Make Believe: A Novella (2 page)

             
“Of course,” I said, shaking my head and laughing.

             
“Tammy, it’s time to get your things now,” she said as we entered the living room.

             
“Thanks again for this Janet,” I said, smiling.

             
“It’s no problem. I enjoy having her,” she said as she smiled at Tammy.

             
“Ohh, I thought Daddy was coming to get me?” Tammy moaned as she scrunched up her little face at me.

             
“Hello to you, too,” I said, raising an eyebrow at her.

             
“Hello, I thought Daddy was coming to get me,” she said as Janet and I exchanged glances before smiling at each other.

             
“He is. He’s outside waiting for you, so hurry up and get your things on.” I smiled down at her tiny frame.

             
“Yippee!” She beamed as she ran and picked up her small jacket off the couch, slid her shoes on, and ran back to me.

             
“OK, slow down. I thought you were
sick
,” I said, giving her the once-over.

             
“Yeah, I’m feeling much better now,” she said, staring at me wide-eyed.

             
“Oh, is that so?” I said as I chuckled to myself.

             
“Yep, I’m even well enough to eat ice cream,” she said, slipping her tiny hand into mine.

             
“Oh, I’m sure you are.” I couldn’t help but laugh at her.

             
“Come on then. Say goodbye and thank you to Janet.”

             
“Thank you and bye,” she said as she gave her a toothy grin and then dragged me to the front door.

             
“See, you soon,” I said, smiling at Janet.

             
“So, did you have a nice day?” I asked Tammy as we began to walk down the path.

             
“It was OK,” she said.

             
“Just OK?” I asked.

             
“Yeah, I missed my friends,” she said, scrunching up her nose.

             
“Well, hopefully you won’t be
sick
on Monday, and then you can come back to day care and see all of your friends,” I said. I slipped my phone out of my purse to check the time.

             
“Did you miss me?” she said, looking up at me.

             
“Of course I did. It was very quiet without you around,” I said as I smiled at her.

             
“Don’t worry, I’ll be back soon,” she said before letting go of my hand and running toward the silver Mercedes.

             
“Daddy!” she screamed and ran to Kyle who gently lifted her into the air.

             
“Hey, princess,” he said, glancing my way.

             
To avoid looking at him, I got inside of the car.

             
“Are we going for ice cream?” Tammy asked as he strapped her into her car seat.

             
“Not today, princess.”

             
“But you said we could go for ice cream.” She folded her arms forcefully across her chest.

             
“We can, but just not today,” he said in a gentle voice.

             
“That’s not fair!” She scrunched up her nose and began to sulk.

             
“Life isn’t fair,” he said as he chuckled to himself, closed her car door and slid into the driver’s seat.

             
“I guess I’m just upsetting all of the women in my life today.” I ignored him of course.

             
“Tammy, were you good today?” I asked as I turned around to face her. I could feel Kyle’s eyes on me, but I wasn’t ready to talk to him just yet.

             
“Yep, I did a painting. Do you want to see it?” she asked excitedly.

             
“Yes, show it to me when we get home,” I said. I smiled at her and turned back around.

             
“OK,” she said and promptly began yawning.

              “So, are we going to talk about this?” Kyle asked after we had been sitting in silence for about ten minutes.

             
I glanced back at Tammy who was now fast asleep and let out a long breath.

             
“What is there to talk about? You made the decision without even thinking about me. So why bother talking about it now?” I couldn’t hide the sadness in my voice.

             
“I’m sorry,” he whispered. I just stared out the window.

             
“I didn’t even think that I would get the job, to be honest. If I had, then I would have told you sooner….”

             
“But you didn’t,” I said, getting out of the car and opening Tammy’s door.

             
I gently unbuckled her then took her into my arms.

             
“I’m going to run and pick up some stuff from the store, OK?” he said, looking at me.

             
“Yeah, whatever.” I closed the car door and headed toward the house.

             
As I heard the car drive away, I felt a pang of guilt. I should have been happy Kyle got the promotion. It was what he had wanted for so long now, but it meant that everything was going to change. Maybe I was being selfish, but I wasn’t ready for that.

             
I managed to unlock the front door and push it open with my foot since my hands were full with Tammy. As I looked at a her sleeping, I smiled to myself. Even though she was only five years old, she reminded me so much of Mimi when she was younger, and she was just as noisy too.

             
Once inside, I headed for the spare room, laid her down on the bed, took off her jacket and covered her with the duvet. She looked so beautiful as she lay there sleeping. It made me smile to watch her tiny chest lifting up and down. Little strands of dark blond hair stuck to her head so I gently moved them and kissed her on the forehead.

             
As I stood there watching her, I felt a strong pair of arms snake themselves around my waist. I smiled as I felt the heat of his body next to mine.

