Yesterday, I saw her in action during her gymnastics class, and let’s just say that she has more than enough energy to burn off during these extracurricular activities.
Even if I still think her schedule is a bit overkill for a kindergartener.
Hell, it’s a bit much for me, a woman in her mid-twenties in a never-ending existential crisis, and I’m not even participating.
My phone starts ringing in my hand, and I see that it’s a video call from Mateo.
He has never video called me, but I guess since Anna previously tried him on FaceTime, he must have hit on the missed call without thinking.
I swipe to accept the call, and a moment later, his face comes up on the screen.
I hope the tiny puff of air that escaped my lips was inaudible, because we are all sitting pretty snug back here in the back row, and I’m sure nothing, and I mean nothing, would escape his mother’s chisme senses.
It looks like he’s standing outside somewhere, his face molded in concern. His eyes don’t stray from an exact spot on the screen. It’s unnerving to think that he’s looking at me that intensely, so I don’t. Maybe he has a poor signal and his video hasn’t turned on yet. Or maybe he’s not—
“Isabella, everything okay?”
Shit.
“Hi,” I croak, then quickly clear my throat. “Hey, Anna was trying to call you earlier.” Then I quickly shove my phone into Anna’s hands, where they rest on her lap.
Real fucking smooth, Isa.
“¡Papi!” she squeals, and his face melts into a look of pure adoration. “I had a super fun day at school today. During recess, a few girls invited me to sit with them, and we made friendship bracelets. Look.” She brings her opposite wrist up into camera view and shows off the three colorful bracelets. “But they take a while to make, so we were thinking of maybe having a playdate soon so we can make them at home and then bring them to school. That way we can make enough for the whole class, and then everyone can feel like they have a friend.” She smiles as she looks down at her new jewelry.
My heart surges at her kindness.
Anna is many things. She can put you in your place in a funny, endearing way one moment, and the next, she’s thinking about how to make sure everyone feels included and cherished.
I know I haven’t spent much time with kids her age, but it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know that she’s a special one.
Before Mateo has time to respond, because, like me, he clearly has hearts in his eyes, I lean in and give her wrist a light squeeze. “That is so incredibly nice of you, Anna. Your classmates are very lucky to have you.”
She moves the camera to include both of us in the frame and asks, “Can you ask Papi if we can do it at our house? That way, you’ll be there, and we’ll be able to make them together?” Her eyebrows shoot up eagerly.
“Anna, slow down there. First, I need to get into contact with their parents and see what we can work out.”
“Okay. And then—”
“And then,” he interrupts, “we’ll see if Isa is even working that day in order to supervise.”
“I don’t mind,” I chime in. A minute too late, I realize he’s probably accounting for me not having this job by this time next week. But hey, if he’s gonna get between the sacred experience of girls and their friendship bracelets, then he can shoot me down directly, right in front of his adorable kid. “Even if I’m not scheduled to work, I’d love to help the girls out. I’m sure it’d be super fun.” I smile at his cocked brow and ticked jaw.
I probably shouldn’t poke him, knowing I already have a strike to my name, but dammit, it feels good to push back a bit, even if it comes back to bite me in the ass later.
“You hear that, Papi? Isa said she would help. And she lives with us, so it’s not like Hank has to pick her up or anything.”
“And if I did, I wouldn’t mind either,” Hank hollers from the driver’s seat.
I look up in time to see him winking at us through the rearview mirror.
Now they’re just making it hard not to be smug.
“How helpful of you, Hank,” Mateo deadpans.
I have to bite down on my lip to stop myself from full-on gloating.
His eyes shift, and somehow, I know my bite hasn’t gone unnoticed.
