Page 255 of 912321

He stops glancing up at Damien with big wide eyes. “Thank you so much, sissy’s teacher.”

I smile, covering my face as Damien ruffles his hair. “You’re welcome buddy.”

He takes off in a run and I go back to my chair, and Damien takes the empty chair next to me. For one selfish second, our eyes meet, and I let myself believe he could be part of all of this. His large hand finds mine under the table, soft and safe, and he squeezes my fingers into his. He then leans in, whispering, “Good memories, remember?”

I could get used to it.

Play - Conversations in the Dark by John Legend

We’re still sitting around the table when the phone rings.

Edna looks at us before getting up. “I’ll get it.”

I watch as she shuffles towards the kitchen to retrieve the house phone. “Hello?” She starts softly, her gaze finds mine, and her expression changes a moment later. “Yeah, one second…Milo!”

Milo looks behind him at Edna. “Yes, Nana?”

“Call for you, baby,” she replies sweetly, gesturing the phone towards him.

Who the hell could be calling so early and why are they asking for my brother?

I hear his footsteps patter against the wooden floor, he thanks Edna and takes the phone from her. Milo clears his throat before speaking and Edna stands beside him running her hands through his hair as he speaks, “Hey Dad…”

No…

“It’s okay…I’ll tell her,” he says before continuing, “yeah she’s here but…” I shake my head up at him and Edna and she mouths to him ‘bathroom’, “she’s in the bathroom.”

I let out a sigh when Hayzel interjects.

“What kind of father misses their own child's birthday?” She whispers to me.

“My asshole of a dad does. But it’s fine,” I say, my eyes still on Milo.

Damien squeezes my thigh, and it makes me look at him. He nods, and I feel his thumb rubbing against my skin, up and down, I focus on it as my chest tightens.

It’s okay.

Edna comes over handing me the phone and after a long exhale, I place it at the shell of my ear, already walking away from everyone.

“Mireya?” he asks bluntly.

“Hey..” I try to keep my voice light and airy as Milo’s eyes meet mine from the kitchen.

“Is he happy?”

“Yeah, he’s fine, we’re just finishing breakfast,” I replied coldly.

“Good, take care of the kid,” he says and it makes me want to throw the phone at the wall. The kid. Milo isn’t the kid.

“I’ll be back home in the next few weeks and I hope you’re not acting like a fucking brat at work,”

“It’s fine,” I say and with that he cuts off the call.

“Okay, I have to go now, tell him happy birthday for me,” he adds, then hangs up.

I return back to the kitchen like nothing happened, Milo is playing with Blue, Hayzel and Edna are already washing the dishes and all I can do is stare for a second.

A minute ago, everything was soft, and now I can feel every wall around me. One voice, and the girl who was smiling a second ago is already gone.