Shit.
Willa will be texting me any minute with my five-minute warning and I still need to grab my shoes and jewelry. Dashing back into the closet, I pick out my cream heels and a chunky necklace before walking back into the bedroom and sinking into the mattress. Sure enough, my phone rings as I slip my shoes on and I stand up, scanning the room as I fasten the clasp on my necklace. I can’t shake the sense that I’ve forgotten something but I don’t have time to look for it now. With my phone in hand, I walk downstairs, smiling when I hear the sweet cooing of the love of my life.
Hiding behind the wall to the kitchen, I peek around the corner and smile as I watch my daughter, Brooklyn, squeal and smash banana between her fingers. She blows a raspberry and my sister, Alice, giggles so she does it again.
“Brooklyn,” I call and her little head snaps up, her brows furrowing as she scans the room for me. Her little grunt when she can’t find me draws another giggle out of Alice.
“Where’s Momma, Brookie?” she asks her and Brooklyn scans the kitchen, frustration clear on her chubby little face. Placing a hand against my heart, I fight back the sadness rising up inside me. It seems like yesterday I was laying in a hospital bed, giving birth to her, but we just passed her first birthday and she’s growing more and more every day. Watching her learn and discover new things is my greatest joy and greatest sadness.
“Brooklyn,” I call again, stepping out from behind the wall and her gaze locks onto me almost immediately as she lets out another squeal.
“Mama!”
“Good morning, gorgeous girl. Are you being nice to your auntie?”
“Always,” Alice answers, making a face at Brooklyn that she tries to copy. We both laugh and I sigh.
“Hey, thanks for getting up with her this morning.” Alice is seven years younger than me and still in college but she didn’t hesitate to move her schedule around to help me out when Brooklyn was born. Now, she takes her classes at night so she can watch Brooklyn during the day while I work. It’s true what they say about it taking a village to raise a child and honestly, I don’t know what I would do without her.
“No problem, you know that. I am going to have to drop her off at daycare around three today, though. I have to go meet with my advisor.”
I nod. “That’s fine. I should get out of work shortly after that.”
My phone rings again and Alice starts laughing. “Willa’s going to lose her mind sending you all those texts every morning.”
“I think she automates them somehow but you’re right, I should get going.” I lean down and plant a kiss on top of Brooklyn’s head. “Have a good day with Auntie Alice, baby girl. I’ll see you later, okay?”
She reaches for me, chunks of smashed banana on her hands as she grunts. I take a step back, shaking my head.
“Mama.”
“Sorry, sweet girl, you’ll get Mommy all messy.”
She starts to fuss and I back away. “I’ll go before she gets really upset. Call me if you need anything today.”
“Don’t worry about us,” Alice says as she scoops Brooklyn out of her high chair. “We’ll be just fine.”
I nod, turning toward the door and grabbing my purse. It doesn’t matter how many times I’ve left Brooke, I still get a tiny little pang in my chest each time I have to walk away from her.
“Love you!” I call over my shoulder and Alice repeats it as I duck out the front door and dig the keys to my Maxima out of my purse. The dense heat practically chokes me as I make the short trek between the front door and the driveway and I say a little thank you to the good Lord for air conditioning. Seriously, I wouldn’t survive without it - especially not down here in Louisiana.
As I back out of the driveway, I turn the radio on and flip it to the country station as I think about my day. Bubba Shot the Jukebox by Mark Chesnutt starts playing and I smile as I turn it up and pull out onto the street, singing along. The traffic is light as I pull onto the on-ramp and my phone rings, cutting off the music as Willa’s name pops up on the screen.
“I’m on the interstate!” I yell as soon as I press the button and her laugh rings out through the car.
“Good. That means I don’t have to yell at you today.”
I shake my head. “You know, I thought owning my own company meant I could make my own schedule.”
“Yeah, that’s true, but then you hired me.”
“Oh!” I exclaim dramatically. “I see where I went wrong now.”
Playing along, she gasps. “That’s fine, boss lady. See if I bring you any donuts today.”
“Wait! I'm sorry!”
She laughs as I take my exit. “Any preference this morning?”
“What was the one you got me last time?” I ask, my mouth watering just thinking about the donut she brought to last week’s staff meeting.
“Maple bacon.”
“Mmm,” I hum. “Yeah, get me a couple of those again.”
“You got it. See you in a few.” She hangs up as I turn onto the street that the office is located on.
“Yes,” I hiss, spotting the open parking space right in front of our door. Pressing my foot down on the accelerator, I whip my car into the spot and turn it off before I grab my bag and step out. Downtown is bustling with folks headed into work and it invigorates me as I turn to look up at the sign hanging above our entrance.
EQA Events.
Growing up, I never really knew what I wanted to do with my life other than have a family and be a mother but when I started working here with my grandmother, I discovered such a passion for party and event planning that it only made sense for me to take over the business when Gram retired. With the help of Willa, I’ve managed to expand the business into newer, younger clientele since taking over and I’m proud of all the things I’ve accomplished in the last year.
“You just going to stand there looking at the front door all day?” a voice yells and I glance down the sidewalk, glaring as Willa grins and approaches me with her hands full of donuts and coffee.
“Need help?”
She nods. “Yes, please.”
I take the drink tray from her and usher her into the building before following behind her. The office isn’t all that big but it’s enough for the two of us right now with a reception area and an office for me in the back. Willa flips the lights on and sets the donuts down on her desk.
“Come back when you’re ready,” I say as I pass her and step into my office with the coffee in my hand. A few moments later, she joins me and sets the small box of donuts down on my desk before opening it. The smell of sugar fills the room and I take a deep breath as I pull my coffee out of the tray and hand Willa her cup. When we’re all settled in with our breakfast and coffee, she pulls out her planner and I pull my calendar up on my computer.
“Okay, go through it for me.”
“First up, you have the final meeting with Jenna today to finalize plans for the children’s hospital fundraiser.”
I nod; double-checking that the time she rattles off matches my schedule as I take a bite of my donut.
“Speaking of, I’m going to need you there with me for the first part of the night, at least, but you should have the second half off if you want to bring a date,” I say, passing her the ticket I had put aside for her.