“Is Mr. Trey coming too?” Sophie asked Mia.
“Ask him yourself. He’s right there.” Mia pointed over to me.
“Mr. Trey, are you going in the princess car too?” Sophie rubbed her eyes.
“I have my own prince car, but if you want, I can ride with you in the princess car.” Trey winked at me and Mia. “I’m going to go get ready.”
Mia pulled the suitcases out to help us pack. Then she hit the intercom and called for Rebecca.
“I want a popsicle. Does anyone else want one?” Mia asked.
“I want a blue one and Mummy likes yellow,” Sophie answered quickly. “What color do you like?”
“My favorite is red,” Mia answered, then hit the intercom again to request the popsicles. “Chloe, Rebecca is going to be here in a minute to help you guys get packed. I need to go oversee my stuff getting packed.”
I was feeling there was a sense of urgency in Parker without him saying anything in particular. Trey had left the room. All I could think about was how lucky Sophie was to have Parker and Trey to take care of her.
* * *
The rideback to New York City felt like an eternity. No one really spoke about much of anything. Sophie played on Mia’s laptop the whole way, never letting them forget she was to get another ice cream when they got to the city. Sophie’s fever had begun to climb back up as the Tylenol was wearing off.
“Mummy, I feel shivery.” Sophie climbed onto my lap. “Do I need more medicine?”
“You do feel a little warm, but we can wait for medicine until we get to Aunt Mia’s house. I think we’re almost there”
“Don’t forget ice cream. Uncle Parker said I could have more when we got here.” Sophie moved off my lap to look out the limo window.
Mia had the driver drive around until he found an ice cream truck, then jumped out to get ice cream for everyone. Her home was right next to Central Park, so the driver drove through the middle while Mia pointed things out for us.
“This is a yummy ice cream, Aunt Mia.” Sophie licked at her fingers. “I need a napkin.”
“Sophie, honey, we’re here at my new home.” Mia brushed Sophie’s hair back off her face and felt for a fever. “I think you’ll love playing in my big bathtub, too, as soon as we get upstairs. What do you think?”
“I’m tired, Aunt Mia, maybe later,” Sophie said, putting the drenched napkin aside and leaning against me.
“Well, I think we have to have a quick bath time to get all that sticky ice cream off of you, okay?” I said. “Then we can snuggle on the balcony and look at the park.”
Arriving in a limo and living this lifestyle seemed second nature to Mia. She exited the car without any concern for her bags. It just felt weird to me.
“Miss, don’t worry, I‘ll bring everything up for you.” The driver offered his hand to help me out. Trey and Parker had gotten out first as both of their cells starting ringing.
“That’s crazy. Did people in the city just smell them to know the moment they were back?” I asked, following Mia inside.
“I have no idea how that happens, but it happens a lot.” Mia nodded to the doorman. “They’ll both be on their phones for a little while, so in the elevator we go.”
I stopped in front of a row of elevators, but Mia kept walking.
“Our private elevator is the last one. Come on, you’re going to like it.” Mia put her hand on a screen, then the doors opened to a beautiful white marble elevator. “Parker had it redone after we got married. It’s a bit over the top.”
“This apartment is ridiculous, Mia.” I stood looking at the massive living room overlooking the park. “I want a full tour after we play in the bathtub.”
Sophie and I were playing in the bathtub while Mia watched from the doorway. Parker had stopped by the door to see how we were doing, then went on to his room.
“Why don’t you come in and relax?” I asked Mia. “You literally have a couch in your bathroom, so sit.”
“I was listening to Parker on the phone in the bedroom. It’s about Sophie.” Mia quietly walked into the room and sat on the edge of the tub. “I wanted to hear what he was saying, but he’ll tell us.”
My cell phone I’d been holding on to like a lifeline chimed with a text from Trey.