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Friday at Sadie’shouse started with hula hooping and trampoline until lunch, and then the afternoon was spent making and decorating cupcakes. My rule with Riley and Zoey was at least one indoor activity per day and one outdoor activity (weather permitting).
“You’re the best kids,” I said, hugging them when they showed me the cupcakes they’d decorated for their parents. “I hope I have kids half as awesome as you are.”
“When are you going to have kids?” Riley asked, and Zoey elbowed her.
“You’re not supposed to ask people that,” Zoey said.
“Why not?” Riley asked.
I picked up a handful of rainbow sprinkles to add to my cupcake. “Because deciding whether or not to have a baby is a very personal decision and it’s not anyone else’s business,” I said.
Riley nodded. “Okay.”
They really were awesome kids.
Sadie was thrilled when she got home from work, slipped off her shoes, and was greeted by her daughters holding out cupcakes they’d made just for her.
“Look at those! I can’t decide which one I like more. They’re almost too pretty to eat,” she said. “Let’s put them on a plate so I can get a picture of them.”
Sadie arranged the cupcakes on a pretty plate and set them up to take some pictures on her phone.
“I don’t think I can eat them by myself. I might need some help,” she said, winking at me.
“I’ll help!” Riley said.
“Me too!” Zoey yelled. I mean, they’d literally eaten half the frosting from the bowl when they thought that I wasn’t looking, but I wasn’t going to snitch on them.
“Okay my loves. I’ll see you on Monday, okay?” I gave both of them hugs and told Sadie to call me if she needed anything. I walked out as Sadie was unwrapping the first cupcake and started cutting it into thirds.
* * *
When I got back home,I couldn’t contain my excitement. Sadie had the girls all weekend, so I was off and had two days to myself.
Joy, Sydney, and I were going to the beach in Castleton tomorrow, and then Sunday my only plans were sitting by the pool under an umbrella, drinking Arnold Palmers, and reading until my eyes bled. I might take a dip too. Mark had a quick business trip, so I had the entire house to myself. I could walk around naked if I wanted, but I wouldn’t because then the security cameras might pick it up and that would be an awkward conversation with my boss.
After I left Sadie’s house, I stopped by Arrowbridge House of Pizza to grab garlic knots, a Greek salad, and a meat lover’s pizza for one.
Mark had already left by the time I got back, so I checked the house before heading over to the guest house.
Times like this made me wish I had a dog, or that Mark had caved into the twin’s demand for a dog. Being here alone at this massive house was disconcerting to say the least. Sure, we had one of the best security systems money could buy, but still. You never knew.
Mark would tell me that I’d watched too much True Crime, but he wasn’t the woman alone in the really nice house with lots of things people would want to steal.
To make myself feel better, I turned on all the lights and put the TV on loud as I put my food on the coffee table, grabbed a soda and sat down on the couch. I could have invited Joy and Sydney over, or even to stay with me this weekend, but I wanted to test myself by being alone.
I was really bad at it. When I was in college, I’d lived in the dorm all four years mostly because I liked being around so many people. There was always someone to talk to. Then when I graduated, I’d lived with Liam until I got this job and then I’d moved into the guest house and become part of the Jewel family.
Someone else might think it was sad that I was a thirty-year-old woman who was bad at being alone, but I wasn’t going to apologize for my comfort zone. When I’d been growing up with just one brother, I’d always dreamed of having a bunch of siblings. All of us fighting and stepping over each other and crowding into the same rooms. That was probably other people’s nightmare, but that had been my dream. Maybe it’s why I liked books so much. They’d been my companions when I’d wished for more.
I let out a breath, deciding that was enough navel gazing for one Friday night. I popped a garlic knot into my mouth and tried to find the trashiest thing I could to watch to soothe my loneliness.
Chapter Five
Saturday morning,I made myself a huge, beautiful breakfast: pesto eggs on top of grilled bread with smashed avocado and sundried tomatoes and crispy parmesan potatoes and a bowl of berries. I also brought out the fancy coffee and made sure to froth the milk for a beautiful cloudlike latte.
Did I eat my breakfast by the pool in a robe like I owned this place? Yes I did. Did I also make myself a mimosa? Yes I did.
Life could be too bleak not to take joy in doing little things for yourself.
