“I’ll do it. Sorry to have made you come all this way for nothing.”
“Trust me, it’s not for nothing. If I didn’t, I’d never hear the end of it. While I’m here, I’m supposed to ask if you’d like to join us for dinner tonight.”
Charlene smiled. “Boy she really has you doing all her dirty work for her today.”
“Is that a yes?”
“Unfortunately it’s a no. But I’ll let her know. She might as well bite my head off instead of yours.”
“Thanks. I’m already in the dog house.”
“What for?” Charlene asked, hoping it had nothing to do with her. Seems everything does lately.
“Liliana said Dada today. Well not clearly, but it was close enough. Oh Sofia wasn’t happy.” Dylan said, beaming from ear to ear.
“Oh boy. I’m sure that’s why she was calling me. You might want to order out tonight. And oh, bring home flowers too,” she joked.
“I can’t help it.”
“I know you can’t, but that won’t make a difference. I’ll give her a call in a few minutes. Good luck Dada,” she teased.
Dylan smiled even brighter. “Thanks Charlene.”
She was happy for him, but she knew how much Sofia wanted to hear Mama. As a good loving friend, she’d need to tell her that it was going to come, and how Dylan probably was only hearing what he wanted to. It most likely was just babble. Of course, nothing was going to make it any better for Sofia.
With her door open she called Sofia. “Good morning.”
“Ha. What’s good about it? Did he tell you? Of course he did. He’s probably bragging to everyone. Can you believe it? I do everything for her and what does she do? She says, Dada.”
Charlene bit her lip not to laugh. “I know. I was hoping she’d say my name first,” she teased.
“This is not funny! Just wait until you have a baby and she won’t say Mama.”
Charlene was trying not to think about the future. It was hard enough for her to get through today. But she could picture herself holding a little one. Maybe not right now, but someday. The problem was she would want the father to be someone like Seth. No. I’d want it to be Seth.
That kind of thought was only going to make it more painful to say goodbye. So she did like she normally did and changed the subject. “Dylan said you invited me to dinner. Thanks, but I cannot make it.”
“Plans with Seth?”
“No. I have things I need to do myself.” Already people were linking her and Seth together as a couple. She hoped they weren’t doing that when speaking to him. She could only imagine how irate he’d get. Seth liked to be taken seriously, and all this teasing and joking about them wouldn’t go over well.
“Well you sound a bit grumpy this morning.”
“That’s funny. I think you’re the one who almost chomped my head off when I called. Which by the way, I’m at work. So I don’t have time to call my mother back right now. How about you be a dear friend and you call her. Tell her I’m fine and I’ll talk to her tomorrow.”
“Why me?” Sofia asked.
“Because my mother would love to hear all about Liliana.”
“You think so? I hate to bother her,” Sofia said.
But you’ll bother me?“No. She’s not working and I’m sure she’ll be thrilled.”
“Okay, if you think so. Maybe I’ll invite her up for dinner this weekend too. She hasn’t seen Liliana since she was born.”
“I’m sure she’ll love that too. Now if you don’t mind, I have to get back to work.”
“Love you Charlene.”