Page 105 of Manhattan Kiss

Willow slides back into her chair and Gabby takes the seat opposite me.

“How come you’re here today, Mommy? Usually I don’t see you when Daddy’s here with me.”

Gabby flashes me a look that says, This kid is far too smart for us.

I flash her one back that says, We’re fucked as she gets older.

We smile at each other, and I know she’s thinking the same thing as me. We’re the luckiest parents on earth to have a daughter as bright and happy as Willow. I just want it to stay that way.

“Well, Daddy and I want to talk to you about something.”

Willow takes another spoonful of yogurt. “About getting a dog?” she asks.

Gabby laughs. “Your dad isn’t getting a dog.”

She pushes out her bottom lip and does her fake sad face before laughing. “I know. Daddy doesn’t want a pet.” She shrugs.

“We wanted to talk to you about something else,” Gabby says. “About a change in where we all live.”

That gets Willow’s attention. She frowns and looks between us. My stomach drops and I feel completely helpless. I know this change is inevitable, but that doesn’t stop me from hating the entire thing.

“Mommy and Ray have a house where we live.”

Willow nods. “Where you stay when you’re not here with me and Daddy sleeps here.”

“Right,” Gabby says. “And we want you to come and sleep over at that house.”

“When?” Willow says.

Gabby let’s out a breath. “Instead of Mommy coming to stay here, we thought you could come and stay with Mommy and Ray.”

“I’m not going to live here anymore?”

“Yes, you will,” I say. “Daddy will live here all the time, and on Wednesday night, Thursday night, Friday night, and Saturday night, you’ll be here with Daddy, as usual.”

“And then, when I would normally come and sleep here,” Gabby says, “you’d come to Mommy’s house.”

Willow’s silent for a second. “So I would go to your house and then come home.”

“Right,” I say. “You’d still be coming home every week.”

“But Mommy’s house would be your home too,” Gabby says. “You’d have a bedroom there. We can decorate it together. Pick out a bedspread and some shelves for your books.”

“But my toys are here,” Willow says. “I won’t have them when I’m staying with you. And what about Lucia?” she asks, talking about her nanny.

“Lucia would come to Mommy’s house,” Gabby says.

“And my toys too?” Willow asks.

“Some of them,” Gabby says.

We both fall silent and watch Willow watching us.

“How does that sound?” Gabby asks.

We’ve agreed not to tell Willow about the pregnancy yet. I don’t want to drop too much on her at once, and even though Gabby will be showing soon, I think it’s better to wait.

“Okay,” Willow says. “And I get new toys at your place?”