Page 45 of Daniil
“How about I get you each a plate?”Lennox suggests, getting up.“Any preferences, Court?”
Courtney shakes her head.“Everything looks and smells good.”
Five minutes later, there are two heaping plates in front of us with everything from standard American fare like burgers to a Limaji vegetable casserole with potatoes, leeks, carrots, and a cheesy cream sauce.There’s also corn on the cob, a Mexican style layered bean dip, cornbread, fresh fruit, and…filet mignon.Casey doesn’t mess around when she entertains.
Micah’s half-asleep, his head on my shoulder, and I pick up a fork with one hand so I can eat without disturbing him.Courtney’s just picking at her plate, and she looks… tired.There are faint bags beneath her eyes, and I feel bad that she didn’t sleep last night.I offered to help, though, so it’s up to her if she wants to accept.
Everyone is talking around us, and though they’re not leaving Courtney out, it’s awkward that she has nothing to contribute.She wasn’t with us on a family trip to St.Tropez last summer.She wasn’t here when Sandor bowled a 300 in the new palace bowling alley.She didn’t see Luke win the science fair… she’s missed so much.
It’s weird to think that way considering she has nothing to do with our family.Not really.Not until six months ago.But she’s been in and on my mind since the first time I saw her, which was over two years ago.I never stopped wanting to call her, convince her to let me take her out on a real date—and I compared every woman I’ve been with since then to her.
Unfair, but true.
“What do you do in Las Vegas?”Elen asks politely.My sister promised to be civil, but she was furious when she found out about Micah.
“I work for Westfield & Carruthers part-time,” Courtney replies.“I’m going to go full-time soon, but I hate the thought of Micah being in daycare.”
“What about a nanny?”Lennox suggests.
“That’s definitely an option.I have a neighbor who comes over the times I’ve had to work at night, but that’s hard because then I don’t get any sleep and he’s usually up by seven.”
Micah takes that opportunity to lift his head, blinking as if surprised to find out he’s in a crowd.He rubs his eyes with his fists and then frowns.
“Ma-ma-ma,” he says, reaching for his mother.He started saying that just yesterday, and she loves it.
“Hey, sleepyhead.”She takes him from me, and he buries his head in her shoulder.I’ve never seen Micah behave shyly before, and I figure it’s overwhelming to be in such a large group.
“God, he looks just like Dan when he was a baby,” Elen whispers.“I have photos at home.I’ll bring some tomorrow.”
“I’d love to see them,” Courtney says, rubbing Micah’s back.“Can you say hello to your auntie?”she whispers.
Micah lifts his head, almost like he understands, and turns, assessing everyone at the table carefully.
“Uncle Sandor,” Courtney says with a smile, pointing.“Uncle Xander.Auntie Lennox.Auntie Elen.Can you say hi?”
Micah raises a little hand, like he’s going to wave, then he giggles and blows a raspberry.
Sandor laughs, nodding his head.“I feel the same way at these big gatherings, buddy.”
“Oh, you hush!”Lennox elbows him.
After that, the ice is broken and Micah seems to go back to being his usual happy, friendly self.He lets Elen and Sandor hold him, but not Xander or Lennox.When Erik walks over, he holds out his arms and Micah practically jumps into them.
“I can’t decide if I want to go snatch him back,” Courtney whispers to me, “or take a picture to torture him with when he’s a teenager…”
“That time you abandoned your parents to go hang with the king,” I say, laughing.I did take a quick photo—I’ve been taking a lot of them since I found out about him—but having one of him with Erik is special.
“Can you say Your Majesty?”Erik is asking Micah, who seems enthralled with his deep voice.“Your Majesty?”
Micah responds with another raspberry and Erik shakes his head, pretending to be upset.“No respect from this generation.”
Everyone laughs, including Courtney.
This could be my life.
Our life.
I just don’t know how to make it happen.
