“Is there anything else you need to tell me?” I asked when silence fell between us.
“I’m sorry, Kate. I didn’t mean—”
“No, no. You’re fine. Are you on your way to get Ty? I miss him.” I pulled up my knees to my chest and leaned back on the footboard.
“Yes. I’m going to get him after I hang up with you. He misses you too.”
“Give him a kiss for me. I’ll come home when Leonardo comes back from his trip. I won’t be staying here every night it seems.”
Maybe it was Abby bringing up Jayden combined with being alone, but the tears wouldn’t stop and I didn’t want her to hear me. I also cried for my sister, who had lost her husband too soon. For Tyler, who would have to grow up without a father. Then for my brother-in-law, whom I missed dearly. I let the hurt, the frustration, the betrayal, the resentment, and even guilt out.
The thing about crying your heart out is you feel lighter. Somehow everything looks a little shinier.
I went back to the kitchen to read the detailed instructions Mona had left for me. Then I checked on the chicken baking after I tidied the house. Almost time.
The sound of the door opening echoed.
Bridget was home.
Chapter Seventeen — All the Sparkling Things
“Hi Bridget,” I said.
She slid through the open door, a middle-aged man at her side.
“You must be Phillip.” I extended my hand.
“Yes, Miss Summers. Mona told me you’ll be taking over her position for two weeks. I’m sure Bridget is in good hands. If you need to go anywhere, please give me a ring. I’m at your service.” He tipped his head and left, leaving Bridget and me in the quiet.
Bridget headed up the stairs without a word.
“Are you hungry or thirsty?” I said, following her to the bottom of the stairs.
She turned to face me halfway up. “No, thank you.”
“Do you need help with anything?”
Was I supposed to go to her room with her? Mona hadn’t written that part down. I tried to follow my instincts and not overthink it.
“No, I’m fine,” she said in her cute, soft voice. “I’m going to change my clothes and come down.”
“Okay. I’ll wait for you downstairs.” I watched until she was completely out of my sight and headed to the kitchen.
Talking to Tyler was easy, but I knew nothing about Bridget. I would have to see how much she’d open up to me.
The timer dinged. I opened the over door and backed away as hot steam blew out.
I put on mitts, took out the baked chicken and sliced it into serving portions. After grabbing two plates, I arranged a drumstick, carrots, beans, and potatoes.
Just as I wondered if I should check on her, footsteps padded and she stood by the leather sofa where the family room opened up to the kitchen. She had changed into a pair of jeans and a T-shirt with a cute unicorn and the words Follow your Dreams.
“Are you hungry?” I asked, setting our plates down across from each other.
She jerked a shoulder and looked at the bookcase in the family room, avoiding my eyes.
When Bridget had come home, I’d thought I detected an attitude from her. Now it was evident. No Father, no Mona to keep her in check—just a new person she thought she could run all over.
I grabbed two glasses of water from the kitchen and set them down on the table. “Mona said to have dinner ready for you by six. Are you ready to eat?” I pulled out a chair and took a seat.
“I guess.” She crossed her arms.
I needed to find what we had in common and go from there.
“Well, you can try some of Mona’s chicken, but if you don’t feel like it then you can eat later. I’m not going to force you if you’re not hungry.”
“You’re not?” She sounded surprised, relaxing her arms.
“Nope.” I bit into the soft meat from the drumstick I held. “Mmmm. Hot out of the oven. This is so good. Mona makes the best chicken.” I licked my lips. “I can taste the garlic, oregano, basil, and even mangos.”
Bridget took a step away from the sofa, licking her lips.
“I don’t think I’ve ever tasted something this good.” I shoved a green bean into my mouth. “Yum. With butter. The beans are to die for, and I hate beans.”
Bridget inched closer, tugging at the hem of her shirt.
“If you don’t want yours, I’ll be happy to eat them.” I sucked my buttery fingers, one at a time with exaggerated delight.
She scrunched up her nose. “I think I’ll try eating. Mona might get mad if she finds out I didn’t eat on time.” She took her seat across from me and dug in.
I forked a potato and nibbled on it. “I agree. You’re very smart.”
She sat taller and her eyes gleamed. “Mona says I’m smart too.”
“Because she’s right. And I also like your shirt.”
Bridget lowered her gaze to her shirt, and then looked at me. “You do?”
“I love unicorns. My sister thinks I’m too old to like unicorns, but I don’t care. I wish my room looked like yours.”
Her lips tugged wider, and she gnawed on her drumstick.
“According to your schedule, you can have dessert after dinner. You can have some fresh baked cookies Mona made this morning or some ice cream. Which one would you rather have?”
“Ice cream.” She paused, staring at her food, and then peered up to add, “Please.”
“Ice cream it is. Did you see Tyler at school today?” I took a sip of my water.
Tyler was something else we had in common. A safe topic.
She nodded, her mouth full of carrots. She wiped her lips with a napkin. “Yes, but I think he’s mad at me.”
“Why? What makes you think that?”
She blinked, looking unsure. “I think ... because you’re here instead of at his house.”
“Oh. We can set this straight. How about we call him after dinner?” I took another bite of the chicken.
She shook her head, her voice high pitched. “No. I don’t want you to ask him.”
I put my drumstick down and wiped my fingers on the napkin. “It’s okay. I’m not going to ask him if he’s mad at you. I’m going to call him because today is the first day I’m not with him. I was going to talk to him, anyway. I promise I won’t bring up anything you don’t want me to. I wouldn’t do that to you. I promise with all the unicorns, rainbows, and all the sparkling things.”
Bridget giggled, the cutest sound. Well, second cutest, after Tyler.
“Unicorns, rainbows, and all the sparkling things.” She cracked up like I had told her the funniest joke. She laughed so hard she began coughing.
My heart shot up to my throat. I sprinted around the table to pat her back and offered her cup. “Here, drink.”
After she gulped some water, she eased her shoulders.
“You okay?” I asked and sat back down.
“Yeah. That was close.” She sounded like a grown-up. “I like that you like unicorns.”
“I like that you like that I like unicorns.” I tossed a carrot in my mouth.
She giggled.
“That will be our mantra,” I said.