Folding Hearts by Jennifer Foor

reached the small little h allway she realized how tiny the place was. “One bedroom? You mother said there was plenty of room for us out here.”
    “She probably meant for me to stay in their house while you are here. It’s no biggie. Just put your stuff anywhere.” I suggested.
    She disappeared into the bathroom and I heard the water turning on. I grabbed Izzy and sat her on the counter beside me. “Are you hungry princess?”
    She pointed toward the bathroom “Ma ma.”
    “Yeah, Mommy is getting a shower. Did you give her a hard time today?” I said in a baby voice. “Uncle Ty missed you so much.”
    I didn’t keep much food in the fridge, but luckily my mother had made stuffed shells and brought them out last night. She must have known about Miranda coming because when I opened the fridge, not only were the shells in there, but the fridge was full of food. “Looks like someone was prepared for you to visit me.”
    The me ssages on my phone were apparently from my mother. It figured that the one day I didn’t check them, they were important.
    Izzy and I put the food in the microwave and grabbed some paper plates , well I held her and pretended like she was helping . She started chewing on the edge of her plate , leaving a drool covered chunk on one part of it. “Don’t eat your plate silly girl.”
    She had gotten so big. Her blonde hair was longer with ringlet curls and her eyes were the same as her mother’s, a bright blue. Her little mouth was full of teeth and fro m the way she continued to chew on her plate , I imagined more were coming through.
    Miranda came out of the bathroom just as the microwave sounded. She ran past us and went outside. When she came back in seconds later, she was holding a seat that hooked to the table. “Mommy remembered your chair, ” She said as she attached it.
    Izzy started to crawl across the table to get to her seat. Once she was inside, Miranda started cutting up small chucks of pasta for her to grab with her tiny fingers. When she had a good pile in front of her, Miranda sat down and stared at me.
    “What?” I asked.
    “Did you make this?”
    “Hell no! My mother did yesterday. I worked late so she brought it over for me to have tonight.”
    “You didn’t even know I was comin’ did you?”
    I shook my head. “Work had been slammed. I never even checked my messages. I wish I had because I never would have let those bitches be standing in my living room the way they were. I am so sorry about that.”
    “It is none of my business. I shouldn’t have judged you.”
    I looked up at Miranda, who I had avoided eye contact with this whole time. She was beautiful, especially with wet hair streaming down her chest. Her little tank top revealed that she was chilly as her tiny nipples protruded. I bit down on my lip and looked to her face again. She rolled her eyes and acted like she hadn’t just caught me checking her out. “I didn’t invite them over. I swear.”
    She shook her head and let out the smallest air filled sigh. “I don’t care about it Ty.”
    “Whatever. I really missed you guys. I have been working non-stop. I am really sorry I missed Izzy’s birthday party. I have her gift. Can I give it to her now?”
    She took a huge bite of food and rolled her eyes. “Sure.”
    I grabbed Izzy and carried her to the bedroom. In the corner was a huge item wrapped in the worst wrapping job ever. Izzy tugged at me to let her down. I watched her walk all by herself over to the package. I walked over and started pulling away the paper , showing her what to do . Izzy thought it was funny and started hitting the paper then finally ripping it with me.
    It had taken me forever to make, but her hand carved rocking horse was the perfect size for her. I used my old one as a model when I built it. My mother helped m e assemble the yarn hair and p aint the eyes. Izzy started slapping on the seat. I lifted her on it and slid it out on the carpet until we were facing her