shouldn’t have come here with this, Erica. I wasn’t expecting you.”
“I know you weren’t. I wouldn’t have stopped by if I wasn’t in the neighborhood. I didn’t want to bring these to work tomorrow and then have them lying around in your office all day. This way, I can pop them in the fridge now. Anya, do you want to show me?”
I can see my daughter’s face visibly brighten. She is happy to see a friendly face.
I stand back in awe and surprise as Anya and Erica disappear into the kitchen. I can hear chatter and giggles.
Shit.
The last thing I need is for Anya to make another impossible friend!
I rush to the kitchen. “Erica has to leave,” I say abruptly, and the two of them turn to me. They’re standing at the fridge door.
“But Erica said she would love to come to the museum with us.”
I can feel every muscle in my body tense up. I glare at Erica but she doesn’t seem to notice the significance of this scene. She doesn’t get how this could affect my daughter.
What is she doing? What game is she playing?
“You and I are going to the museum alone, Anya,” I try to say as firmly as possible, but when I see her take Erica’s hand, I know I have already lost the game.
“But I want Erica to come with us, and she says she’s not busy.” Anya is pouting her lip. Erica is smiling.
She has a sort of victorious expression on her face. I don’t know how to react. If I was a more sensible man, I would be able to push Erica out of our apartment. But I’m not. I’m a sucker for Anya. I just want her to be happy, and she looks pretty darn happy right now. Happier than she has been in weeks.
I sigh and give up.
“You have to go get changed first,” I say, and Anya jumps up with joy and claps her hands. She has managed to get her way.
I’m still furious with Erica, but I know I can’t show it in front of Anya. They are walking together in front of me. Anya is very enthusiastic about lecturing Erica on everything she knows about dinosaurs.
Erica throws me smiles from time to time over her shoulder, and no matter how many bitter looks I give her, Erica just doesn’t seem to get the gravity of the situation. She is too young to understand, and she doesn’t have kids.
It’s been at least forty minutes of us walking around the museum, and finally, Anya comes running up to me. She seems in such a better mood that it melts my heart.
“Are you having fun, Daddy?” she asks, wrapping her arms around my legs. I stroke her hair and smile.
“Of course I am. I always love hearing all the cool things you know about dinosaurs, baby.”
Erica is standing back and smiling at us. I want to tell her to leave. This whole thing is making me very uncomfortable. If she thinks she can sneak into my life like this, use my daughter to get in my good books…it’s not going to work.
“Can Erica have lunch with us? She said she knows somewhere we can get pizza.”
“No, baby, we’re having lunch at home today.”
“But we always get pizza after the museum, Daddy,” Anya pleads.
This time, I’ve had enough, and I know I can’t let her keep having her way. So I lift her up in my arms and go towards Erica.
“The pizza place is just around the corner. We don’t have to walk far,” she explains. Still grinning. Still so pleased with herself.
“I want to spend some time alone with my daughter,” I reply. Erica’s eyes seem to burn for a moment, but her smile never diminishes.
“Of course! I wouldn’t want to intrude on that. I hope you guys have a lovely day together.”
“But, Daddy…” Anya complains. I start walking away from Erica because it feels like she won’t do it. “I was having fun with her!”
When I know we’ve walked out of Erica’s earshot, I put Anya down and bend down on a knee in front of her.
“Look, baby, I know this is hard for you. I know you enjoy the company of older women you can look up to because you miss your mommy. I understand all of that. I know you miss Blaire too. But we can’t make friends with everyone who passes through our lives. Do you understand what I’m saying, Anya? You have to trust me