“I’m sure,” she said. Her tongue poked out between her teeth as she carefully brushed her hair over her forehead just so before hitting it with a shot of spray.
“I’m working the closing shift tonight, so if you decide you don’t want to spend the night you can just call Grandma and Grandpa or Liza or Knox, and one of them will come pick you up.”
She crossed her eyes at me in the mirror. “Why wouldn’t I want to spend the night? It’s a sleepover.” She was already dressed in pajamas, a request on the invitation. But she was wearing the pink sneakers Knox had given her with the ever-present heart charm.
“I just want you to know that no matter what, you can always call, and someone will be there,” I said. “Even when you’re older.”
I cleared my throat, and Waylay put down the hair spray.
“What?” she asked, turning around to face me.
“What what?” I hedged.
“You always clear your throat before you say something you think someone isn’t going to like.”
Damn astute kid. “Have you heard from your mom?”
She looked down at her feet. “No. Why?”
“Someone said she was in town not too long ago,” I said.
“She was?” Waylay frowned like the news was disturbing.
I nodded. “I didn’t talk to her.”
“Does this mean she’s going to take me back?” she asked.
I started to clear my throat then stopped. I didn’t know how to answer that. “Is that something you’d like?” I asked instead.
Waylay was staring hard at her shoes now. “I’m okay here with you,” she said finally.
I felt the tension release from my shoulders. “I like having you with me.”
“You do?”
“I do. Even if your hair tossing impression of me is terrible.”
She grinned then stopped. “She always comes back.”
It sounded different when she said it this time. It sounded more like a warning.
“We’ll figure that out when we have to,” I told her. “Let’s get you to your sleepover. Are you sure you packed your toothbrush?”
“Geez, Aunt Naomi! This isn’t my first sleepover!”
“Okay. Okay! What about underwear?”
Me: How’s Paris?
Stef: I drank too much champagne and danced with a man named Gaston. So pretty fucking great. But I still miss you and the fam.
Me: We miss you too.
Stef: Any drama happening that you “forgot” to tell me about?
Me: It’s so nice that you don’t hold a grudge. And no. No drama to report except Waylay is going to a sleepover.
Stef: Does that mean you’ll be having your own sleepover? If so, wear the teddy I sent you! It’ll melt Knox’s mind! Oops. Gotta go. Gaston is beckoning!