Chapter Thirty-Six
MICHAEL
The Harrises' reaction to my permission to spend a few hours with my daughter without their supervision was obviously not the best.
They were very angry and called me the day before, wanting to force me to accept having the babysitter accompany us.
I refused. As much as many people might think it was wonderful to have someone on call to look after the child during an outing, that wasn't what I wanted.
I wanted one day of truly being Alice's father.
I wanted to spend that time with her and Camila.
Just the three of us, with no one to bother us.
Actually, there weren't three of us. We ended up being four, because I took Apollo with me, much to Camila's despair. She kept her eyes fixed on the rearview mirror the whole way to the Harrises' house, keeping an eye on the dog in the back seat.
To her relief, Apollo didn't mind her presence too much. He loved car rides, so he enjoyed every second with his nose out the window, enjoying the wind on his nose.
“What if he attacks Alice?” Camila asked, without taking her eyes off the rearview mirror.
I pointed to the animal with a silly face and closed eyes, happily enjoying the wind that ruffled its gray fur.
“Does that look like a beast about to attack a little child?”
“He may see her as a threat.”
“Does a one-year-old baby seem like a threat to you?”
“I didn't look like that either when I was attacked by a dog.”
“It wasn't a dog. It was a pinscher. Practically an untamable wild beast. Like cats.”
“Cats are not untamable beasts.”
“You told me yourself that your cat is capable of killing someone if it wants to.”
“But he doesn't want to. That's the difference.”
“Neither does Apollo, believe me. But I hope they get along. Alice likes stuffed dogs and cartoon dogs. She can even imitate one. Do you think she’ll like Apollo?”
I didn't want to come across as insecure, but absolutely everything about Alice made me feel that way. I wanted to be the best father I could be so that she would feel safe with me.
So that she would feel proud of me.
“She'll like Apollo, Michael —” Camila's hand rested on mine.
“— Even I, who am terrified of dogs, already love Apollo. But I know the real question on your mind is another, so let me answer it too: she already likes you a lot. You can see the love in those beautiful eyes by the way she looks at you.”
“Do you really think so?” There I was again, acting insecure.
“I don't think so, I'm know so.”
Her hand tightened around mine and it brought me a sense of security that I hadn't expected to feel from just a gesture and a few words.
It was surreal how much easier everything had seemed since Camila had come into my life.
After our first fuck – and only one so far – a lot had changed between us.
We no longer had to pretend to be a couple in love, because that was exactly how we behaved the whole time.
We had lunch together every day, during our office break, then I would take her home at the end of the workday and most of the time I would go up and accept Jenna's invitation to dinner. But she, Despite the whole warm-and-fuzzy grandma image, she didn’t like to cook, so they always ordered something, or Camila would make the food.
On one of these occasions, I helped her in the kitchen. Or at least I tried. I was kicked out by her after breaking two glasses and a plate, and all she had asked of me was to wash the dishes.
After that, I would go home and, before going to bed, I would spend a few hours talking to Camila on video calls. Some of them, by the way, were really hot. That woman knew how to drive a man crazy.
However, despite all this, there was no conversation about our future, or even our present. We already had the social label of engaged, but between us, there was still no word that described what kind of relationship we really had with each other.
Which was safe ground for me, since relationships have never been my strong suit. It was comfortable that way for me, just as it seemed to be for Camila.
Finally, we arrived to pick up Alice at Margaret and Caleb's house. Since I was only allowed three hours, I decided not to waste any time, and we chose to go to a large and beautiful square very close to the Harris condominium.
It wasn't anything that could be considered a big trip, but I didn't want to waste time on car trips. Besides, just being out of sight of my daughter's two grandparents was already a huge relief.
“Woof! Woof!” On my lap, Alice vibrated, looking at the floor, where Apollo continued walking beside me.
“See?” Camila commented. She was also walking next to me, but opposite to where Apolo was. “I told you she’d like him.”
“Woof-woof!” Alice repeated, then let out a delightful laugh.
The four of us followed on foot on the way to the square.
“Yes, it’s a woof !” I commented. “His name is Apollo. Can you say that? A-po-llo.”
“Woof-woof!” she repeated, in a tone of someone correcting me.
“Okay, let's call him Woof-woof . After all, before you learn to say his name, you need to say 'daddy'. Daddy ! Dad-dy!”
“Woof!” She kept looking at Apollo, visibly not paying any attention to my words.
Beside me, Camila laughed. “All in good time, Michael. All in good time.”
She was right. Because at that moment, all that mattered was enjoying every second of that day.
And maybe Camila would agree to sleep at my place, and that way, she and I would enjoy the night too.
“What are you going to do after we leave here?” I asked, making my intentions clear in my tone of voice.
She didn't seem to notice. And if she did, she hid it very well by giving me the answer without beating around the bush, “It's girls' night out. My best friend Evelyn and I are going to the mall to do some shopping and then we're going to the movies.”
Damn. I got dumped for a best friend.
I couldn't insist because, at that moment, we reached the square and Alice stretched her little arms forward when she saw the playground. In the end, I had chosen the right program.
“I think she wants to go on the swing,” Camila warned, pointing to the toy. “I need to call my grandmother, I said I would do it as soon as we got there because she was worried that the Harrises wouldn’t let you go out with Alice.”
They wouldn't be crazy enough to do that. But I thought it was sweet that Jenna was so concerned. On my next outing with Alice, I hoped to take her to meet Camila's grandmother. I thought they would really like each other.
Camila stopped to make the call, and I continued taking Alice to one of the swings. Apollo followed right behind us, also looking excited about the place.
