Page 5 of Comeback
“Becausegoodmen see a ring and back off.Badmen see a ring and just don’t give a flying—” Remembering we were in the presence of a child, Nicole mouthed theFword.
“You’re thinking about it too literally,” I said, admiring the ring on my finger from different angles. “The ring isn’t supposed to scare anyone off. It’s supposed to be a reminder tomethat I’m not ready for a relationship yet—and that my number one priority is Mackenzie.”
Nicole laughed. “Okay. Whatever. I know by now that once your mind is made up, there’s no changing it. So knock yourself out, dude. Don’t say I didn’t warn you, though.”
Mackenzie, still clinging tightly to my side, craned her neck. She was interested in Nicole’s jewelry case.
“You wanna pick something out too, Mack?” Nicole asked. “Come here, babe! Pick out some jewelry!”
Shyly, Mackenzie stepped forward and squatted in front of Nicole’s toolbox. She opened the little plastic drawers and pushed the items around, inspecting the jewelry in her own way. At last, she smiled and pulled out a necklace with an inch-long, rectangular blue stone. She put the necklace on all by herself and ran back to my side.
“Ooooh,” Nicole said, clasping her hands together happily. “See that, Emma? She chose blue kyanite.Interesting.”
“And what does blue kyanite do?” I asked.
“It opens the throat chakra and encourages communication. It can help cut through your fears and help you speak your truth.” Nicole bobbed her head sagely. “Interesting, don’t you think?”
Itwasan interesting coincidence, I had to admit.
“She’ll be talking in no time,” Nicole added.
“Mackenzie,” I said, “tell Aunt Nicole ‘thank you.’ ”
But the crystal wasn’t working miracles just yet, and Mackenzie wouldn’t vocalize her thanks. She slid off the couch and gave Nicole a hug instead.
“Aw. You’re welcome,” Nicole said quietly.
Jeff, Nicole’s live-in boyfriend, emerged from the kitchen. A medley of delicious-smelling spices wafted in his wake. When Jeff wasn’t at his landscaping job, he was happily cooking in the kitchen.
“Hey, Emma,” he said, adjusting his black-rimmed glasses.
“Hey, Jeff.” I grabbed Mackenzie’s hand and made her wave. “Can you say ‘hi, Uncle Jeffy?’ ”
Jeff was a great guy—tall, slender, and soft-spoken. He wouldn’t, no,couldn’thurt a fly. But Mackenzie shyly buried her face in my chest and shook her head.
“No? Don’t want to?” I turned to Jeff. “Dinner smells amazing, by the way.”
“Thanks! We’re having maple grilled tofu and quinoa salad with asparagus and peas. You’re welcome to join us; there’s more than enough for everyone.”
Nicole and Jeff were vegans, and their household had only one strict rule: no meat. Nicole told me that eating out was hard for them because the smell of meat cooking made them sick. I had no problems with that—it was their house, after all—but little Mackenzie hadn’t exactly developed the palate to appreciate Jeff’s spicy vegan creations. She wouldn’t touch most of what he cooked.
“Thanks,” I said. “I was thinking of taking Mack out for dinner, though.”
She was just a kid, after all. She likes meat, chicken nuggets and ribs especially. Jeff and Nicole were willing to bend on their “no animal products” rule, so Mack could have milk and cheese. But I knew meat was out of the question.
Not that I minded—it made for a good excuse to get out of Nicole and Jeff’s hair for a while. Besides, I figured it was good for Mackenzie to get out of the house and be around people, especially with her anxiety issue. I kept hoping she might suddenly find a reason to speak while we were out on the town, but it hadn’t happened yet.
“We’ll probably head down to the park while we’re out, too,” I said as I stood. I helped Mackenzie put on her shoes, then gently prompted her again to talk. “Say ‘bye-bye!’ ”
Nicole tried to help, waving enthusiastically and pitching her voice two octaves higher. “Bye-bye, Mackenzie! Bye-bye!”
Jeff joined in, too. “Bye-bye, Mackenzie!”
But Mackenzie wrapped herself around my leg, gawking at Jeff and Nicole with her big green eyes as if she didn’t know what to make of them.
The child psychologist made it clear that I shouldn’t show frustration with her, but a quiet, defeated sigh still escaped my lips.
I felt horrible.Had I ruined my daughter?
