“Rough night,” I mutter.
A knock interrupts my musings. “What’s taking so long?”
I can’t help but laugh. “I’m trying to fix my face.”
“Is it broken?” The muffled question sounds like she’s pressing her mouth against the door.
My head hangs between my shoulders as I allow the humor of this situation to shake through me. “It’s a real mess, kiddo. Just give me a few moments, okay?”
There’s a pause as if she’s weighing the options. “Hurry up.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“What was that?”
I straighten out of habit. The reflex is extra ridiculous since she’s a child and can’t see me. “I’ll be out soon.”
Which ends up being entirely too long based on the defeated expression Ronnie is wearing. She’s sitting on the floor, blocking my path, which forces me to see the upset I caused. But before I can soothe her hurt feelings, the little girl is up and on the move again.
“Finally,” she huffs. “You were in there forever.”
“That’s a slight exaggeration.”
Ronnie parks a hand on her hip. “Huh?”
My palm swats away the unnecessary vocab lesson. “I thought you were watching the movie.”
She glances over her shoulder, but dismisses the film quickly. “I wanna do something else.”
My thoughts whirl as her bottomless energy spins in fast twirls across the room. “Like what?”
“You pick.”
My severe lack of skills makes another appearance. “Don’t you have school?”
“It’s a home day.”
I’ve lost track, but it must be the weekend. “What do you like to do for fun?”
“Lotsa stuff,” she chirps.
My empty stomach clenches. Gosh, this is awkward. But only for me. Ronnie seems fine with idle chit-chat. I mentally add that to her list of interests.
“How about we find your dad?”
Ronnie skips to the breakfast tray she brought me and picks up a clump of clay. “He’s busy.”
“With what?”
Her tongue pokes out as she works hard on molding a new creation. “Talkin’ to Uncle Chase. He’s mad at him again.”
“Why?”
She shrugs at my misplaced curiosity. “He told me to stay put in the kitchen. I was still eating cereal, but then he walked away.My feet were so super quiet as I spied on him. Daddy’s voice got really loud. Like a lion. Roar! Didn’t you hear it? I think Uncle Chase is in big trouble.”
I’m nodding along with her until she’s done. “Do you ever get in trouble?”
“Why would I?”