I sat Alice in the chair that was already designed for small children. Apollo took advantage of the moment to come closer and start sniffing her, recognizing her. My daughter laughed, running her little hand over his head.
She then said something that made no linguistic sense, but which I somehow managed to understand as a request for me to push her, which I did. Her little squeals of joy every time the swing moved brought me a feeling of happiness that was completely indescribable.
We stayed like that for a while, I realized that several minutes had passed and Camila hadn't returned.
I was curious enough to turn my head back, looking at where she had stopped to make a phone call, and I was surprised to see that she was actually using her cell phone, but to take pictures of me with Alice.
She smiled, looking a little embarrassed at being caught red-handed, and then came closer, saying, “I thought you two looked so beautiful together that I decided I should record the moment. I think Alice will enjoy seeing these photos to remember these moments in the future.”
“She won't even remember this day.”
“That’s why the photos will be even more special.
I love looking at old photographs from my childhood, the ones where I’m with my parents.
I don’t remember much of it, so I like to imagine what was happening there, what we were doing, or what they said or thought about those situations.
Well, you’ll probably be with Alice long enough to tell her everything.
And that’s how those memories will be built. ”
I smiled at those words, and commented, “Your parents must have been amazing people.” I thought that an amazing person like Camila could only have been raised by other equally amazing people.
“Yes, they were. I miss them. But I hope that wherever they are, they are proud of the adult I've become.”
“I have no doubt about that.”
Alice let out another scream, accompanied by a laugh, and we turned to see what had happened. Apollo had stood up, resting his front paws on the front part that served as the swing's safety lock. My daughter's small hands were stroking his enormous snout fearlessly.
“I told you she would like Apollo,” Camila bumped her shoulder into my arm, like a child teasing another.
“But before you said that he might see her as a threat and attack her.”
“Maybe I was a little exaggerated.”
“It's okay. You just wanted to protect her.”
At that moment my phone rang. I looked at the screen and saw that it was my mother.
“Can you keep an eye on Alice for me while I answer?” I asked Camila.
She nodded, but made one reservation, “Okay, but first get Apollo out of there. Just because he doesn't attack Alice doesn't mean he can't still attack me .”
I laughed, but I complied with the request, calling Apollo, who soon came to me, thus allowing Camila to get closer to Alice, starting to push her on the swing.
Smiling like a fool at the scene, I answered the call.
“Hi, mom.”
“Hi, my dear. How are things? Those stupid old bastards didn't complain about you taking Alice, did they?”
Again, my mother continued to pretend to ignore the fact that Margaret and Caleb were her age group. But I let it go.
“They weren't crazy enough to do that. I received a court order, and they don't want to break one and run the risk of it harming their case.”
“They are idiots. Well, I called to tell you that the caterer I hired for your wedding called me.”
Hearing the word 'wedding' in relation to me was still something that gave me the chills. But I confess that it was much less so than it was just a few weeks ago.
“Yes, and what did they want?”
“Schedule the tasting to choose the dishes that will be served at the party. I scheduled it for Wednesday.”
“And you're going to have to go to Aspen to take this test?”
“Oh, dear, of course not. You're the one who's going.”
At first, I found myself at a loss for an answer. My mother was completely clueless.
I moved a little away from Camila so I could change my tone of voice without worrying her.
“Are you crazy, Mom? You always said you wanted me to be responsible, but now that I've taken over the company you think I can drop everything in the middle of the week to go to Aspen to try party snacks?”
“Well, you should’ve thought about that before you decide to get married.”
“Camila and I said we wanted a simple wedding, just a civil ceremony, without any big parties. It was you who insisted that we celebrate the wedding of the year in Aspen. And you assured me that you would take care of everything.”
“I said I would organize the entire wedding, and I am doing that. But deciding on the buffet is something very personal. It is the bride and groom who have to do that.”
“Then you just set a date for me without asking me if I could.”
“My son, for the love of God. You are the CEO; you don’t need to be in the office religiously every day as if you were punching a time clock.
Not to mention that you can go in the morning, by private jet, and come back the next day.
However, I think you should spend a few days there.
A change of scenery will do you good. And Camila too. ”
The last part made me actually consider the idea.
Camila and I... on a trip... a few days alone, in the middle of the mountains...
Or maybe not so alone after all.
I looked back at Camila and Alice, having fun together. She had such great affection for my daughter, which was visibly reciprocated. Could Janet get another one of her legal authorizations for me, in such a short time?
I thought about the three of us traveling together, like a family...
Family...
I never thought that word could sound so enchanting to me.
Family days and... when Alice was asleep, free nights for Camila and I...
Maybe I would even consider the idea of hiring a nanny, to spend some time with Camila during the day too.
“Okay, mom. I'll talk to Camila about it.”
“Give her a kiss. And tell Alice that Auntie Trinity sends her a million kisses too.”
“I'll tell her that her grandmother sends her kisses.”
“Do you know that there are a lot of people who say that I look like your sister?”
“Bye, Mom.”
I hung up the call and went back to Camila and Alice. Apollo didn't follow me because he had gotten distracted by rolling over on his back on the grass.
“You said you're going to the mall today with your friend, right?” I said as soon as I got closer.
Camila looked at me in surprise, she probably hadn't noticed my approach.
“I did.”
“Can you take the opportunity to buy some winter clothes?”
“And why would I do that, in the middle of a California spring?”
“Because you're getting the day off from Turner this week. And we have a trip to take.”
Her eyes widened, probably confused by it all.
Soon she would understand. And I hoped she would be as excited about the idea as I was.