Page 104 of Spotlight
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While Olivia gets ready for work, I order takeout for the three of us. Olivia barely gets to eat before she rushes off to work.
“I love you.” She kisses Greer’s head. “Be good for Flynn.”
Then she walks to me.
“I promise I’ll be good too.” I wink.
“Thank you. Text me if you need anything. I’ll check my phone when I can.”
“We’ll be fine,” I assure her and myself. Greer still isn’t her usual self, so my confidence is already wavering a little.
When she’s gone, I look to Greer.
“What do you want to do?”
I get a shrug in response. Okay, not killing it right out of the gate.
“Wanna know a secret?”
“What?”
“I’ve never babysat before. It’s my first time. I don’t know what to do.”
A tentative smile tugs at the corner of her mouth, but she shuts it down quickly. Whatever has her upset isn’t going to be pushed aside so easily.
“Anything you want to do?” I ask her.
Another shrug.
“We could watch a movie,” I suggest. “Have any favorites?”
“A newBunny Balletmovie came out yesterday.”
“There’s a new one?” I ask, wide-eyed. “I had no idea. We must watch it!”
Her expression softens the tiniest bit, and we move to the couch. Once I find the movie and hit play, Greer inches closer to me. We watch the first twenty minutes or so in silence.
I love a good cartoon as much as the next person, but I find myself too worried about Greer and what’s bugging her to get invested in the movie.
Reaching over, I tug on a curl.
“Hey, munchkin. Want some ice cream?”
Her head nods quickly and I get the first real smile out of her all night. After I pause the movie, I head into the kitchen and pull out the ice cream cartons. “Chocolate or Neapolitan?”
“Chocolate!” She sits on a stool at the counter.
“Great choice.” I find two small bowls and give us each two big scoops. I slide her bowl in front of her and then walk around to sit next to her with mine.
I wait until she’s had a couple of bites before I ask, “How’s school?”
Her demeanor changes immediately. Her shoulders slump forward, and the corners of her mouth turn into a frown. Is there anything sadder than a kid eating ice cream with a frown? If there is, I haven’t seen it.
“It’s fine.”
I guess it was naïve to think she’d tell me so easily, but I’m disappointed all the same.
