Page 19 of Keeping Score

“I mean, hypothetically.”

“Hypothetically, we wouldn’t get divorced.”

“Never mind,” I swatted him away. “You’re no help.”

Just as Liam was about to mutter something back, we heard the front door open and the sound of Lily’s rambling fill the house.

“I’m sorry we had to leave the store, Mommy, but I really was getting hungry.”

“Well, we’ll have to get you a snack then, huh?” Cassie said, and I imagined her tickling Lily’s stomach by the way she was answered with a fit of giggles.

And just like that, I watched Liam transform from my normal, disinterested-looking brother to this whole other person I’d only gotten used to seeing over the last few years. He was already smiling before Cassie and Lily bounded into the kitchen.

“Daddy!” she yelled, jumping into his already outstretched arms.

“There’s my girls,” he said, squeezing her tight against him.

Cassie smiled, coming over to his side at once.

“Hi, baby,” he leaned over to give her a kiss.

“Hi,” she responded, staring into his eyes.

“Hi!” I chirped in, knowing if I waited for them to stop making goo-goo eyes at each other, I’d be sitting here the rest of my life.

“Auntie Maggie!” Lily wriggled free of her father’s arms to run toward me.

“Finally,” I exhaled dramatically, “someone who will pay attention to me.”

Lily giggled, jumping up and down in front of me like a golden retriever.

“What are you doing here?” Cassie chirped happily, unwinding a scarf from her neck.

“Don’t start undressing yet,” I told her, making her blush as her hand paused. “You’re coming with me on an emotional support best friend walk.”

“I want to come!” Lily squealed.

“Sorry, Lil. Next time,” I told her.

“But next time is far away,” she pouted. “I want to go now time.”

“Tell you what,” I squatted down to her level, “if you let me take Mommy on a walk now, I’ll take you to the playground on Saturday.”

“When’s Saturday?” She squinted her eyes suspiciously at me.

“This many days away,” I held up my fingers.

“Okay,” she nodded solemnly, “but I want ice cream too.”

I laughed at her bargain.

Yeah, I think it was safe to say she did have a bit of me in her, after all.

I held my hand out for her to shake. We’d made enough deals since she figured out how to negotiate that she knew the drill by now. She shook my hand with the utmost severity, and I winked at her before pulling Cassie by the arm.

“Guess it’s you and me, kid,” Liam said, scooping her back up.

“I’ll be back soon,” she said over her shoulder, before looking at me with her analytical eyes. “I think.”