The words were said almost in perfect unison, and Rowynclapped her hands together.
“Decision made, then. If that’s okay with you?” Rowyn asked as she glanced at Eliza.
Honestly, at this point, Rowyn could turn onNightmare on Elm Streetand Eliza would agree. Anything to get the kids seated quietly while she curled up and decompressed from the day.
At Eliza’s nod, Rowyn grabbed the remote and pulled up the movie on one of the too many streaming services they had subscriptions for.
“I said I wanted to sit there with Rowynfirst.”
Amelia dragged out the last word in the high-pitched whine that set Eliza’s teeth on edge. She stiffened, aware somewhere in her body that her patience had all but evaporated.
They are kids. They are tired. They aren’t trying to make your brain explode.
Eliza worked hard to remember the facts, but every cell in her body wanted to send them to bed and hide from the world around her until her body could relax again. Rowyn had moved closer without Eliza realizing, until a soft hand was placed on her arm with a squeeze.
“Actually, your mom is going to sit next to me since we both like salted popcorn, so we can share. Since you both like the butter popcorn, you’re going to sit together on the cosy beanbag and share that. I would like to enjoy this movie with you both, so I don’t want to have to turn it off and make it bedtime if you continue arguing. So, if you don’t feel like you can manage that kindly, we can split the popcorn, and you can both sit separately.”
Rowyn spoke the words softly, without a hint of frustration in her tone, but the meaning was clear. The kids understood that a line had been drawn and they had a decision to make, and Eliza was once again in awe at the way Rowyn had conveyed it.
“Wanna share the big blanket on the beanbag? Let’s go get the popcorn out and then we can fix the blanket together,” Elliot said.
Amelia agreed, and off they went happily together.
“You’re like Super Nanny or something,” Eliza said before she knew what she was going to say.
Rowyn laughed lightly.
“Super Nanny didn’t understand overstimulation or neurodivergent kids. Or adults for that matter. So, I like to think I’m nothing like her at all, but I’ll take the compliment as it was meant regardless. Why don’t you go sit. I’ll get the popcorn and the kids, and we can ignore the world for approximately ninety minutes.”
Eliza liked that idea. She sank into the two-seater couch and curled her legs beneath her. Rowyn had been right about the shoes. Eliza’s feet were going to be blistered in the morning, and her legs ached from more walking than she had done in far too long.
Super Nanny didn’t understand neurodivergent kids.
Rowyn’s words came back to her, and Eliza ran them around in her head. Was Rowyn saying what Eliza thought she was saying, or was that a general statement? It wasn’t as if the idea had never occurred to Eliza. Her brother was neurodivergent, but he was very different from Amelia and Elliot. Eliza had heard often enough from people, most notably her ex-mother-in-law, that her children’sacting outwas due to Eliza not being home enough.
Logically, Eliza understood it was okay for her to work and kids all over the world managed just fine with working mothers. However, internalized guilt had allowed Eliza to take on that blame. That, combined with their parents’ divorce, which obviously affected them regardless of how amiable it was, had been enough of a reason not to look much farther for answers.
As the kids and Rowyn returned, Eliza’s brain filed the thoughts away to ruminate over later. She didn’t have the capacity to give it the consideration it needed right now, but she would revisit it with Rowyn soon.
“I forgot how misogynist this movie is,” Rowyn whispered a little while later.
Eliza turned to look at her in amusement.
“There’s a club called the He-Man Woman Haters Club that’s central to the plot. How could you forget?”
“I don’t know, I guess I remembered it getting better as it went on. Better than it currently is, anyway.”
“Shh,” Amelia said as she glanced around at them sternly.
Eliza and Rowyn both stifled laughs as Rowyn pretended to zip her mouth closed. Eliza waited a few moments before leaning in to whisper softly.
“The main character is also a misogynist a-hole in adulthood too if you’d like to know.”
Rowyn’s body shivered and Eliza swore there was a gulp as she pulled back. Rowyn leaned in this time, and Eliza understood quickly why the shiver had occurred. As Rowyn’s lips stopped beside Eliza’s ear and her breath tickled the soft skin, Eliza’s body shivered too.
“I do not like to know. My childhood nostalgia is ruined now. Thank you.”
Rowyn spoke in a whisper, but each word danced across Eliza’s skin. As soon as Rowyn pulled back, Eliza missed the closeness. She was leaning back in before she could help it.
