Squeak

Late Night Snacks

Jezebel

"Mommy!"

I ignored Izabel's calls as I attempted to catch up on work. The last few days had been crazy. Erik was released, Izabel had surgery, and I had a 48-hour headache, thanks to that asshole. There was nothing wrong with Izabel other than her having ants in her pants and wanting to move about.

"Mommy!"

"Go to bed, Iz!"

"Can I lay down with you?!" she yelled from her bedroom.

"No!"

"Why not?"

"Because you're a distraction!"

"I'll be quiet!"

"You promise?"

"Yes, ma'am!"

I rolled my eyes and closed the laptop's lid.

I'm not getting any work done. I don't know what I thought.

I slipped my feet into my slippers and made the short trip to her bedroom, where she impatiently waited with her pillow under one arm and Muffin under the other.

"Mommy, I miss Papa and Daddy Erik. Can I call them?"

I don't want to call Adrian's ass. All he'll do is beg to come home.

It was the same song and dance every time.

I miss you.

I love you.

I never meant to hurt you.

I hung up on him every time.

"Let's get you comfortable in bed first."

"Me and Muffin want jello."

Izabel had been on a mean jello kick ever since she was discharged from the hospital, requiring it at breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

"What color?" I asked, picking her up.

"Blue."

"Blue jello, coming right up. Are you experiencing any pain?"

"Just a little."

"On a scale of 1 to 10?"

"Two."

"Do you want your medicine?"

"No, I hate it."

"Well, let me know if you change your mind."

"Throw me on the bed like Papa does, Mommy!" she demanded once I entered my bedroom.

I rolled my eyes and gently placed her on the bed, ignoring her protests of discontent. "I'll be back. Find us a movie to watch."

"The Terminator." My eyebrows raised. "You said I'll be back, and it reminded me of The Terminator."

"If that's what you want, Izzy."

"Don't call me Izzy anymore, Mommy."

"What am I supposed to call you?" I asked, placing a hand on my hip.

"Call me Squirt."

"I refuse. I'll be back."

I returned a few minutes later to find Izabel propped against pillows with a clownish smile on her face.

She looks just like her father when he's up to no good.

"Everything okay, Izabel?" I asked, approaching her with the jello.