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CELINE
Afterthewedding,Imoved from the hotel to my brother’s house and installed myself there. I spent time with my brother and his cute little kids.
When I walked into the breakfast room late morning a week later, Ava sat at the breakfast table with Warner in a high chair and Hunter in a bouncer. She was trying to eat breakfast, but between Warner trying to throw his food around and Hunter spitting up milk, the omelet on her plate was untouched and getting cold.
“Oh, big boy, that’s now how you eat nuggets!” I said and sat down next to him. “Here, look. One at a time, and small bites, that’s how you get the most taste out of it.” I took a nugget and bit into it.
“No!” Warner cried out and grabbed the half-nugget from me, stuffing it in his mouth.
“Everything you throw, I’m going to eat,” I threatened. “So you better make sure it’s on your plate or in your mouth, or Auntie Celine is going to get it all.” I rubbed my tummy. “I’m looking forward to a big tummy full of yummy.”
“I’ll eat all of it,” Warner warned, and I laughed.
“Auntie Celine will just have to get her own nuggets, huh?” Ava asked.
Warner nodded, eating his nuggets in earnest.
“I think Auntie Celine needs to have coffee first,” I said and ruffled my nephew’s hair. When I got up, I pulled faces at Hunter until he gave me a gummy smile, and I walked to the Nespresso machine.
“What are your plans for the day?” Ava asked while I waited for my coffee to prepare.
“I got a call from Lexi Conrad,” I said.
“Yeah? I didn’t know you knew her?”
“Well… I don’t.” I giggled. “We met at the wedding, sort of.”
“What do you mean, sort of?”
“I was really drunk, so I can’t remember all that much of who she is. She invited me to go shopping, so I can’t say no to that.”
“Oh, no, you really can’t say no to shopping.”
I laughed. I loved shopping, and if someone offered to come with me, all the better. I could make friends if we bonded over shopping, no problem.
“She’s coming to pick me up in two hours,” I said.
“Enough time to get ready,” Ava joked.
“Hey, I don’t have kids. I can soak in a bath for hours if I want to.”
Ava nodded, taking a bite of her omelet and chewing. I loved my nephews, and I was so happy for Ava and my brother but the whole happy-families game just wasn’t for me. What was?
I didn’t know that part yet. I just knew what I didn’t want. I guess that was the start, wasn’t it? I could avoid what I didn’t want so I would find what Ididwant eventually.
I waited with Ava until she was finished eating so she could have a full meal at least before I walked to my bedroom to get ready for a shopping date with a woman I didn’t know at all. I showered, blew out my hair, and put on my makeup. I pulled on jeans and a green tank top that I tucked in, with a tan belt and shoes.
When Lexi parked her Merc in front of the house, I was ready.
“You girls have fun,” Ava said, playing blocks with Warner on the floor.
“You don’t want to join us?” Lexi asked.
“Oh, no, I’m happy right here.” Ava smiled at us, and she looked genuinely happy on the floor with her toddler, playing blocks and shaping the next generation.
We walked to the Mercedes Benz GLM, and I climbed into the passenger seat.
“Nice ride,” I said.
