“I do.” I straightened as she walked a few steps away, got into a running stance, and then shot off. She had a long, graceful stride. She ran to a tree, turning around to look at me. I shot my arms up in a victory pose and then clapped.
She grinned, and my heart filled with so much love, I was sure it was coming out of my pores. She raced back to me. Coming closer and closer, until I wasn’t sure she was going to stop.
I lowered down, bracing myself, and she launched herself into my arms. I staggered back and then twirled.
She laughed, and it was the most glorious sound I’d ever heard.
“Daddy, will you push me on the swing?”
I was wrong. Hearing her call me daddy was the most glorious thing I’d ever heard. “I’d love to.”
I glanced over at April, making sure it was okay. She wiped a tear away, and smiled. Deciding it was fine, I carried Maya to the swings and pushed her, her shouts of glee making me feel elated. We played tag, went down the slide, and climbed on the bars.
It was all perfection, although my gut clenched when she told me how high her uncle Auggie would push her. He’d taken what was mine, I couldn’t imagine ever forgiving him for that. But I was well aware that I’d need to keep my rage about August from Maya.
“Are you two monkeys hungry?” April asked. “While you’ve been playing, I went to the deli and got some sandwiches.”
She’d left? She’d trusted me enough to leave me with Maya. I was still hurt, but I appreciated her trust.
“I’m hungry,” Maya said. “Are you hungry, daddy?” She took my hand, and I felt like I was in fucking heaven.
“Starving.” I realized I hadn’t eaten. All this started today when I went to the bakery to find food and hopefully learn something about April that would help me win her back. It was crazy how life could change in an instant, which it did when April walked in with Maya.
We had lunch at a picnic table. Maya shared with me her dreams in life which not only included running in the Olympics, but also becoming a scientist. She told me about her day camp, and how she was going into second grade this fall. Then we played some more.
“I hate to interrupt all this fun, but it’s getting late,” April said.
I looked at my watch. It was nearly five. We’d played all afternoon. But I still wasn’t done. I had seven years to make up, after all.
“We should be going soon,” April finished.
“Why don’t you both come back to my place? We can order pizza for dinner. Do you like pizza, Maya?”
She rubbed her belly. “I love it.”
April’s expression looked unsure.
“This is the best day of my life, April. Don’t ruin it for me. Please.”
Her eyes softened. “Pizza it is.”
“Yay!” Maya’s hands shot up in victory.
“We have cupcakes too,” April added.
We walked to my place, Maya between us both, holding each of our hands and swinging. It made me long to be a family. The type of family I’d never had. The type April and August had had. I wondered if her parents had lived, if things would have
turned out differently for me and April. I’d always liked them and felt supported by them. But maybe I was wrong. I was wrong about August, after all.
We got back to my place and I realized I only had the one-bedroom. If I was going to spend time with Maya, I’d need two bedrooms so she’d have a place to sleep and keep her toys. I needed a yard too. Perhaps I should do like Cyrus did and look for a home.
I ordered pizza to be delivered and then my next concern grew. I didn’t have any toys for her to play with. Next time I was with her, we’d go toy shopping. Fortunately, I’d arranged for my internet to go on today, so we were able to stream in a kids movie to watch after we ate our pizza.
We sat on the couch, Maya between us, like a real family. A few times I looked over at April who smiled. I hadn’t spoken much to her since all this went down. She’d been great, giving me and Maya space to get to know each other. I was pissed at what had happened, but I couldn’t deny that Maya was a great kid, and that was because April was a great mother. She’d been pregnant at eighteen and thought I didn’t care, and yet, she still managed to get her degree and raise a wonderful child.
The credits of the movie started to run. I looked at Maya ready to ask her what she thought, but she was sound asleep, her head resting on my arm.
“She’s exhausted. I should get her home,” April said.