Mila has the fridge open by the time I get to the kitchen.
This all feels so … I was going to say normal, but this is anything but. Whatever this feeling is, it’s nice.
Chapter Eighteen
Rage
Istand in the hallway listening to the two of them chatter away. It sounds like Serenity is teaching Mila to cook.
“That’s perfect,” she tells my sister.
“That smells yummy,” Mila says.
“It’s vanilla.”
I peek around the corner. Serenity is holding a little brown bottle under Mila’s nose.
“Mmm,” my sister hums, closing her eyes.
Serenity laughs, and I dip back around the corner, remaining hidden. I just want to listen to the two of them, because I know they’ll both get quiet once I enter the room.
“What do you want to do today?”
Mila doesn’t answer, and it breaks my heart. She doesn’t even know all of the possibilities that have opened up for her.
“We could play in your room or take a walk down by the pond.”
“See baby ducks?” Mila asks.
“Maybe. You never know what special things you’ll see on a walk.”
I go back to my room and grab one of the old disposable cameras I never used the last time I took the bike over to Yellowstone. When I get back out to the kitchen, Mila is setting the table.
“One for Mommy.” She lays a fork perfectly on the table, and then she slides down to the next seat. “One for Mila.” Then she moves all the way to the other side of the table. “And one for Daddy.”
I may be the farthest away from her, but at least she’s saving a place for me at her table. That’s more than enough right now.
“Good morning,” I say.
As I expected, Mila wraps herself around Serenity’s legs and peeks at me from behind them.
“Oh sure. You show up now that the work is done.” She picks my sister up and settles her on her hip like she’s done it a hundred times.
“I’ll do the cleanup,” I say, holding my hands in the air.
“Sorry but I already promised Mila she could wash the dishes,” she teases.
“How about I take out the trash then?” I ask them, walking over and pulling the bag out of the can.
Before I go outside, I hold the camera out to Mila. “I heard you and Mommy were going for a walk.”
Serenity cringes, and I get it, but I think it’s best if we just let Mila call us by the titles she feels comfortable with. Plus, I’m a firm believer in putting exactly what you want in life outinto the universe. Who knows, maybe that is what Mila is doing. Manifesting her best life.
She’s curious enough about the camera that she takes it from me.
“Mommy will show you how to use it,” I tell her.
“Should we try to get a picture of the ducks today?”