Nellie flings her body onto her knees so fast I brace for her to hurtle straight off the bed.
“Can I call her right now? On your phone?”
“It’s late?—”
“Please, please, please. She might make other plans.”
The determined set of her jaw reminds me so much of myself. Digging my phone from my back pocket, I tap the second name in my recent call list.
She answers on the third ring. “Now I know my glucose monitor isn’t the reason for this phone call.”
“Eleanor would like to ask you a question,” I state, my voice curt.
Nellie plucks my cell from my hand, jumps from the bed, and scuttles across the hall into her own room. Just before she leaves, I see the screen light up with Ms. Thompson’s face.
I slink down the hall after her, pausing at the door.
Nellie’s back is to me, the phone extended from her face with both hands.
“Hi, Miss Alice.” The melancholy from moments before vanishes.
“Hey, kiddo. Did you have fun today?”
Her slim shoulder shrugs. “Kinda. I have a question to ask you.”
Ms. Thompson fills the frame. Her black messy bun bounces on her head as she moves closer and adjusts her baggy sweatshirt. “Go ahead.”
“Will you go to the princess dance with me at my school on Friday?”
“You want me to go to the princess dance with you?”
Nellie nods. “It’s a mommy-daughter princess dance, but I don’t have anyone to take me.” She pulls the phone close to her mouth and whispers, “Except my dad, but I don’t want the other kids to make fun of me.”
Ms. Thompson doesn’t even wait a beat. “Of course I’ll go with you! Do I get to wear a pretty dress too?”
My daughter bounces on her heels. “If you want to.”
“Do you already have a dress?”
“Mine’s pink with sprinkles.”
Ms. Thompson’s warm, rich laughter fills the room. “Do you mean sparkles?”
Nellie groans, followed by thesmackof the heel of her hand thumping her head. “I meant sparkles,” she says through her laughter.
“I’m going to find one with sparkles too. What about your hair? Can I take you to get your hair done?”
Nellie spins around, eyes wide as ever. “Can I?”
I incline my head. “You have my blessing to give her the full treatment, but I’m paying,” I announce loud enough for Ms. Thompson to hear.
“Okay! I’ll set up some appointment times tomorrow. Thank you for asking me. I’m honored and excited.”
Nellie beams into the phone. “Me too. Bye, Miss Alice. I’ll see you soon.”
“See you Monday, kiddo. Good night to you both.”
The screen goes dark.