             
“Hey, beautiful,” he whispered then buried his head in my neck.

             
“Hey, I didn’t know you were home,” I said as I turned around to face him.

             
“I was in the back yard,” he said, smiling.

             
“Come on,” he said, gently pulling me out of the room.

             
“How is she?” He gestured back toward the spare room with his head.

             
“Yeah, she was fine when I picked her up. She’s just tired,” I said, looking down at the floor.

             
“What’s up?” Aiden asked as he gently lifted my chin with his hand.

             
“Did you speak to Kyle?” I watched a sudden change in his facial expression.

             
“Yeah, so, I’m guessing he’s told you about the promotion then?” he asked as I stared into his eyes.

             
“You already knew?” I asked.

             
“Yeah, he told me a couple of days ago. That’s why he finished early today, so he could pick you up and talk to you,” he said softly.

             
“Why didn’t you tell me?” I was so annoyed.

             
“It wasn’t my place. He wanted to tell you himself, and I felt he should,” he said calmly.

             
“I think this is ridiculous. He can’t move to London,” I said as I pulled away from Aiden and headed toward the kitchen.

             
“Why not?”

             
“Are you seriously asking me that?” I said angrily.

             
“April, he has wanted this job for so long and now he finally has it. Why shouldn’t he take the opportunity?” he asked.

             
“Tammy, that’s why, or did you forget about her in all of this?” I grunted as I looked at him in disbelief.

             
“She’s his daughter April,” he said softly.

             
“We are the only family she knows Aiden. They need us. What are they going to do all the way in England? Who is going to help him with Tammy?” I asked in a sad voice.

             
“I don’t know, but he will manage. If it is what he wants, then he will make it work.”

             
“You don’t get it,” I said as I unpacked the grocery bags that were sitting on the island.

             
I love Aiden, but sometimes he just doesn’t get it. Kyle has been through so much in the last few years, and to just up and start over again in a foreign country where he would know absolutely no one, just seemed crazy to me. I remember how hard it had been for him to finally walk again after the accident with Jake. It took every bit of determination he had, and then he met Carrie. I thought everything was going to be fine, especially after she got pregnant with Tammy. I know he was young, but his experiences had made him so mature, and he was more than ready to be a father. Sadly, after Tammy was born things started to change. Carrie began acting strange, and they became distant. She eventually was diagnosed with postpartum depression, and one day she just up and left. That was five years ago, and we haven’t seen her since.

             
It changed our lives so much. Kyle and Tammy began spending a lot of time with us, and we would all take turns doing night feedings and diaper changes. Once she got older, Kyle wanted to get a job, so I started to take Tammy to the day-care center with me every day. I would bring her home every evening after he got off work, too. She has become such a huge part of our lives, and this may sound selfish, but I wasn’t ready to let her go.

             
“I do get it. I know how much she means to you because she means just as much to me, but Kyle needs this. He’s been through so much, April, shouldn’t he get the chance to be happy?” he said, staring into my eyes.

             
“Oh gosh, you’re right. I’ve been really selfish, haven’t I?” I said as the realization hit me. Everyday Kyle lives life, trying to make the best of every situation, and here I am getting mad at him for thinking about himself for the first time.

             
“You’re not selfish. You just care, and that’s OK.”

             
“Thank you. You always know what to say,” I said, stepping closer to him.

             
“It’s taken you eight years to figure that out?” he said, chuckling to himself. I just rolled my eyes, of course.

             
“Now, would it be too much to ask for a kiss?” he said with a smirk on his face.

             
“I think I can manage that,” I said as his lips met mine. Eight years later and his kisses still gave me butterflies in my stomach.

             
“Ew! That’s gross,” a tiny voice said from behind us.

             
“You’re supposed to be sleeping,” Aiden said as he picked Tammy up and gave her a kiss on the cheek.

             
“I’m not tired anymore,” she said, rubbing her eyes with the back of her hand.

             
“Well, then you can help Uncle Aiden in the kitchen,” he said. She got so excited.

             
“Yippee! Are you coming, too?” Tammy turned and asked me.

             
“No, sweetie. I’ve just got a few things to do. I’ll help out later,” I said with a smile on my face.

             
“I guess it’s just me and you, then,” Aiden said as he and Tammy headed for the kitchen.

             
I really would miss that little girl, but I know Kyle has to do what is right for him, and after everything he has been through, he deserves it. I will talk to him when he gets back, but for now I need to make sure that everything is ready for the party.

* * *

             
We had been cooking, cleaning, and running around for the last two hours, and I am happy to say that everything is finally done.

             
“Right, I think that we are all set.” Aiden stepped back and scanned the living room.