twice.
They were watching a movie when I arrived. The only thing that hit me harder than the pang of jealousy when I walked in was Bridget crashing into me as she launched herself off the couch.
In a perfect world, I would’ve been the one suffering through Little Mermaid marathons, not Ryan. But our New York world wasn’t perfect.
Making the most of the situation was the best I could do, and making the most of it that afternoon meant settling in and watching the rest of the movie. Bridget snuggled into my side, and before long I felt her little body relax against mine as she drifted to sleep.
Ryan and I continued watching Ariel as if it was our calling for the day. I enjoyed the downtime, and considering Ryan had spent the afternoon in the company of his niece, he probably did too – even if he did complain.
“The girls are on a bender and we’re here watching cartoons,” he said. “Do you see anything wrong with that picture?”
“No,” I replied quietly. “The picture is good.”
Charli never took time out. Cocktail bars in the afternoon weren’t usually her scene, and I was glad she’d made an exception.
“You’re so whipped, Adam,” he teased. “You should call your wife and demand that she comes home.”
I reached into my pocket for my phone, trying not to wake Bridget. “Call Bente,” I urged. “Tell her to come home.”
Ryan smirked. “I might.”
“Yeah,” I scoffed. “And after she tells you to go to hell, I’ll help you box her stuff back up.”
***
It turned out to be a late night. Bridget woke not long after Charli and Bente arrived. She was well rested and raring to go, which made getting her back to sleep when we arrived home almost impossible. Sweet-talking quickly gave way to threats – none of which she took seriously.
“I want to go back to Ry’s house,” she complained.
I tucked her in a little bit tighter than usual as if that was all it would take to keep her in her bed. “You’ll see him tomorrow,” I assured her.
“We’re going to the park.” She sounded much too excited, considering the late hour. “To look for Secret North.”
I’d been enamoured by Charli’s tales for years. She could hook me in with just a hint of the story to come. Bridget held the same power. I pushed a mountain of girls aside and sat on the edge of the bed. “Can you tell me about it or is it really a secret?”
“It’s only a secret from Ryan,” she replied. “I’m going to find it for him.”
My curiosity was piqued in an instant. “How, Bridge?”
“If you listen nicely, I’ll tell you,” she whispered.
I couldn’t tell if the longwinded story she told me about finding Ryan’s secret place was the truth as she knew it, or a ploy to keep me in the room. Either way it was epic. I’d given Bridget nothing more inspiring than the basics when explaining how the compass worked. That was the seed. The story that grew from there was completely her own.
“There are flowers on the roof and it’s very lovely,” she explained.
I kissed her forehead. “I hope you find it, baby,” I said sincerely.
“I will,” she said. “I hope you find your place here too, Daddy.”
At times her words were just too profound to be anything less than magic. She was her mother’s daughter, and I thanked my lucky stars every day for gracing me with both of them.
“Me too, Bridge.” I smiled. “But for now, I’m going to bed.”
15. NOBILITY AND TITLE
Charli
Our room was never completely dark. The intrusive lights of night-time Manhattan bled through a crack at the edge of the blinds. It didn’t bother Adam – he could sleep through a hurricane – but occasionally it kept me awake.
I wasn’t blaming the light for keeping me awake that night. I was restless because the conversation I’d had with Bente was still playing on my mind.
The three fruity daiquiris we drank probably offered her more comfort than I did, but I saw no point in lying to her. I didn’t envy
They were watching a movie when I arrived. The only thing that hit me harder than the pang of jealousy when I walked in was Bridget crashing into me as she launched herself off the couch.
In a perfect world, I would’ve been the one suffering through Little Mermaid marathons, not Ryan. But our New York world wasn’t perfect.
Making the most of the situation was the best I could do, and making the most of it that afternoon meant settling in and watching the rest of the movie. Bridget snuggled into my side, and before long I felt her little body relax against mine as she drifted to sleep.
Ryan and I continued watching Ariel as if it was our calling for the day. I enjoyed the downtime, and considering Ryan had spent the afternoon in the company of his niece, he probably did too – even if he did complain.
“The girls are on a bender and we’re here watching cartoons,” he said. “Do you see anything wrong with that picture?”
“No,” I replied quietly. “The picture is good.”
Charli never took time out. Cocktail bars in the afternoon weren’t usually her scene, and I was glad she’d made an exception.
“You’re so whipped, Adam,” he teased. “You should call your wife and demand that she comes home.”
I reached into my pocket for my phone, trying not to wake Bridget. “Call Bente,” I urged. “Tell her to come home.”
Ryan smirked. “I might.”
“Yeah,” I scoffed. “And after she tells you to go to hell, I’ll help you box her stuff back up.”
***
It turned out to be a late night. Bridget woke not long after Charli and Bente arrived. She was well rested and raring to go, which made getting her back to sleep when we arrived home almost impossible. Sweet-talking quickly gave way to threats – none of which she took seriously.
“I want to go back to Ry’s house,” she complained.
I tucked her in a little bit tighter than usual as if that was all it would take to keep her in her bed. “You’ll see him tomorrow,” I assured her.
“We’re going to the park.” She sounded much too excited, considering the late hour. “To look for Secret North.”
I’d been enamoured by Charli’s tales for years. She could hook me in with just a hint of the story to come. Bridget held the same power. I pushed a mountain of girls aside and sat on the edge of the bed. “Can you tell me about it or is it really a secret?”
“It’s only a secret from Ryan,” she replied. “I’m going to find it for him.”
My curiosity was piqued in an instant. “How, Bridge?”
“If you listen nicely, I’ll tell you,” she whispered.
I couldn’t tell if the longwinded story she told me about finding Ryan’s secret place was the truth as she knew it, or a ploy to keep me in the room. Either way it was epic. I’d given Bridget nothing more inspiring than the basics when explaining how the compass worked. That was the seed. The story that grew from there was completely her own.
“There are flowers on the roof and it’s very lovely,” she explained.
I kissed her forehead. “I hope you find it, baby,” I said sincerely.
“I will,” she said. “I hope you find your place here too, Daddy.”
At times her words were just too profound to be anything less than magic. She was her mother’s daughter, and I thanked my lucky stars every day for gracing me with both of them.
“Me too, Bridge.” I smiled. “But for now, I’m going to bed.”
15. NOBILITY AND TITLE
Charli
Our room was never completely dark. The intrusive lights of night-time Manhattan bled through a crack at the edge of the blinds. It didn’t bother Adam – he could sleep through a hurricane – but occasionally it kept me awake.
I wasn’t blaming the light for keeping me awake that night. I was restless because the conversation I’d had with Bente was still playing on my mind.
The three fruity daiquiris we drank probably offered her more comfort than I did, but I saw no point in lying to her. I didn’t envy
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