Standing up, I wipe off my bottom—who knows how much Nycole and Kyndall hair attached itself while I was down there—and extend my hand to help him up. He accepts it, but doesn’t say a word as he leaves the room.
What. The. Hell?
I stay in their bedroom for a while, folding socks, hanging clothes, making the bed. Anything to avoid arguing with Blake. Once I run out of things to straighten and clean, I leave the room, my nose following the smell of the already delivered pepperoni and cheese pizzas. Stepping into the living room, I see Kyndall, standing in front of the T.V., mouthing—with perfect timing I might add—Gru’s lines from Despicable Me, when he announces his plan to steal the moon. Her movements and facial expressions are comical, and with everyone sitting on the floor picnic style, she is provided the perfect front row audience.
Taking a seat beside Blake, we all watch the free entertainment. Arms over his propped knees, holding a slice of pizza, Blake’s face is peaceful, no longer marked with the tensions from earlier. I lean into his side and look up at him because sometimes I just find it hard not to stare. His eyes meet mine, and in the light I note his sharp jaw and the light scruff lining it. He wraps his arm around my shoulders and squeezes me into his body, placing a soft kiss on my forehead. I wipe it off because I also noted a lot of grease around those full lips earlier. Giving me his sexy chuckle, he grins and then returns his attention to Kyndall’s performance.
And in that moment, all is forgiven.
I think.
After dinner, I grab the pizza boxes and start carrying them to the kitchen, when Blake steps in front of me, removing them from my hands. Smiling appreciatively, I automatically turn to resume my clean-up of the living room. As soon as I reach the coffee table and start to pick up the paper plates, I hear Blake’s voice booming from the kitchen. “Girls, why don’t you help your mom clean up, huh?” I hate to tell him they’ve already disappeared and most likely won’t reappear until about two minutes before we leave for fireworks at the lake. I really need to figure out their super, secret hidey hole. I would like to use it now and then.
“It’s okay, Blake, I’ve got it. It’s just a couple of paper plates.” He pokes his head out from the kitchen, exhaling a long sigh that catches my attention as I’m sure he intended. “Not the point, Alex.”
“I really don’t feel like getting into this with you again.” We lock eyes and it’s a long while before he breaks our stare. “Fine. Whatever.” I hear the trash bag shuffling around and rush to grab the plates. On a mission, I speed toward the kitchen, hoping to sneak them in there before he takes it out, and nearly trip over the “Books” box I packed earlier. “Damn it,” I hiss. My poor toe is throbbing.
Setting the plates on the counter, my hand remains on the bar, supplying balance while I rub my foot. “Stupid box.” I try to shove it with my pulsating foot which does absolutely no good. Damn it.
I bend at the waist in preparation to move the box. Wrapping my arms around the sides, I breathe out a long breath before lifting; I have a feeling it’s going to be heavy because I packed a lot of books inside. Just when I start to raise my body, I hear, “Alex! What the hell? Let me do that!”
Blake slams the trash bag down and stalks his way over to me and my box. I let go and turn to face him. “Blake, I’ve–”
“Yeah, I know, you’ve got it,” he says. “But, if you don’t mind, for my own peace of mind, would you please just let me move it?”
“Don’t you think you’re being a tad overprotective? I mean, I have done this child-bearing thing before, you know,” I say, gesturing towards the girls’ bedrooms.
“No. I don’t. At all.” Blake exhales a small breath, trying to calm himself. “Look, Alex. We’ve started this life, together. So, we eat together, we laugh together, we sleep together, and now we’re moving boxes together. I would like to take this one.”
I roll my eyes at his unacceptable use of sarcasm.
Fine.
I let him carry the stupid box. But, for the record, I didn’t need him to.
While he takes the garbage outside, I change clothes, now donning my red retro Coca-Cola t-shirt that doesn’t really fit me anymore, black capri yoga pants and flip flops. “Blake, are the girls ready?” I shout from the bedroom.
“Not sure! Let me check!”
Grabbing my purse off the bed, I step into the living room to wait for the magical reappearance of my kiddos from Narnia, or wherever it is they always disappear to. After about five minutes, I’m getting a little irritated. Fireworks don’t last all night people.
Hearing Blake’s voice once again coming out of Nycole and Kyndall’s room, which evidently is where the cool kids hang out now, I once again find myself traveling down the hallway. Stepping towards their room, I hear Kyndall’s sweet little voice next. “This one is of me and Daddy.”
“That’s a great picture, Kyndall. You look so beautiful in it, and your Daddy looks very happy too. You should keep that one out so that you remember to put it in your new room.”
Kyndall stalls a little before answering. “You wouldn’t mind? I mean, if I had a picture of him in the new house?” I press against the door to watch their interaction. Both of them are sitting on Kyndall’s bed, with an old photo album she must have found while packing up her room. Her bare feet dangle off the side of the bed while the photo album rests in her lap. Blake sits next to her, watching her intently.
“Kyndall.” When she looks up at him, he takes her hand into his as he speaks. “Please, never, ever think that you shouldn’t have a picture of your daddy. Ever. He is, and always will be, your father. I want you to remember him always. You can wallpaper your room with his pictures if you want to.” Blake wraps his arms securely around her. Running his hand down her smooth, light brown hair, he adds, “You know, I was friends with your daddy. I think I might have a picture of us when we were kids. If I can find it, would you like to have it…for your room?”
Excitedly, Kyndall releases him and nods her head, smile stretching all the way across her beautiful face. “My two favorite men in the world!” she exclaims. From the loving expression on his face, I can tell her words touch him deeply. He runs his hand down her hair one more time and gently strokes her cheek before standing up. “I’m flattered to be able to be with such great company. You know, your daddy loved you very much and I hope that you know that I love you too. You never have to worry about keeping his memory alive in our house. He was an amazing man and I’m honored to be able to follow in his footsteps in raising you girls.”
As Kyndall moves to embrace him, I step back from the door and hurry towards the living room, not wanting to ruin this beautiful moment, for either of them.
After a few seconds, I call for everyone to meet in the living room and we load up in the car. Blake drives, singing along with the girls to the radio. He says very little to me, I notice, and I’m still upset too. I know it’s probably just hormones, but I feel as though he’s attacking everything I do.
The way I raise the girls.
The way I lift boxes.
The way I pick duct tape off of the floor.
Once we arrive at the lake, I grab the blanket from the back of the Suburban and spread it on the ground. We just barely make it, but, hey…we make it.
Taking a seat by Nycole, I watch Blake as he continues to stand, holding onto Kyndall’s hand with Rylie on his shoulders. As the fireworks start, Rylie gasps as they explode over her head. She and Blake point toward the sky and I watch the shimmering light reflecting off her face. Her eyes are almost as wide as her smile, and my heart warms knowing she’s so happy. Blake lifts Kyndall’s hand, pointing and guiding her eyes to a beautiful red, white and blue displays in the sky. When he drops it back down, she leans her head and places it on his forearm as she continues to look at the sky, beautiful eyes widened with excitement and joy.