Page 26 of Then Came You

"And I want rainbow balloons and a cupcake tower and unicorn headbands and sparkly nail polish and fruit kabobs and lots of puppies and a lolly treasure hunt and a huge teddy bear jumping castle, and I want that lady who has pink hair to spray paint all my friends' hair. Please, pretty pleaseeeeee," Haven animatedly lists her wants for her upcoming birthday without taking a breath.

My precious daughter is so excited that she is actually hopping like a bunny as I attempt to walk beside her on the footpath. She’s so hyped up that she doesn’t even notice her chocolate locks are whipping her in the face, hindering her eyesight.

"No. You can choose two of those things, but I can’t promise anything."

Zee was way too spoiled growing up. Perhaps that’s where I went wrong for him to drag out this petulant silent treatment. His reasons for shutting me out are because I cussed him out for not taking his studies as seriously as he should be.

"Daddddddddd."

"Uh, uh, uh. Two things." I reiterate.

She bats her eyelashes at me and furrows her eyebrows. After a while of serious concentration, she tugs at my arm.

"Yes, princess?"

"I thought about it." She says it as if this is a life-or-death decision, and it makes me chuckle inwardly. This is the height of her problems. Fuck, I wish this was all I was worried about.

"And what did you decide, sweetheart?" I look down at the precious doll I get to call mine.

"I want the jumping castle and the lady with the pink hair."

My body lurches forward, propelling poor Haven to stumble and almost fall with me.

I can’t ask that of Row.

Isn’t that a gigantic step introducing her to my family who know nothing about her? Surely, she will find this request strange and turn it down.

She’s a hairdresser, not a freaking children’s entertainer.

Can’t I just hire someone else with pink hair to attend the party?

I’m more blown away that Haven remembered my pretty stylist.

Admittedly she’s unforgettable, but Haven glanced at her for maybe ten seconds.

"What if she’s busy?" The first rule of parenting is never to promise anything and try to lower their expectations.

"We should ask her right now." She’s so serious, and again her cuteness tugs at my heart.

"We can’t right now. You’re going to your brother's for a sleepover, remember?"

I lug her sparkly purple Gabby Doll House backpack on my shoulder.

I don’t want to say Haven has cock-blocked me, but I kind of do.

Not seeing or speaking to Row has given a new meaning to blue balls. There are only so many X-rated videos out there where the lead characters have pink hair like Row’s. Even then, her substitutes don’t come close to the real thing.

We’ve texted a few times, but it’s hard to carry on a real conversation between our work schedules and looking after Haven this week. I also don’t want to come on too strong.

"Do you think Zee Zee will get me the rest of the stuff off my list?" She’s a master manipulator in the making, this one. I shake my head at her antics.

"Nice try, but no. You’ll get what you’re given." She’s walking far too slow for my liking, which is preventing me from stopping by the salon this evening. Seven days feels like seven years where Row's concerned. Remedying Haven’s turtle-like pace, I give her a piggyback. I'd rather be crippled and see Row for as long as possible than walk straight and miss out on seeing her at all.

Another 15 minutes later, and I buzz myself up to Zee’s home.

He may be acting like a sulking sullen teenager, but he’s a kick-ass big brother. When he opens the door, he cements his status by wearing a giant ice cream costume, cone, scoops, and all.

I keel over laughing while Haven pummels into him.

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