Page 59 of Single Girl in the City
“No.” Abi wasn’t sure when she’d be able to face what her sister had done, but that wasn’t going to stop her from completing her good deed. “I’m here because I promised to help with the fish.”
“And the kids? Last time you helped with the kids. And they’re staging a mutiny and I’m on the losing end.”
“Which is why I brought this.” She held up an Anna wig. “I will bring Anna and Elsa home for a one-time visit with Auntie Abi. We will dress up, sing, and then I will puncture my eardrums so as never to hear that song again.”
Swoosh swish.“Let it go. Let it go.”
Lemon-Marie made a grand appearance in all her princess gear, a mash-up of every Disney princess ever created, with her wand in hand. She waved it and nearly poked Abi’s eye out.She raced around the table with her wand dragging the floor, knocking every leg of every chair before ducking beneath the tablecloth.
Swoosh swish.“Let it go. Let it go.”
Swoosh swish.“Let it go. Let it go.”
A Cinderella shoe came flying out and tagged Abi in the shin. Followed by a second and finally a crown.
“How long will this game of strip princess last?” Abi asked.
Dotti waved a hand. “She’ll run out of options before long and then Koi will get in on the action. Only he takes off his Pull-Ups and goes outside and pees on the tree like our neighbor’s dog. He’s in some kind ofLord of the Fliesalternate reality. It’s super fun.” Dotti glanced at the house, which looked like a toy bomb went off, and gave a resigned sigh. “I wouldn’t blame you if you turned around and walked out.”
“Leaving you with my favorite munchkins?” Abi peeked her head beneath the table and growled, sending Lemon-Marie racing out in a fit of giggles. Abi stood and, with her good arm, swung her niece up over her back into a fireman’s hold, Lemon-Marie squealing with glee. “Fee. Fie. Foe. Fum. I smell a diapered bum.”
Abi stomped down the hallway with her niece still on her back and when she caught sight of Koi she roared like Godzilla. His little face lit up and he raced into his bedroom looking for a place to hide.
Hide-and-seek lasted all of thirty seconds, followed by a bribe of one doughnut for two hours of playing Big Kid No Talk while they watchedFrozen. Abi kept the kids entertained until nap time, which was where her time at Casa Dotti came to an end.
Abi tapped on her sister’s door, then opened it to find Dotti in bed with her feet elevated.
“The kids are fed, changed, passed out, and probably won’t wake until dinner. Oh, and I cleaned the kitchen.”
Dotti studied her strangely. “Why are you being so nice?”
“Because you’re family. And because I made a promise to someone I loved that I’d do good. And the best way for me to do good today is to be there for the people I love. Regardless of what they did. Plus, I came here for the rest of my things. Well, at least the things that fit in my bike basket.”
“I can drive you.”
“I know, but I need to figure this out on my own. Plus, you shouldn’t have to chauffeur me around. This is another reason I came, to say I’m sorry for taking advantage of you. That wasn’t my intention.”
“I know,” Dotti said.
“I was hoping I could leave the rest in the garage until I move back to Alabama.”
Dotti’s tears came to an abrupt stop. “You’re going back to Alabama?”
“There’s something I have to do.” Like visiting Jenny’s grave and maybe even visiting Jenny’s parents. What good was do-gooding if she didn’t do things for herself that would make her good with the world?
“When?”
“As soon as I finish my contract at Stout. And before you ask, no I haven’t told him. As for why, I want him to feel what it feels like to have his life back before he shuts me out.”
“That’s actually a good reason.”
“Does that mean my old reasons were crap?” she asked, feeling more defensive than she should.
“No, I just … thank you for today.”
Chapter Twenty-One
Happy Things:
