10

Rachael’s pov

(Later that evening)

“Mommy,” I looked up from where I squatted on the kitchen, pulling out the racks from the oven where we’d put in the cookie dough to cook. “I don’t want Daddy’s friend to come to my birthday party.”

I smiled as I walked toward the sink, setting down the rack before focusing on her. She was standing on a high stool to be able to reach the counter top where we’ve both made a flour mess kneading the cookie dough.

Playfully I took a small flour and dabbed it on her nose. “What friend?”

She giggled, yelling my name in an annoyed tone “Mommyyyy,” rubbing it off with the back of her elbow but she only got more all over her face. It laughed. She folded her arms with puffed cheeks. “I’m being serious right now.”

I gave her a false serious expression, smiling when she ‘caught me off guard’ patting both my cheeks with a handful of flour.

While both laughing, she focused on the dough again, kneading it while I cut the pieces out for the cookie. I gave her some dough to play with which I won’t be using for the main cookies but jus so she can play along.

“Daddy’s invited to my birthday party. But not her,” now carefully focused on cutting the dough I understood who she was talking about. More firmer than I intended I cut into the dough again. “Daddy might come with her.”

“Why don’t you want her to come.” I asked slowly, not looking at her as I cut. I knew why she didn’t want her to come. She hated her. Even I didn’t want her to come.

But I only knew the surface of it. I really wanted to know what Amanda had done to my baby that’s made her so resentful. I loved that Leah wasn’t exactly warming up to some chick my ex was seeing but I didn’t love that she held so much respite agasint her.

I was the one who should hold that much resentment.

“She’s just really mean.” She said more quietly this time.

Silence.

I looked at her now, my fingers tight around the grip of the cutter but I silently resumed cutting.

“We can start making your invitation letters for you to share to your classmate. What colors do you want?”

She suddenly brightened up. I smiled, glancing up to her enthusiastically kneading the dough while she blushed. “Pink and green with purple ribbbons. And I want sparkles too. But not too much. I’m getting older you know. I have to start making grown up decisions .”

I stared at her with a raised brow. “Sweetheart, you’re turning six.”

“Mia is six too. And her mum gives her pens. When the teacher is not looking, she uses it to write, Mommy. She uses the pen because she doesn’t make mistakes so she doesn’t have to erase it. Just like daddy in his office. That’s grown up.”

“Using a pen- “ I pause midway. “You want me to give you a pen don’t you?”

“You have a bunch in your office. Can I just take one pleaseee”

There’s a knock at the door. My mind raced as I wondered who I was expecting. Half distracted I set Leah down from the stool to the ground and told her to wait for me.

My phone’s been in the living room for the past hour. Ignoring the knocking for the second time I go through to see a missed call from Gabe. I rolled my eyes.

Get over yourself Gabriel Kayes. It’s a freaking Kiss. We can do it at the next exchange.

I contemplated ignoring him completely at the door but I thought against it for a second. Phone in hand, apron still around my waist and a questionable amount of flour on my face, I drag the door open.

My mouth fell open.

Seeing the way his gaze swept over me I immediately cleared my throat, composing myself as I straightened, my hand still on the door.

“So he was right.” I flatly said, my chest tighteneing.

Michael raised a brow, his head tilted to the side with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “Ah- I wanted to surprise you. Seems he beat me to it. And so we’re clear, this ‘he’… is your husband, Gabriel?”

“Ex husband.” I snapped.

The twinkle in his eyes made me sick to my stomach with anger. “Right.”