Page 37 of Trust Fall
“I know, I’m the worst,” Cleo deadpanned, as she slightly shrugged her shoulder and shook her head. A smirk dancing at the corner of her mouth.
“If I got a hot chocolate and pizza on the same day, I’d be the happiest person in the whole world!” Toni chimed in from behind the counter.
“Yeah, I guess,” Sophie said, defeatedly.
“How about you grab a table while you can, and I’ll bring your drinks over to you?” Ivy offered.
“Thanks, beautiful,” Cleo replied with a smile, and Ivy reluctantly let go of her hand to let her follow Sophie to her chosen table.
Only ten minutes later, the door swung open, and in walked trouble. Sullivan arrived with Willow, and Ivy could feel the heat blazing off Toni before she even turned to look at her. Ivy had already noticed Willow wearing a backpack, and Sullivan shuffling her over to an empty table.
“You can’t keep doing this,” Toni said in angry hushed tones trying hard not to make a scene, once she’d walked over to the table to be beside her daughter.
Ivy reached over to the button beside the coffee machine that let Nina know in the kitchen that they needed an extra hand on the counter. While it wasn’t busy now, Ivy knew she’d need to back Toni up with Sullivan if needed, and she needed someone behind the counter while this played out.
“I got a new job, I start Monday, so I have to pack up and head off tonight,” Sullivan told her.
“Wait, what?!” Toni practically spit the words at him.
“Yeah, it’s over on the far coast, so you know, I’ll need to head as soon as to get there before starting at 9 a.m. on Monday,” he replied.
“Sullivan, you can’t do this! We have an agreement!” She dropped her voice. “What about Willow?” Toni’s voice cracked at the mention of their daughter, who sat at the table beside them. Their seven-year old’s eyes looking up at them both, confused about what was happening.
“Look, I’m sorry, but it’s good money, and I’ll send you what I can once I get paid and pay all my bills and stuff, ok? I’ve already told her about it. I’ve got to go.” With that, he turned and left the shop before Toni seemed to have a chance to catch up with what had just happened.
“Is everything ok?” Ivy heard Cleo ask softly. “Can I help?”
Ivy sighed as she turned to Cleo but kept glancing over at Toni, now crouched down talking to Willow. “That was Toni’s ex, Sullivan. And that’s their daughter, Willow, she’s seven and a great kid who doesn’t deserve having him as her dad. He’s as useless as they come. He’s supposed to take Willow on the weekends to let Toni work but regularly cancels or just doesn’t show. Apparently, he just got a new job and is leaving for the far coast tonight. So, he just dumped Willow here while Toni works. By far not the only time he’s done it either.”
Cleo took a breath. “OK,” she said resolutely, and walked over to Toni. “Toni, if you’re ok with it, I can take Willow with me for the day with Sophie? Ivy has my number if you need to get in touch, and I’ll text her my address so she can bring you by to collect Willow after work? It’s entirely up to you, but I know another five hours watching her as well as trying to work is going to be tough.” Cleo reached out and gently placed a hand on Toni’s arm, “I think your day’s been tough enough already, don’t you?”
“I couldn’t ask that of you, not after the amount of flack I’ve given Ivy about you... even if you weren’t here in person to know about all of it,” she said with a coy smile.
“You didn’t ask, I offered. Plus, I’m willing to turn a blind eye to the flack, for now,” Cleo smiled. “What do you say? I’ll stay here with them for a little while longer, make sure you think she’s settled enough with me, then we’ll head over to the park before swinging by the market, and heading to mine for movies and pizza, as promised.”
Ivy’s heart just about melted right there on the spot. How was this incredible woman in her life?!
Toni hesitated for a minute, then she bent down, “Wills, would you like to sit with over there with Sophie? It’s better than sitting on your own.” The young girl looked around Cleo and spotted Sophie sitting at their table, whipped cream on her nose, chocolate moustache round her mouth, and marshmallow in hand.
“This is my friend Cleo. She’s Sophie’s Auntie,” Toni explained to her daughter.
“Hi Cleo,” the young girl said with a small wave.
“Hey Willow,” Cleo replied with a smile.
Willow looked between her mom, Cleo, and over at Sophie, then which a small shrug she said, “OK.” She hopped down off her seat and made her way over to the table where Sophie sat. The three women stood watching carefully. “Hey, I’m Willow, that’s my mom over there, and her friend Ivy. She says the other lady is your auntie?”
Sophie looked up at the women and pieced together what the girl was saying. “Hey Willow, I’m Sophie. Your mom’s nice, she always gives me extra marshmallows with my hot chocolate, do you want one?" Sophie picked up one from her plate and offered it to Willow, who took the treat as Sophie continued talking. “That’s my Auntie Cleo, and her girlfriend, Ivy.” Willow sat down and the girls started talking between themselves.
Ivy’s heart had never pounded so hard in her chest. By the look on Cleo’s face, hers was doing similar.
Cleo cleared her throat, “She, I, we, didn’t, you don’t, we can.”
Cleo blinked in panic. Toni sniggered. Ivy swooned.
“We can, Cleo,” Ivy laced her fingers through Cleo’s and continued. “As slow as you need, but we can.” Ivy gave Cleo’s hand a gentle squeeze, trying desperately to reassure her thatSophie’s word choice wasn’t freaking her out. Not in the slightest.
“You mean,” Cleo paused, “you’d be ok with, me calling you that?” she asked, cautiously.
