Page 23 of Pumped

And I need to set up an introductory meeting with the child psychologist her school recommended. This will be a difficult few months for Ivy and I’ll feel better having a professional who can guide us through the process. Hell, I should probably call up my own therapist and schedule a few sessions myself.

When I’m finished cooking, I venture upstairs and find them in Ivy’s room. Everest’s built her a blanket fort and they’re both huddled up inside it, surrounded by all of her stuffed animals. Zuzi takes center stage under her arm.

Everest whispers something I can’t hear from the door and a small, almost reluctant, smile appears on Ivy’s face. I think it might be the first time she’s smiled all week.

Irritation skitters across my skin. Everest is good with her. He always has been. He can make her smile and laugh when no one else can, not even her parents. I’m not too proud to admit that he’s probably better with her than I am. But then, I shouldn’t be surprised. Emotionally, he’s closer to her age than to mine.

“Knock knock.” When they both turn to look at me with matching wide-eyed expressions, my heart thuds hard against my ribs. This is us now. For better or worse, this is who we are. The weight of that reality sits heavily on my chest and it takes a moment for me to draw in a full breath. “Dinner’s ready.”

To his credit, Everest immediately climbs out of the blanket fort. “Come on, Ivy-bear, let’s see what Uncle Owen’s whipped up for dinner, ‘kay?” He reaches back to help Ivy out, but she doesn’t budge.

“I’m not hungry.” She burrows deeper into the mess of blankets and stuffed animals.

Everest glances uneasily in my direction. “I bet it’s really yummy, though, right?”

“It’s Asian stir fry. The same kind your mommy used to make.”

My comment hangs in the air for a split second before Ivy lets out a high-pitched whine and thrashes around, fists pummeling her poor animals. Fucking hell. Why did I have to mention her mommy?

Everest shoots me a glare, as if I purposefully set out to upset Ivy.

“Ives! Ivy-bear! Ivy-poo! Hey, hey, it’s okay. It’s not exactly the same as your mommy’s. No one could make it as good as your mommy did. Uncle Owen just made his own version of it.”

“I don’t wanna! I don’t wanna!”

“That’s okay. You don’t have to have any if you don’t want to.”

What? No. Of course she needs to eat. We can’t let her skip meals just because she’s in a bad mood. I step in closer and crouch down next to Everest.

“Ivy, you have to eat dinner.”

Everest elbows me out of the way and the only thing keeping me from pushing him back is the fact that we’re right in front of our niece.

“Yeah, but you don’t have to eat anything you don’t want, ‘kay?”

“Everest,” I grit out between clenched teeth. We can’t let her dictate her own meals. What if she wants cookies for dinner? Or ice cream for breakfast? She needs a healthy, balanced diet.

“What do you want for dinner, Ives? Listen to your tummy. What does it want?” Everest puts his hand on her rounded stomach and Ivy puts both of her hands on top of his. Together, her two hands are barely the same size as one of his.

She makes a concentrated listening face before announcing. “Chicken nuggets. My tummy wants chicken nuggets.”

“Chicken nuggets!” Everest exclaims like it’s the best food in the world. “I love chicken nuggets!”

I suppress a groan. Of course Everest loves chicken nuggets. Child. “We’re not having chicken nuggets. There aren’t any in the house, to begin with. And also, they’re not good for you.”

In fact, chicken nuggets are gross. There’s no telling what kind of shit they put in those things. I know Eden didn’t like feeding them to Ivy. But I also know she and Jeremy sometimes gave in because, well, kids.

“But they’re notbadfor you.” Everest shoots daggers at me with his eyes. “Better to have chicken nuggets than nothing at all.”

Ivy joins him with the full weight of a six-year-old’s glare. “Yeah, chicken nuggets or nothing.”

I honestly, genuinely sputter, not sure how I’m supposed to respond. “But I’ve already made Asian stir fry.” I want to smack myself in the forehead. What was I hoping to accomplish with that statement? It’s not like either of these two are going to listen to me.

Everest rolls his eyes and opens his arms to Ivy. “Let’s go find some chicken nuggets.”

She quickly launches herself into his arms. “With lots of ketchup.”

“We’ll drown them in ketchup.” Everest picks her up and carries her out of the room.

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