“That’s very considerate of you,” Arianna said to Sophie.
“I might marry him someday, though, for a little while, like you and Daddy did.”
Guilt gave Arianna a painful poke. Was this the message she and Wyatt had sent to their daughter? Marriage was just for a little while? She looked at her mother, hoping Mia might have some pearl of wisdom to drop into the conversation.
“Someday, when it’s your turn, you probably will want to be married for a long time, like your grandpa and I were,” Mia said.
Sophie shrugged. “I wish Mommy and Daddy were still married.”
More guilt. Arianna pulled her daughter’s hair back from her face and kissed her cheek. “Daddy and I...” What? How did you explain a marriage fail to a child? “Made a mistake. We were kind of like Carlos, in too big a hurry to get married and we should have waited until we were...better friends. But there’s one thing that wasn’t a mistake, and that’s you,” she hurried to add. “We both love you so much.”
“I know,” Sophie said, and moved on to pick up a handmade card. How quickly children moved on. “This is for you,” she said, handing over the card. It was a folded piece of pink construction paper and had a small heart cut out from red paper sloppily glued on the front.
Heart happy overflow! “For me?” Arianna took it and opened it.My mommy is the best mommy, it read.I love you.“This is the best valentine ever,” she told Sophie and hugged her.
“Grammy taught me how to cut out hearts.”
“But she made the card all on her own with no help,” said Mia.
“I’ll keep it forever,” Arianna said to her daughter.
“Grammy and me made cookies this afternoon, too. We saved some for Aunt Molly and Mr. Alden.”
Arianna shot a look at her mother and frowned. “Did you?”
“We thought it would be nice. I don’t think he has anyone to make him cookies,” Mia said innocently, working her crochet hook.
“They’re good. Grammy let me have two,” said Sophie. “And I made a card. Want to see?”
“Of course,” Arianna said.
Sophie ran to fetch her card from the kitchen counter and Arianna said, “Mom, really?”
“I thought you wouldn’t mind delivering them.”
“There’s only one light on in Alden’s house. I don’t think he’s home.”
“He might be.”
“Cookies as man bait. It’s so obvious,” Arianna said in disgust.
“No, it’s neighborly.”
“No, it’s fishing. I hate fishing. Besides, he’s had plenty of time to ask for my number.”
“Time maybe, but not opportunity,” Mia argued.
Sophie was back with her card—another piece of pink construction paper folded in half. This one had a flower drawn on the outside. Arianna opened it up and read,Happy Valentin day from Sophie and Mommy.“Very nice,” she said, “but you didn’t sign Grammy’s name.”
“Grammy said not to.”
Another look at Mia who was still very absorbed with her crocheting. “Really, Mom?” Probably the last thing the man wanted in his life was a snappish woman who came with a kid.
“Can we take the cookies over now?” Sophie asked.
“That’s an excellent idea,” said Mia.
“Sure,” said Arianna, resigned to her fate. “Let’s put your card in with them.”
