“Did you save me any?” she asks Winter, smiling. She nods and points to the stack I just finished. “Oh, so sweet.” Rylee looks up at me as I bite my lip, and her eyes go straight to it. She tries and fails to fight her smile.
“Do you want cream and strawberries?” I ask then smirk.
“No, pancakes and syrup will do.”
“Are you sure?” I step closer, carrying the plate of pancakes. “Winter, why don’t you go and get dressed, then bring your bag down?” I say to her, all the while staring at what I want for breakfast.
We watch as Winter jumps up and runs up the stairs.
“I could lift that dress and have my breakfast,” I say as I squeeze some of the cream onto my plate.
“Oh gosh, fuck off.” She shakes her head.
“Listen to you. I bet you only have a potty mouth for me.”
“You are correct,” she snaps back.
“Do you ever wonder why that is?”
“August.” We both turn at the sound of his name being called from the front door.
I hardly recognize the woman who stands on the other side. She looks different. Her eyes flit over me for a few seconds, then fall to Rylee, who stands next to me.
“You two are back together?” my mother asks, looking between us.
“No,” Rylee answers first. I watch my mother as she tucks a strand of hair behind her ear and smiles at me.
“I wanted to give you time, but I had heard you were back. Is it okay that I’m here?” She never would have asked that before. She’s dressed in an apron, and her hair is tied up. She runs her hands over her outfit after noticing my gaze. “Sorry, I came straight from work at the café.”
“You’re working? That’s great,” Rylee says, smiling.
How can she do that, switch so easily?
“You should get going,” I say to Rylee. Her mouth forms an O, and before she can do or say anything, Winter comes down with her bag in her hand to the front door. I watch as my mother’s eyes fall to her when she walks up and hugs Rylee’s leg.
“Oh, who is this?” My mother drops down in a crouch to get on the same level as Winter.
Rylee turns to me, unsure of what to say.
“This is Winter,” I reply.
She holds out her hand to Winter and smiles warmly. “It’s nice to meet you, Winter.”
“It’s Winter Paige,” Winter tells her, and my mother gasps before she stands back up.
Rylee lifts Winter and looks at me. “We’re going to go. I have a few things I need to get done.”
“She yours?” my mother asks Rylee.
“She is,” she replies proudly.
“She has your eyes, August,” my mother states, looking back at me. I nod in response. It’s all I can do. Rylee excuses herself as she goes to grab her things, leaving me standing there with my mother.
“I didn’t think you wanted kids,” she says softly.
“Neither did I. I guess things change.”
“Yes, indeed, they do.” We both turn as Rylee and Winter return to me.
“It was great seeing you. You’re looking good,” Rylee says to Mom, then smiles at me and walks out of the house. I follow her to the car and take Winter, placing her inside the car then kissing her cheek. I tell her I’ll see her next weekend and close the door.
“Be nice,” Rylee says, looking back to where my mother is standing near the doorway.
“Oh, so you hate me but want to tell me to be nice to her?” I bark back at Rylee. I want to inch closer and see if I can retake a taste of her lips. It’s all I crave right now.
“I don’t hate you. I never could. I’m just…” She shivers and shakes her head. “Never mind, I have to go.”
Rylee gets in the car and rolls her window down. I lean over and whisper so only she can hear, “I’ll be dreaming of all the ways you scream my name.” Her eyes go wide, and I pull away, walking back to the house.
My mother stays where she is and waits for me to walk back to her, then we watch as Rylee pulls out of the driveway. As she goes, my mother turns to me and states categorically, “You love that girl.” I don’t need to ask her which one she’s talking about to know. “You both created a gorgeous daughter.”
“I think so,” I say while opening the front door. “Would you like to come in for a coffee?” Her eyes flick to my hand and she zeros in on my ring.
“Your wife won’t mind?”
I look down and realize I haven’t taken it off. “She left.”
My mother nods and doesn’t ask any more questions.
“I knew you would always find your way back here for her. I just had to wait,” she utters as she walks in.