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24
Secrets, the good kind
When I hearmy phone ringing from the other room, a smile slowly begins to spread across my face. Right on time. Like clockwork.
Day 13
Thirteen days without seeing my sweet girl, but all that changes tomorrow.
It’s been hell, to say the least. I’ve cried myself to sleep on more than one occasion after hanging up with her. I miss her with all my heart, but I’m so excited for what lies ahead, and she’ll be excited too. Once I tell her.
“Hey, sweet girl. How are you?”
“Hi, Momma,” she laughs. “Stop tickling me, Daddy. I’m talking to Momma.”
“Can I talk to Momma?” I hear Wyatt ask. He’s been asking her for the last week, and she won’t let him talk to me. Not until she’s done.
“No. It’s my turn.”
Lola laughs, screaming at Wyatt to stop. He’s wearing her down, I can hear it. When she finally agrees to give him the phone, he stops tickling her, her laughter fading in the background.
“Hey,” he says, sounding out of breath.
“Hi.”
Our conversations have been like this. I don’t want to give anything away. Not yet. I’m a horrible liar and hate keeping secrets, but this a good secret to keep. I prefer to think of it as a surprise.
“What time are you planning on getting here tomorrow? I have to work in the morning, but I should be able to pick Lola up from my mom’s and meet you back here by six o’clock at the latest.”
“That’s fine. Would you rather I pick her up?” I ask.
It’s inevitable that I’ll see Becky sometime soon. I’m trying to wait as long as possible, but after tomorrow, it will become unavoidable.
“Um, why don’t you just meet me at the house,” he says, his voice somewhat hesitant. “There’s a key under your bench if you make it here before we do. Let yourself in.”
“Why can’t I pick her up?” I press. There’s something he’s not telling me.
“It’s just, she’s still a little upset with you.”
“I thought you said she wasn’t mad at me for leaving. That she understood I didn’t have a choice.”
“She’s not mad about that, Chloe. She just doesn’t understand why you’re not here now. I tried to explain it to her, but you know I don’t understand, either, so that probably made it worse.”
Well, shit. She won’t be pissed for much longer.
Wyatt and I have talked things over every night for the last two weeks. He still believes that we belong together. He still loves me. He hasn’t said those exact words, but it’s evident in how hard he’s been pushing for me to come back, to make us a family.
He’s also been ruthless when it comes to making a decision about Lola.
He wants her to live with him half the time. Week on, week off. We can meet halfway. It’s not a great plan, but for my sanity, I let him think that’s what’s going to happen.
After we worked that out, he still asked me to come home. Again.
All the pressure to make a decision was annoying, especially since I had already made my decision. There were a few times I almost broke down and told him the truth, revealing all my cards. Secrets are not meant to be shared, but this secret was so good all I wanted to do was shout it from the rooftop so the entire world could hear.
“Sounds like I need to avoid her, then. I’ll meet you guys at the house,” I finally say when I realize the line had been silent for far too long.
“Okay. I guess I’ll see you tomorrow, then.”
