Page 88 of Hello Doctor

“If you’re bouncing now, you’ll take off with some sugar,” I teased.

She hopped forward to the front door and yanked it open, making the bell chime inside.

But once we got through the door, I almost ran into her, because she stood frozen.

“Mommy?”

My stomach dropped as I scanned the store and found the woman I recognized only from her pictures. Regina sat toward the corner of the shop with a little girl not much younger than Maya.

“MOMMY!” Maya yelled, running to Regina.

“Maya, wait,” I whispered, but she didn’t hear me, already running to her mom.

Regina seemed confused at first, but then registered it was her daughter and stood up, wrapping her arms around Maya. “Honey, what are you doing here?”

Maya gestured at me. “Livvy and I came to get ice cream like you and me always did.”

That’s when Regina’s eyes landed on me, and I hated it, but in that moment, I felt small. Regina wore designer clothes, jeans that were ripped in a factory instead of from wear, high-heeled shoes that probably cost more than my first car. Her honey-colored hair fell in perfectly done waves, and expensive sunglasses rested atop her head. Not to mention, she was wearing makeup while my face was bare.

“You’re Maya’s nanny, right?” she asked.

I nodded, extending my hand and forcing a smile. “Hi, I’m Liv. Maya’s said such sweet things about you. She adores you.”

Regina smiled, and the little girl with her tugged at her hand. “Oh, this is my boyfriend’s daughter, Phoebe. Phoebe, this is my little girl, Maya.”

My heart ached as Maya looked between Phoebe and Regina.

“Hi,” Maya said shyly, looking like she wanted to disappear in the speckled marble floor.

My little girl was not one to fade away. Where was the wild child belting Shania Twain just a few hours ago?

“Do you want to sit with us?” Regina asked.

Maya nodded, and I said, “That would be great. Maya, let’s go order some of that delicious ice cream you were talking about earlier.”

She stayed quiet beside me as I walked to the register, but she wasn’t bouncing anymore. It was like she’d been deflated. I tried to cheer her up by offering a double scoop of ice cream, but her lips barely moved. I ordered myself a scoop of cappuccino ice cream, but with the leaden feeling in my stomach, I doubted I’d be able to eat it.

We walked back to the table, Maya and me sitting across from Regina and Phoebe. And I thought what I couldn’t say earlier.I wish I was your mom too. Because this was breaking my heart.

Regina asked Maya, “How’s your ice cream?”

“Good.”

Regina and I exchanged a glance.

“Fletcher says you’re doing a great job with our girl,” she said.

I wanted to puke, because I knew Regina called once, maybe twice, a month. But I tried to remember the story Fletcher told me about her and feel compassion. If not for Regina, then for the girl beside me. “I’ve had the best time hanging out with Maya. She’s doing so great in her swim lessons! She even dove off the diving board Friday!”

Maya smiled slightly.

“Wow,” Regina said, “is that true?”

Maya nodded shyly.

“Good job, Maya.”

Silence fell on the table. I had to wonder what little Phoebe thought of it all, caught in the middle of a weird situation.

---