Tulip was utilizing a trait she usually disengaged once she was off the clock. Being cordial and being the bigger person. Not letting Irvine's nitpicking and backhanded compliments get too deep under her skin. She didn't know how Michelle Obama remained so dignified and poised when her foes insulted or criticized her. 'Going high when they go low' was really leaving a bitter taste on Tulip's tongue. She loved being a petty princess and a sarcastic savant. It was so rewarding and filled her with a warmth that made her smirk slyly.
Unfortunately, Sydney loved Irvine. It was a realization that made her want to race to the trash can and empty her stomach but it was the truth. So, Tulip fought the urge to pull Sydney back in the house and slam the door in the face of the pompous man. Instead of listening to her instincts, she let her heart make the choice and there was no way she was going to disrupt the smile on Sydney's face. It was a work of art that made her happy in return.
Tulip did her best to erase the disgust from her face. It was a skill she was excellent at, many difficult clients had been acquainted with the cordial words, simple and pleasant hospitality. The reward for not correcting those churlish clients were those fat checks that slid into the direct deposit. She wasn't getting money to play nice with Irvine but making Sydney happy was a nice reward.
Was this becoming a bad habit? Doing whatever made the ten-year smile?
Tulip shook the thought off. It had just been a couple of days, not yet a full week. She'd enforce strict rules and hard limits once they knew each other better. After the summer maybe? Maybe July was a good time to be a boss? She shrugged to herself and decided to skim the pages of one of the copious parenting books she bought for a concrete answer.
Her contemplation was shattered as Irvine's lanky frame crossed through the threshold and entered the kitchen. She groaned under her breath and concentrated on what she was doing; scooping vanilla bean ice cream.
"Ice cream at night?" Irvine said in a judgy, questioning tone that grated Tulip's nerves. He sidled next to the kitchen island watching her drop a scoop of ice cream into one of the bowls as if he was grading her scooping technique. "All that sugar and dairy is going to give her wild dreams.
Were wild dreams a bad thing? Aren't all dreams wild? She kept those questions to herself and decided to ask something else.
"And what do you suppose we have with the peach cobbler?" She gestured to the individual peach cobblers still warm in the glass pie dish she brought because it was her favorite color. Yellow.
He didn't move his eyes to the dish. "How about just the cobbler? It's enough sugar to rot out her teeth. No need to go overboard."
Tulip tightened her hand around the scooper as vitriol rushed up to her throat. Sydney was deep in a candy apple bubble bath. She found the bottle while she was supposed to be watching Tulip put on her makeup but instead went rummaging through her cabinets with fiery curiosity.
It was last year's Christmas present from Will so she didn't mind giving it to her. Tulip didn't know why he thought she wanted to smell like a lollipop. She wasn't twelve anymore.
Tulip thought of a trick her Granny taught her when she would get into fights at school for being teased for her name. Breathe in, count to three. Breath out, count to three. It always worked and this time it didn't fail, either.
"Thank you for your opinion." She forcefully drug the scooper into the ice cream like she was digging dirt. "Do you have any other nuggets of wisdom?"
"Actually..." He started, sliding onto the barstool. "It's almost eight, which is her bedtime. She should really be ushered off to bed and not partaking in treats."
"Well, Irvine." She said, slapping the globular scoop into the bowl. "It's summer. We usually hang out in the living room until we both get sleepy. Like a slumber party."
His face twisted as he drew back as she offended him, "Amelia had a firm bedtime. Children thrive in structure. You should—"
"I don't need you to tell me what to do with my daughter."
"But she's not...your daughter."
"Excuse me."
"She's not your daughter. She's Amelia's daughter. You signed away your rights. You're a guardian. That's your place."
"My place." She gripped the edge of the counter. It was the only thing keeping her from lunging over the island and squeezing his flamingo neck. "I let you in my house. I'm doing you a courtesy. You will talk to me with respect or you can skip ya ass down the sidewalk."
He took a deep breath that puffed out his chest, hot rage visible in his eyes. But the glare that she sent back his way affirmed that if he said one more ill word she would ensure he greeted the sidewalk.
"I misspoke." He set a hand to his chest and stretched his neck to the side as if the words caused him physical pain. "I'm very protective of...my daffodil. I've known her all her life." His gaze drifted behind her out the kitchen window shrouded in darkness. "I was with Amelia when Sydney was placed in her arms. She was a chubby little baby."
Tulip's saliva was acid as she tried hard to swallow her regret and emotions, sadness nipped at the wells of her eyes. She didn't know how Sydney looked like as a baby. She just knew it took ten hours for her to dilate and eight hard, excruciating pushes to get her out.
"Big brown eyes that searched your soul and I fell in love. I love that little girl as if she was my own." He choked back tears. Tears Tulip could see as he set his sight back on her. "Part of me hopes you fail and beg me to take her." He paused for a moment, Tulip's eyes narrowed on him and before she uttered a word he continued. "But I also loved Amelia...even though she would let me love her back." The last words were a whisper as if he was talking to himself. "So, I want to see what she sees in you. However, I don't. You're not spectacular to me. You have until August to prove me wrong."
"What do you mean?" Tulip asked.
"I mean..." He rolled his shoulders back, high on his power. "Amelia's will has contingencies. If being in your care is a detriment to Sydney, I have the power to go to court, contest your guardianship, and gain custody."
"You don't scare me." Tulip confidently folded her arms, even though fear was a heavy lump in her gut. "I'm not failing. I'm going to rock the shit out of guardianship. Don't worry while you're flying home."
"Uncle Irvine!" Sydney's jovial skips into the kitchen interrupted the hard looks they gave to each other. She hopped on the barstool in the silk initial pajamas her mom had specially made for her. "We're going beach camping."
"What!!" He gasped with excitement, smoothing her crinkled tresses out of her face and over her shoulder.
Tulip watched Sydney tell him about all their 'List of Joy' and something foreign birthed in her. Jealousy. He knew Sydney longer than her. It was easy to not be fazed by the connection Sydney and Amelia had but having to witness up close and personal the close, easy relationship Sydney had with someone else because they were there since she was an infant was a gut punch. It hurt.
"Excuse me." She hurried out the kitchen, walked up the stairs nonchalantly, and locked the bathroom door behind herself. She sank to the floor and cried.
She didn't know her baby. She could lose her baby. It was all too much to shrug off and keep ticking like it didn't cut deep. It hurt, remembering that day she lost her baby and Jasper on the same day.
Two loves lost.
How do you think Irvine's words are going to affect Tulip's parenting from this point on?
Do you think Irving has good reasons to not like Tulip?
What's the wildest dream you ever had? I once dreamed I was being chased by the creature from Jeepers Creeper and Spiderman was coming to save me because I was his sister.