Page 38 of The Fake Husband Play
“I mean, if it’s not too much of an imposition,” Elly says, meeting my gaze with a questioning glance. “I know you weren’t expecting us until tomorrow.”
I wave a hand through the air. “Tonight, tomorrow, makes no difference to me. How about we just grab whatever y’all need for tonight—pajamas, toothbrushes, whatever—and let the moving company get the rest tomorrow?”
“I can finish up with the boxes for you,” Cedric says, looking a little guilty for his part in escalating Mimi’s fears into a full-on existential crisis. “And I know the super. I’ll get him on the horn before I leave. Tell him he needs to get an exterminator up here tonight. The longer he waits, the worse that situation is gonna get, and the longer he’ll have to wait to get another renter in here.”
“That might work,” Elly says, her shoulders slowly easing away from her ears. “Dan doesn’t usually answer the phone right away, but he did say that he already has another renter lined up. Pretty sure they’re supposed to move in next week.”
Cedric grunts. “Yeah, then he’ll be all over it. We’ll have this handled in no time. Rats gone, bags packed,fresh start on lock.” He smiles kindly at Elly. “Go get settled in your new place and rest easy.”
“Thank you,” Elly says, a smile trembling across her lips as she glances down at Mimi, still clinging to her arm. “What do you think, Mimi? Want me to go pack your PJs and clothes for school tomorrow, and we can hit the road?”
Mimi nods fast. “Yes, Mama. Hurry. The rats might smell the leftover pizza and decide to come in here.”
“I doubt it, but stay on the island, just in case,” Elly says, pressing a kiss to Mimi’s forehead. As she pulls away, she turns to me, adding in a whisper, “You okay here for a few minutes without me? If she gets upset again, just holler and I’ll be here in two seconds.”
“Don’t worry,” I assure her. “We’ll be fine. Take your time.”
“No, Mama, don’t take your time, not right now. Sometimes it’s okay to be fast,” Mimi says, making Elly glance back over her shoulder with a soft laugh.
“Got it. I’ll be faster than the wind.” She jogs out of the room, making Mimi sag with relief.
“Thank goodness,” Mimi says, glancing my way as she confides, “Mama always says slow and steady wins the race, but sometimes it’s better to be fast. Especially if you don’t care about winning the race and you just want to get away from something scary.”
“Wise words, kiddo,” I say, holding out a fist for her to bump.
She does, and Cedric laughs. “You two remind me of me and my stepdaughter. Thick as thieves from day one.” His blue eyes soften. “Now, she’s twenty-five and about to give me my first grandbaby.” He gives me a friendly pat on the shoulder as he adds, “Enjoy yourtime with your girls, son. It goes by so fast and then, all of a sudden, you’re sixty and about to be a grandpa.”
My girls…
They aren’t my girls, not really, but right now…
Well, I’m glad they’re coming home with me, and not just because no one should have to sleep in an apartment with an active rat infestation. Even before Katy ran out screaming, I was dreading saying goodbye.
Now, I don’t have to.
“Oh no,” Mimi says, sitting ramrod straight again. “My stuffed animals! I can’t leave Miss Sparklehorn here with the rats! Or Fuzzy Wuzzy. They’re delicate and magical, and rats hate unicorns.”
“On it,” I tell her, holding up a hand, fingers spread wide. “Wait here. I’ll grab them from your room and see if your mom needs any help.”
Mimi relaxes almost immediately, a smile twitching at her lips. “Thanks, Gee. The rats will be too scared to bother Mama or the animals if you’re there. You’re big and strong.”
I’ve heard similar things from people before, but as I give Mimi a thumbs-up and jog in to join Elly, I realize I’ve never been so glad to be big and strong as I am right now. Big and strong on the streets or the ice is good and all, but big and strong because it makes a kid you care about feel safe is even better.
“Everything okay?” Elly asks from the closet as I head into Mimi’s nearly full-packed room.
“Yeah, just have to rescue two stuffies Mimi thinks might be rat targets,” I say, seeing the unicorn on her bed and tucking it under one arm. “I just need to know which one is Fuzzy Wuzzy.”
Elly smiles and points to the open box not far fromthe bed. “The big gray bunny. Should be in that one. He’s one of the ‘good’ animals.”
“Got it.” I locate the bunny easily, then help Elly carry her nearly-packed duffle into the bathroom.
Within ten minutes, we’ve got a duffle bag, Mimi’s backpack and lunchbox for school, a small bonus bag of toiletries, and the stuffies ready to go, and are waving goodbye to Cedric, who promises to lock up behind him.
“Okay,” Mimi announces as she leads the way down the hall toward the elevator, unicorn under one arm and Fuzzy Wuzzy under the other. “We’re all ready to go, and Fuzzy Wuzzy isn’t even nervous.”
“No?” I ask, with a smile. “That’s good.’
“That’s very good,” Elly adds softly beside me. “Fuzzy Wuzzy is notoriously high-strung. Speaking of high-strung…you handled all of that very well. You’ve got excellent dealing-with-scared-kids instincts.”
