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Ali is there, and she comes running to me when she sees me.
She shouts my name; I shout hers, and then I lift her above my head and make airplane noises as I move her back and forth.
“You got an airplane ride!” Emily claps a single time and smiles.
I hold Alissa in my arms, and as quickly as she ran into my arms, she shoots me a question I can’t say no to. “Andrew, please tell mom to let me go to the slumber party!”
“The kids are having a slumber party?” I ask Emma.
But Meredith is the one who replies, “Emma and I are chaperoning. There’s a big suite for it with plenty of room for her to join us. We’ll have food, games, and cartoons.”
“But you didn’t bring your pajamas, or your sleeping bag, sweet pea,” Emily frowns, turning to Alissa.
“But Nina always brings doubles of everything!” Emma says, referring to her own daughter. “Alissa is more than welcome to borrow some pajamas and a sleeping bag.”
“Come on, mom,” Alissa pleads.
“Yeah, come on, mom,” I mimic the way Alissa speaks.
Emily crosses her arms and rolls her eyes as she considers. Finally, she comes close and embraces me and Alissa, sandwiching the girl in between us.
“Are you going to behave?” she whispers, kissing Alissa’s cheek.
“Yes!” Alissa giggles.
“And go to the bathroom before bed. You don’t want to have an accident in pajamas that aren’t yours.” Emily continues embarrassing Ali.
“Mom!” she pushes Emily away, indignant.
The other kids come running outside, and I put Alissa down for her to join them in the fun. I then reach for Emily’s hand and observe as Meredith and Emma herd the kids away.
Emily stands, looking uneasy.
“Is it the first time she is going to a slumber party?” I ask her, and she looks at me with a strained smile.
“Yes,” Emily nods. “I have Meredith’s and Emma’s number, so I can check in later, but I’m still feeling unsure. There’s nothing to worry about, is there?”
“No,” I smile reassuringly. “She’ll be fine, Em. Like you said, we can check in anytime. Let’s go and have some fun ourselves, I have a… little something planned for you.”
With that, she cheers up, and then brings her arm around my waist. I put my arm around her shoulders, and off we go.
“How’s your father?” she asks, and I immediately shake my head.
“Spent the whole day watching a golf tournament at the course and ignored me completely. Must be at home right now, sleeping on the couch in front of the TV,” I say.
I open the door for her and then get in. “Where are we going?” Emily asks with interest, her blue eyes shining.
“You’ll see,” I say, leaning in to kiss her, and then turn on the engine.
I should have blindfolded her because the closer we get to the place where I want to take her, the more mistrustful she gets of my daring attempt to recall the nostalgia of the old days.
“Andrew,” she warns me, her voice low.
“What?” I laugh and park the car at the exact same spot where we parked at her prom night.
“Let me guess. You are going to open the sunroof and we are going to start counting stars?” she asks.
I pause in the middle of doing exactly that. I shrug, “Unless you don’t want to.”
