Page 42 of Then Came You

As I'm counting the party bags, I'm interrupted by someone clearing their throat. "Mr. Renshaw, Row is here to set up," one of the hired help informs me as I turn to them. "Shall I bring her out here?"

"Please," I say a little too eagerly. I had hoped Avi's family would be here, or Alex and Sydney, or even Dad, when Row arrived, but alas, I'm not that lucky.

A minute later, Row strolls out the French doors, looking a little flustered, with her makeshift hairdressing bag rolling behind her. She's wearing a simple billowing black maxi dress that has a slit halfway up one leg and a cut-out just under her chest. Her pink hair has been redyed, ridding her of any regrowth, and it tumbles down her shoulders in soft waves, kissing her waist. The only makeup adorning her face is her sugary chapstick that has a light pink sparkle to it, which has me having wild fantasies about staining my dick.

I close the gap between us, stepping forward. Expecting a hug, I lean in, but she extends her hand instead, waiting for me to shake it.

"Tink, what are you doing?" I laugh at her awkwardness.

"I didn't know how you wanted to play it today. Are we meeting for the first time? Are we cordial? Do you want me to act like I don't know you?" she asks, freezing on the spot, one hand still extended in mid-air.

"I'm sorry, baby girl," I whisper, shaking her hand and circling my thumb on her pulse. "We act friendly. I want you to feel comfortable enough to interact with any of my guests, and especially Haven." Her chocolate eyes are mesmerising. When I imagine a little girl having the exact same eyes as her, I know I've gone crazy. I cannot be thinking about babies with Row. It's absurd.

"You should let go of my hand then if you don't want to draw attention to the woman who I assume is your ex-wife," she mutters, gesturing to a glaring Avi. I move a fraction, putting Row in direct sight of Haven.

"Row! Hi Row," Haven waves fanatically, as she does a final bounce before leaping off the castle to run towards us. By the time she reaches us, she's puffed and bent forward trying to suck in air. "Row, I want rainbow unicorn hair!"

Row kneels so she's at Haven's level. I love that she does that. It's something so insignificant and overlooked by adults, but it means the world to young kids.

"You're going to be the best rainbow unicorn that's ever lived." She bops Haven's nose before reaching behind her to retrieve something in her bag. "I have a little present for you, but you might have to ask Mummy or Daddy if it's okay to have them." What she pulls out is so thoughtful and sweet. It's a sheet of stick-on earrings, which means she's noticed Haven doesn't have her ears pierced yet.

"I love them!" Haven snatches them out of Row's hands and jumps into her arms for a hug, making her fall flat on her ass.

"I'm glad, sweetie." She untangles herself from Row and calls for Avi.

"Here." I extend my hand and help her up.

"Mummy, Mummy, look what Row bought me." Haven shoves the sheet of plastic in front of Avi's face, who scrunches up her nose.

"If you want your ears pierced, darling, all you have to do is ask. We'll get you real diamonds instead." Avi's response is so snotty and uppity. I almost shake her and tell her to wake up to herself, but I'm too concerned with Row actively shrivelling into herself as if she's wishing she'd disappear.

"No. No. We won't be, Haven. You're five and deserve to play with fun things like fake earrings. Your grandma used to dress up Uncle Alex like a girl since she didn't have a daughter of her own, just two stinky boys, and she used to stick these colourful earrings on him all the time, but shh, don't tell Uncle Alex I told you, okay?" I pinkie promise her, making her and Row giggle. "Choose a pair for later and Row here will stick them on." Haven happily skips away examining which pair she'd like to wear.

"Row, this is Avalon, Haven, and Zee's mother. Avi, Row's my hairdresser who I hired for the girls today, as per Haven's request."

"Hi," Row softly replies, bowing her head toward Avalon like she's a fucking queen.

Avalon dismisses Row entirely, pinching her brows together as she turns her wrath on me. "Why didn't we just get Gian Carlo from Joh Bailey? You used to always go to Double Bay to get your hair done?"

"Well, now I go elsewhere and glad I do because they don't charge me $150 for a haircut," I snap.

"Too fancy for the Country Club, Joh's. What's next? You'll start going to Outback Steakhouse instead of 6 Head for a steak?"

"Avalon!" I admonish, embarrassed that Row has to be subjected to such utter disrespect. From the corner of my eye, I can tell she's questioning what she's even doing here.

"Um...I'll just go and set up. Nice to meet you," she whispers to a scathing Avalon, fleeing in the direction of a waiter.

When she's out of earshot, I huff out a dramatic breath and berate Avalon for being insensitively rude to someone she had never met. Within fifteen minutes, the party goes from zero to a hundred, leaving me no time to check in with Row.

I glance in her direction to find she's surrounded by children impatiently waiting for their turn. There is a sea of colour everywhere. Little girls with hair like Row's, hues of purple, yellow, orange, green, blue, and every other colour in between and more fucking sparkle than I care for.

When there's a lull in little minions vying for her attention, I make up a plate of food for her and bring her a bottle of water.

"You're the devil, you know that?" I quip, placing the food down in front of her. I lap up the way she looks at me as if I've hung the fucking stars and moon just because I gave her a plate of food.

"Oh yeah, how so?" She places the plate on her lap, reaching for a piece of fairy bread - a staple at any children's birthday party - and takes a decent bite.

When she's inhaled it, I notice a rogue sprinkle at the corner of her mouth, which I have an urge to lick away. It's in that moment I realise I'm jealous of a piece of fucking sprinkle bread.

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