Chapter 8 – Under the Calendar Page
Rosalie
Wyatt is waiting for me in the living room when I come in the next morning.
This is new. He normally sleeps in. He’s combed his hair into submission, he’s got a little bit of dried toothpaste at the edge of his mouth, and he’s sitting up so straight and tall that he’s giving off eager-job-applicant vibes.
Well, if job applicants came in with a guilty conscience.
“I’m sorry. I’m sorry I lied about you. Dad said he got mad at you because he thought we left him out of deciding on a dog. I didn’t think he’d call you. He usually just does whatever you say. You told him Callie wanted a goldfish, and he got her one. She didn’t even remember to feed it.”
“Ah.” The kid has a long memory. I had been wondering what Wyatt’s endgame was with involving me. “I love you, kid. But when you lie to someone, or about someone, it’s kind of like sticking a big roadblock between you and them. It hurts your relationship.”
“And then you can’t love them anymore.”
“I’ll always love you. And your dad will always love you. But yeah, it kinda feels like you don’t love us when you lie, even if you think it’s for a good reason. Do you think we can move the roadblock so we trust each other again?”
He nods. “With chores.”
“Well, chores are a good start.” He’s almost getting too big for hugs. I walk over and softly fluff up his too-neat hair instead. “Chores and honesty. Why don’t you help me haul the laundry upstairs and you can tell me what else your dad said. I’m curious.”
“Can I wake up Callie?”
“She’s still in bed?”
“Yeah. I promise I won’t jump on her legs this time.”
“Go for it.” He makes a run for the stairs, and I have to call him back to remind him to help me with the laundry baskets first. I love his energy, though.
Callie does not appreciate him jumping on her bed, even if he misses her legs this time, but her grumpy demeanor quickly turns to smiles, and she follows us around while Wyatt and I deliver stacks of clothes to the right drawers.
Liam has a cleaning company that comes once a week, which is so nice, but like dishes, laundry never sleeps.
I folded all these stacks yesterday but didn’t get a chance to put them away.
Wyatt takes the underwear from me and punches it down into his drawer to make it all fit, telling me about the blanket fort they made last night.
I hide a smile. Organization is not his strong suit.
I bet if we emptied out that underwear drawer, we’d find odd socks, candy wrappers, and toys. Maybe later.
“Ready for breakfast?” I ask him.
“Yeah. I’m starving. Oh, I’m supposed to apologize to Callie, too, because my big lie caused a bunch of little lies. Like when Dad asked her if you said that. And she said ‘yeah’ or something like that. Sorry, Callie.”
She’s humming and only paying half attention, but when he goes over and hugs her, she says, “It’s okay, Wyatt.”
Once they’re occupied with their breakfast of toast and eggs at the table, I go over to the daily planner on the desk to see what Liam left for me. He said it would be under the calendar page.
I’m rewarded with a letter on ruled paper, rather than a sticky note, and I’m so surprised that I quickly fold it up and stick it in the front pocket of my jeans before one of the kids can ask about it.
Liam is a sticky note devotee, and I’m his convert. I bet he thinks in bullet points half the time. What is in this letter?
“I’m in charge of dishes!” Wyatt announces, bringing his plate over to the sink. He devoured his food in less than a minute. That might be a new record.
“Oh, okay.” I can get behind this chore apology. When Callie’s finished, I take her plate and stack it with his.
I really need to read whatever Liam wrote me. When Callie heads upstairs to change out of her pajamas, I stop on the stairs and pull the letter out of my pocket.
Rosalie,
Wyatt will be on his best behavior today, and I’m trying to think of a good way to talk to him about manipulation.
He’s not doing it on purpose, but in a different way, he’s still angling for a dog.
A dog is not something he needs to talk us into or earn, just something we need to be ready for.
I liked that you brought up patience last night.
He’ll need it. You know how I get when it comes to big decisions.
It’s going to take me a while to figure out the best dog for the family.
For your sake, I’ll avoid the small yappy ones.
Thanks for talking to me like a true friend would. Your advice left me feeling hopeful.
Not your archnemesis,
Liam
P.S. Wyatt has a bullet-point list of consequences. He promised he’d show it to you.
I roll my eyes at the P.S., but I can’t help smiling.
I was afraid being friends with Liam would just make me wistful for more, but this is actually kind of wonderful. Maybe it will take the mystery out of his persona, and I can actually enjoy my next blind date for once.
I press the letter to my chest before folding it up and putting it back in my pocket. I’m keeping it, but I’ll need a good hiding place. Kambryn would find its existence exciting, but the contents underwhelming. I don’t need either of those things.
Gavin writes her notes all the time filled with words like baby and love you so much and forever. I don’t know that he’s ever called her a true friend, though.