Page 29 of The Summer Arrangement
Emilia knows the rule. It’s something my mom instilled in me as a child as well. I never force her to eat, but she is required to take at least one bite before declining.
My daughter stares me down but knows I won’t budge on this.
Slowly, she reaches for her fork and pokes at the meat in front of her. I swear my child never blinks as she holds my gaze defiantly. Slowly, she brings her fork to her lips. Once the food is in her mouth, she finally closes her eyes and chews.
Then her eyes pop open, and she smiles jubilantly at Lizzy. “Mmmmm… This is good, Iz. I like it!”
Lizzy’s lips twitch but somehow, she manages not to laugh at my daughter’s antics. “I thought you might. Have you tried the potatoes you mashed?”
And just like that, the drama is forgotten, and we’re all devouring this scrumptious meal together.
This right here is something I could get used to.
During our first week of working together, Lizzy tried to leave just as I arrived home one night. She had just set the table for herself and Milli, so I insisted she stay and eat—if she didn’t have other plans. After all, if I hadn’t arrived when I did, she would have eaten with Milli and enjoyed the fruits of her labor. Ever since, she’s taken to eating with us if I arrive in time, and I, for one, will never turn down her company.
After a few minutes, I break the silence by asking, “What did the two of you do today?”
I catch my daughter’s eyes widen and dart toward Lizzy as her mouth exaggeratedly clamps shut.
Lizzy covers her mouth with a hand, too. I’m not sure if it’s to finish chewing or for covering a smile, but she rotates her otherhand in a circle, gesturing for me to move on from this subject. “Next question…”
“But…” I protest, and she shakes her head.
“It’ll ruin the surprise. You’ll find out soon enough. Why don’tyoutell us aboutyourday?”
“Sheesh… Okay… Point taken. Hmmm… Let me see… I spent most of my day either on the phone or in meetings. Besides being here with you, the highlight of my day was probably dropping by the studio and listening to Ruby Frax as they worked on their newest song.”
“I haven’t heard much from this new album, but the guys have certainly been putting some time in the studio. I’ve hardly seen them since they’ve been off tour.”
“I’m certain they’ll have another hit on their hands, if today’s session is anything to go by.”
“I know I’m biased,” Lizzy shrugs, “but honestly, I’ve never heard a song I didn’t like from either Jax or Ruby Frax for that matter. I’m looking forward to seeing them play again this summer.”
“Yeah,” I agree. “Don’t get me wrong. I think Jax is incredible as a solo artist, but when he started playing with Finn and Ryker, their talent as a band grew exponentially. They feed off one another and push each other to limits that far exceed expectations. Their ability to pull in crowds from all ages makes them in high demand for future shows. Speaking of shows, did you catch any of their stops while on tour?”
“I made it to their Seattle and Portland stops but never got to travel beyond that due to my class schedule.”
“They killed it in Portland! I was there…” I trail off as it hits me that our paths crossed once again mere weeks before officially meeting that day in the coffee shop.
Damn, this world is small.
“I watch Frax, too?” Milli bounces in her chair with excitement.
I don’t exactly switch my playlist when Milli’s around. In fact, I’m not sure I’ve ever purposely listened to children’s music just for her. Obviously, she has great taste in music. But a three-year old at a full-length concert? That might be pushing it.
“Uh… I’ll see what I can do,” I start but stop myself before promising something I won’t follow through with. Instead, I hedge, “They’re in Seaside for the summer, Mills. Maybe I can bring you into a practice session.”
“Or… maybe you can come to a family bonfire,” Lizzy cuts in. “The guys are known for singing at those.”
Milli’s eyes bug out, and her jaw drops into an O. “You like Frax, too?”
“Yep… I sure do.” Lizzy grins. “Do you have a favorite song?”
Suddenly, she belts out, “I never knew I could be free… Just being me.”
“Oh, I love that one.” Lizzy grins.
Milli nods in agreement. “I know… my daddy plays it in the car.” Milli takes one last bite of food and pushes her plate away. “All done! Ready for your surprise, Daddy?”
