyes. His race-car pj’s are crumpled from sleep.
“What are you doing up, sweetie?”
“I’m thirsty.”
Darcy heads towards the kitchen. “I’ll get you some water, Jakey. Do you want to come down here and kiss your mom good night?”
My heart clenches as his little legs negotiate the enormous steps. I smile and open my arms. He clasps me so tightly around
the waist, I feel the blood rushing to my head. “You okay, bud?”
“Can I come home with you?”
Rick steps forward. “Remember, Jake, your house has to be fixed? Your mom is staying over at Mrs. Lewis’s house.”
As though his dad hadn’t spoken, Jake bends his neck back and looks up at me. “Can’t I stay with you?”
“Not tonight, sweetheart.” What’s a mom to say at a time like this? He’s always loved coming to his dad’s house, but I guess
it’s not the same when you factor in the uncertainty of not knowing how long you’ll be staying. It’s obviously messing with
his sense of security. “How about I tuck you back in bed?”
His little head bobs. I lift my gaze to Rick’s just to make sure. I resent his nod. I mean, since when does a mom have to
ask permission to tuck in her baby? Darcy returns with Jake’s water and he takes just a sip then gives it back.
She holds out her hand. “Want me to tuck you in, Jakey?”
A frown creases his perfect young skin. “No. Mommy’s going to.”
Surprise lifts her equally flawless skin. Hurt flashes across her eyes. “All right.”
My heart goes out to her a little, but come on. He
is
mine. “He just misses me.” I pat her arm as Jake grabs mine and pulls me toward the steps.
From the corner of my eye I notice Rick move next to Darcy and slip an arm about her shoulders. They’re waiting for me at
the bottom of the steps fifteen minutes later after I’ve read Jakey a story, sung him a song, and kissed him ten times.
“Hey, you two. Sorry to keep you up. Well, actually, blame Ari. She’s the one who caused all this.”
Rick walks me to the door. “What are we going to do about her?” He gives me a preemptive look. “And let’s don’t start fighting
about which of us is more lenient, please?”
“I wasn’t going to.” I wish I had the guts to stick out my tongue. “I’ve been thinking about her punishment. We should definitely
take away all driving privileges for at least a month. And ground her from going anywhere with any of her friends who drive.”
He nods in uncommon cooperation. “I agree. And maybe she should have to volunteer at the homeless shelter?”
I feel the blood drain from my face to Lord knows where. “I don’t want her to do that!”
“Why not?”
“Because she’s too young to be exposed to that sort of life.”
He folds his arms across his chest. When Rick folds his arms across his chest it can only mean one thing: he’s making a stand.
I don’t feel all that intimidating in SpongeBob jammies and leopard-spotted slippers. Nevertheless I pull myself up to my
full height and dig in my fuzzy heels.
“If she keeps sneaking out at night
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