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“Okay,” Wren said as the waitress set our plates in front of us.
I wished I could see her more often. That Lola would allow me to show up and take her to get ice cream. Maybe that was something I could ask for in the custody case. Or at least offer it when the baby came. Maybe Lola would be more amenable to it then. I could help her with Wren so she could spend more time with the baby. Sometimes, I wondered if Lola held on to Wren so tightly as a way to control me. It wasn’t about spending as much time with her daughter as she could.
After we finished our meal, I ordered a sundae for Wren. These dinners reminded me of our family dinners growing up. We always went out on Friday nights as a family, to a local pizza joint or burger place, and then we’d top the night off with dessert.
Wren picked up the cherry by the stem and popped it into her mouth. She chewed and swallowed before asking, “Can I play basketball?”
“I don’t see why not. I loved playing as a kid.” I wasn’t sure what Lola’s answer had been to this question, so I needed to tread carefully.
Wren’s face pinched as if she was disappointed about something. “Mom said with the baby coming, she won’t have time to take me.”
“She said you couldn’t sign up?” Irritation swirled in my gut.
Wren shook her head. “She said, ‘We’ll see.’”
Every kid knew what that meant. The answer was no. “I’ll talk to her about it.”
“Do you think you could coach?” Wren asked.
“I’ve never coached before.” Could I do it to justify Wren playing?
Wren shrugged. “It’s a bunch of eight-year-old girls. What could be so hard about it?”
I chuckled because I doubted it would be that simple. “Let me talk to your mother first.”
Basketball was my sport growing up. I could tell Lola it was important to me to coach Wren. It might be just what I needed to appeal to Lola. If I offered to pick her up and take her to every practice and game, it would give me more time with Wren. It would show how responsible and involved I was. Not that I was doing it to prove something to a judge. I just wanted Wren to have the same experiences I did. I hated that I had to play these games when I wanted to be more involved in the decision-making process.
“I hope she says yes,” Wren said wistfully.
I gave her my most charming smile. “Well, my mom always said I could convince anyone to do anything.”
Wren giggled. “You always say that.”
I held a hand over my heart. “Are you saying it’s not true?”
Wren scanned my face and then shrugged. “I don’t see it.”
I laughed because she sounded so grown-up just then. “Just you wait. You’re going to be surprised.”
She let out a breath. “I hope so. I really want to play.”
Wren was taller than most girls her age. She took after me with her light brown hair, blue eyes, and lanky build. “Have you been practicing?”
She shook her head. “We don’t have a hoop.”
Maybe that was another thing I could suggest to Lola. Their flat driveway was perfect for one. “You have one at my house, and we can practice after we eat.”
“Really?” Wren’s eyes widened.
“We should have an hour before I need to get you back.”
“Yay!” she said as she shoveled in the rest of her ice cream, eager to play.
At home, Wren rushed to change out of her school outfit into play clothes. I grabbed a ball and took a few practice shots. The first one hit the rim, but by the time Wren returned, I’d swished one.
“Wow. Was that a three-pointer?”
I winked at her, pleased she’d paid attention when I’d watched games around her. “Not even close.”
