She looked at him and then at me. “Do you know my daddy? We did science together. And now we’re making pizza.”
“That’s great, Maya.” Those words had to have tasted like vinegar if his expression was any indication.
“August?” April appeared next to him.
Jesus, it was like Grand Central Station.
“What are you doing here?” She looked at me and then August.
“He was just leaving. Let’s go finish our pizza, sweetie.” I picked Maya up, in case one or the both of them decided to take her with them.
“Hi mama. We’re making pizza. And we made rock candy.”
“Wow. That sounds like fun.” She smiled, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “I’ve been looking for you, August. We need to talk.”
“Good. Have fun.” I started to close the door.
“They’re not coming to have pizza with us, daddy?”
“They have to talk.”
“I want to show them the rock candy.” Maya’s brows pulled together and her mouth formed a little pout. Shit. How did I go against that?
“Of course.” I opened the door to let them in. “It’s in the kitchen. The glass is probably still hot, so don’t touch it.”
Maya squirmed in my arms, so I set her down. She charged off to the kitchen and I stepped back so August and April could follow. I wouldn’t lie. I resented the two of them invading my time with her. They’d had seven years and I couldn’t get a few hours without them interrupting.
“Look mama,” Maya’s voice echoed through the small apartment.
April looked at me as she passed to go to the kitchen. I couldn’t quite read her expression.
“Where’s the candy?” August asked.
“It’s going to grow on this stick. It takes a couple of days. Daddy and I are also going to make a balloon rocket and slime, huh, daddy?”
“That’s right.” I tried to keep my voice friendly, because everyone in this kitchen loved Maya. That I had no doubt. It was me that was the outsider, but I wasn’t going to let them push me out again.
“You know, maybe we should let Maya and Jude have their time,” April said, putting a hand on August’s shoulder. “You and I need to talk anyway.”
August’s jaw tightened but he nodded.
“Let me walk you out,” I said. “Maya, why don’t you get the pepperonis and cheese out of the fridge.
“’k daddy.”
I followed April and August to the door.
“You know, this isn’t a place to raise a child,” August said.
“Well, gee August, I didn’t know I had a child until after I got this place,” I seethed. “But now that I do—”
“We need to all get along for Maya’s sake,” April hissed at us, her eyes darting toward the kitchen probably to make sure Maya couldn’t hear us.
“Are you mad?” Maya stood in the entryway of the kitchen looking out at us.
I shook my head. “It’s okay.” She came to me and I picked her
up.