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There’s a knock on the door. It must be a neighbor; Trev would’ve called first.
“I’ll get your drinks in a minute.” I tell the girls and get up to answer the door.
But it isn’t a neighbor. Lorelai stands there in tight, tight jeans and a green long sleeve “Take Back Your Life” tee, her long copper hair flying loose in the wind. She corrals it with both hands and pulls it over her shoulder.
"I texted, but I took a chance you’d be home when you didn’t answer.”
“Come in. We’re just sitting down to dinner.”
“I don’t want to intru-“
My mouth cuts off whatever she was saying. My arms wrap around her body, and I lift her off the ground. Her hands are on either side my face and her lips open for my tongue.
Once we pull our mouths apart to breathe and look at each other, I swoop her up and carry her to the table.
“Look who I found outside, girls!”
They both start clapping and screaming, “Yay!”
“I knew Uncle James would get you back,” Becca squeaks out.
“She obvi’sly brought hersef back!” Emilie declares, still giving me the side eye treatment.
“My baby feminist,” I say shaking my head.
“Girl power!” Lorelai says, shoving her fist into the air. The girls get up from the table and do their own renditions. Becca spins in a graceful circle, and Emilie jumps up and down.
I go into the kitchen for drinks and another plate. I hear Lorelai tell the girls that actually men and women are equally important, that one can’t exist without the other, and every person has their own strengths and weaknesses.
I smile and hang out in the kitchen just a little longer listening to Emilie and Becca identify things they’re good at and things other kids do better. Lorelai commends them for being so observant and noticing positives qualities. She tells them she is so proud of them, she’s going to make one day a month “compliment day” at the school so that each child can hear something other kids think they do well.
After dinner, we play a few rounds of Jumpin' Monkeys, then baths, and books, and tucking the girls in together.
Emilie gives Lorelai a long hug and says in her loudest whisper, “In case Daddy doesn’t tell you, you can come over ev’ry day!”
And then we’re alone. Or basically alone.
It’s time to man up.
I pour Lorelai a glass of the ice wine I know she likes. I’d tucked a brand-new bottle into the fridge door two days ago, even though she was gone.
She reaches for the glass. “I missed you.” We both say at the same time. Then we both laugh.
“Want to sit on the patio?” I ask her. “It’s chilly. I can grab some blankets.” Her eyes light up.
So, we sit on the swing with our glasses, covered in a blanket. When the wind blows harder, I shiver, but I see her lift her chin and close her eyes.
“It’s going to be summer soon. Enjoy these last few cool nights.” She just smiles with her eyes closed. I give the swing a push and lift my foot so it rocks a few times.
“Why did you come tonight,” I have to ask.
She doesn’t try to play coy. “I missed you and I missed Emily. I knew you would have picked up Becca for the weekend. I couldn’t stay away any longer.” She looks over at me. Her honesty pours over me and through me. Never any head games with her. She just says what she means.
‘Just before you got here, Em asked if I made you leave. She was so angry with me.” I look over to see her reaction.
“Is that why she’s been so extra this week?” Lorelai gives a little laugh. “I tried everything I could think of, but she was just a little ball of mad.”
“The two of them decided I should try and get you back.” I wait to see what she says, but she’s just quiet, watching me with shimmery silver shining in the soft glow of the Edison lights strung across the patio.
