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“Dora, it’s all good,” I call out to her just as she’s about to get her sister to repeat Bianca’s name again. “Are you going to change your clothes before Bianca gets here?”
Her hands drift out to her sides. “Why would I?”
I should point out that she’s wearing two different colored knee-high socks. One is purple, the other pink. Neither matches the bright green neon shorts she’s wearing or the canary yellow T-shirt.
Georgie chose a pink dress.
The days of them wearing matching clothing are in the rearview mirror.
They are as distinctly different as two six-year-olds can be.
A knock at the door sends both girls rushing toward it. This is it. This is the moment when my girls meet the woman I love.
I’m on their heels, but I’m too slow.
Georgie swings open the door and launches herself into Bianca’s arms. “Hi, Binanca.”
Bianca’s eyes lock on mine as she cradles my daughter against her. “Hi.”
“I’m Dora.” Dora tugs on the bottom of the white sweater Bianca’s wearing. “That’s Georgie.”
“It’s nice to meet you both,” Bianca says softly.
“We’re happy to know you.” Dora drags the end of the ribbon wrapped around her head to the side. “Daddy likes you a lot. He said you’re his girlfriend.”
Both of my girls erupt into high-pitched laughter.
I curve a finger to lure Bianca into my home. “Please, come in. Join us.”
She motions to a paper shopping bag on the floor. “I brought a few gifts. I hope that’s alright.”
“We love gifts.” Georgie squirms free from Bianca’s arms and lands on her feet on the floor.
Dora grabs one twine handle of the bag. Georgie takes control of the other. They carry it together into the foyer as I reach out a hand to Bianca.
She takes it happily. “They’re amazing little girls, Roman.”
“Thank you for the coloring books!” Georgie chirps from behind me.
“Thank you more for the new crayons!” Dora joins in.
I tug Bianca closer. “Get ready to have the time of your life.”
***
“You color inside the lines.” Georgie runs a fingertip over the picture of a tiger that Bianca has spent the last thirty minutes working on. “You’re good.”
Bianca offers my daughter a soft smile. “I’m good? Look at your creation.”
Georgie’s gaze dips to the picture of an elephant on the table in front of her. As usual, it’s a combination of mixed shades of pink and red. She skims a hand over it. “Do you like it, Binanca?”
“She loves it.” Dora spreads her arms wide. “This much.”
Bianca nods in agreement. “I like both of your pictures that much.”
Dora smiles. “This isn’t my best work, but I think I did good.”
“It’s perfect,” Bianca comments as she studies the picture of a dog. “I really like the way you colored his nose blue.”
“If I had a dog, I’d name him Blue,” she announces with a glare in my direction. “Daddy says no pets until we’re older.”
I shrug. “When you two can help take care of a dog, we’ll get one.”
“I can take care of one.” Georgie’s hand pops into the air. “I want to name it Orange.”
“Why?” Dora asks in exasperation. “That makes no sense.”
“I had a dog named February when I was little.” Bianca laughs. “I think a dog’s name can be whatever you want it to be.”
“February?” I question with a perk of my brow. “What’s the story behind that?”
“My sister named him that.” She sighs. “I went along with it because I thought it was different.”
“Oh, it is.” Dora nods. “I don’t know any dogs named February.”
“Maybe Uncle Matty does!” Georgie exclaims as she slides to her feet. “Let’s call and ask him.”
“Uncle Matt is enjoying a day off.” I gather Georgie into my arms. “We’ll call him before bed tonight.”
She cups both of her hands around my cheeks. “Deal.”
Dora darts to her feet to wrap her arms around my neck. “Double deal.”
Both of my daughters turn to look at Bianca.
“Make it a triple deal, Binanca.” Georgie summons her with a curl of her fingers. “Hug us.”
Bianca is on her feet in an instant. When she rounds me to wrap her arms around my daughters and me, I feel something I’ve never felt before.
Complete.
Chapter 46
Bianca
“You got another mystery package.” Paige stands at the entrance to my office waving a large blue envelope in the air. “It’s too big to be an engagement ring and too flat to be anything but a document.”
I laugh. “Your dress matches that envelope.”
She gazes down at the robin blue egg sheath dress she’s wearing. “I have excellent taste, as does Dora George. No, I think it says Dora Georgie. Is that a new contractor?”
She takes a step toward the corner window in my office. Holding the envelope near the sunlight streaming in, she studies it.
“Are you trying to see what’s inside of there? I’m sitting right here, Paige.”
Laughing, she drops the envelope on the corner of my desk. “The handwriting is…well, it’s…I don’t want to say childish, but maybe elementary is a better word. Don’t tell Dora George I said that.”
