Page 97 of Sunshine
I give her hand an encouraging squeeze and lead her out the front door with Daisy and Poppy hovering like mama bears. And while it’s nice to know Izzy and I have support in our corner, I would have liked a moment alone with Poppy to let her know how things went with Annalise. I settle for sending a quick text message on my way back to the restaurant.
Annalise is on board with the changes we want to make, and she wants to meet you while she’s here. What do you think?
Poppy
She does?
Is that what you want?
My fingers fly across the screen. I can almost feel Poppy’s insecurities pulsing in the blue light.
Yes. That’s what I want. You’re a part of my life as well as Izzy’s. I’m making sure Annalise knows how special you are to us.
The three dots of her incoming reply fade in and out, and I grin as I picture her thinking and rethinking the best way to take my compliment. It’s no surprise that she breezes right past it.
Poppy
Okay. I’m going to head home and change. I’ll sneak back later.
Annalise stays in Cabin 14. If you wait until Izzy’s asleep, I can leave her with Daisy and meet you there.
Poppy
That sounds good. Thanks.
Dinner is easier than I thought it would be. Izzy, like always, shines in the spotlight, and I sit back while she and Annalise volley back and forth over topics that are beyond me. The places Annalise has been to since we saw her last—Cairo, Johannesburg, Rome—and the work she’s done. The books Izzy has read and the extended math theory she’s learning at school.
I slip away during dessert, making myself busy in the kitchen to give them some alone time, then return when it’s time to take Izzy home to bed.
“Izzy has soccer in the morning,” I say as Annalise helps Izzy with her coat. “Poppy usually takes her, but—”
“I’d like to do that,” Annalise says before she glances down at our daughter. “If that’s all right with Isobel.”
Izzy shoots me an uncertain glance, and I crouch down to look her in the eye. “It’s up to you,” I murmur quietly.
“Will Poppy be sad if I say yes?” she whispers.
“Absolutely not. Poppy wants what you want. And so do I.”
Izzy plays with the zipper on her jacket. “I want Mommy to see me score.”
I give Izzy a kiss on the cheek. “I’m proud of you for expressing your feelings. And I think Mommy would like that too.”
I stand with Izzy’s hand in mine. “You can take my car,” I say to Annalise. “Is eight a.m. okay?”
“Perfect.”
A server from the restaurant takes Annalise’s luggage and walks her to her cabin while I take Izzy home. She skips beside me along the dusty dirt path, kicking at rocks and scuffing up her boots, but I’m too cheered by her good mood to scold her for it. She loves her mother. I know that. Izzy is always happy when she’s here. It’s the leaving part that’s difficult. Hopefully, I’ve made gains tonight to fix that.
“How did it go?” Daisy asks as I walk through the front door with Izzy.
“Good!” Izzy twirls her way to the stairs. “Mommy’s taking me to soccer tomorrow.”
Daisy raises an eyebrow in my direction. “Annaliseis taking Izzy to soccer?”
“Yes.” I pause with my foot on the first step as Izzy runs ahead to her bedroom. “And Izzy is happy about that, okay?”
Daisy raises her hands. “I didn’t say anything.”
