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“What’s not his business?” Kirby comes skipping into the kitchen with Holden on her heel.
Once again, I’m wearing clothing that’s a mirror image of what he has on. It’s jeans and a light blue sweater. Brown oxfords are on my feet.
“You’re twinning!” Kirby screams. “I do that with my bestie, too.”
Holden’s gaze lands on my face. “What are the chances, Rook?”
I laugh it off. “I was about to invite you all out for lunch, but I’m rethinking that now.”
“Yes to lunch!” Kirby jumps up and down. “Who cares if you look like twins? I wish I had a twin.”
“Your dad couldn’t handle that,” Milo adds his unwanted opinion to the mix.
“Daddy could handle if I had a brother or sister.” She tosses me one of her signature looks. It’s a cross between a plea and a smile. “Right, Daddy? You and Mommy need to get a new baby soon.”
Holden clears his throat at the same moment my brother does.
This isn’t a discussion I want to have in front of the two of them, so I deflect, knowing I’ll circle back to it. I don’t want my daughter to have any false hope about a new baby.
“Can we get macaroni and cheese for lunch?” she asks me before shifting her gaze to Holden. “Please, Uncle Holden.”
“Are you buying?” I ask since that’s what Kirby’s assuming.
“Sure.” He grins. “Lunch is on me.”
“No, silly.” She tugs on his hand. “It’s on plates and bowls on a table.”
“She’s got you there, old man,” Milo says, using the nickname he first gifted Holden with when my friend started sporting a few gray strands in his brown hair.
“He’s not old,” Kirby sounds off. “Daddy’s older than him, so you should call him old man.”
We all laugh.
“I’m only older than Uncle Holden by a month,” I point out. “Neither of us is an old man.”
“Yet.” Kirby winks. “I need to show you the picture I drew for Maura. It’s of the statue of lizards and tea.”
“The Statue of Liberty,” I correct her.
She lets out a high-pitched laugh. “I know that one, Daddy. I made up the statue of lizards and tea because Maura used to have three lizards when she was little, and she likes tea.”
I smile. “Got it.”
“All the lizards on the statue are holding tea cups,” Holden adds, expanding on the drawing. “It’s something to see.”
“Let’s grab a frame for that masterpiece on our way home after lunch,” I suggest. “You can sign the drawing, and we’ll wrap it up for Maura.”
“Really?” Kirby’s face brightens with a wide smile. “I’ll get it now and my suitcase, too.”
The suitcase has become her prized accessory even though it’s a rolling makeup case that Chesca let her have. It’s big enough that Kirby can fit her pajamas, a change of clothes, and a stuffed toy in it whenever she has a sleepover at Milo’s. She drags it back and forth from Chesca’s apartment to mine regularly, too.
“I’ll help,” Holden offers, following in her footsteps as she skips down the hallway.
Once they’re out of view, Milo turns to face me. “You had fun with a woman last night, didn’t you?”
“How the fuck is that your business?” I laugh.
“You’re happy,” he points out. “That’s my business. It’s good to see that, Rook. Whoever she is, see her again, and again, and again.”
