The Good Life

Chapter 79

Marla sat down in the first group therapy session of the new school year with a group of 13 and 14 year old girls suffering through the loss of their parents. She introduced herself just by name and asked the girls to introduce themselves. She was working with 6 very unique girls, Veronica, Mikayla, Jessica, Caroline, Phoebe and Katrina.

”Miss…we only know you’re name. If you want me to talk to you about things you have to tell me about you too.” Veronica told her.

”Well then. What do you want to know?” Marla asked them.

”Are you married?” Jessica asked.

”Yes I am.” she said as the girls looked at her ring.

”Miss..that’s huge.” Jessica answered making Marla blush.

”Miss…do you have kids?” Jessica asked again.

”I have one daughter.” she answered pulling out her phone flipping to find a picture of just Rosalia. She handed the phone to the girls showing them a picture of her standing next to Bruno’s mom and sisters.

”Misssss…..I know who that is!” Mikayla exclaimed. ”You’re Bruno Mars’s wife! No fucking way!”

”Misssss….you’re so cool!” Veronica screamed. ”I want to see a picture of the two of you. I bet you’re soooooo cute together!”

”Maybe one day. But I want to hear about the 6 of you before I tell you anymore. Okay?” Marla tried to get them back on track with their session.

”Ugh. Okay Miss Marla. But you have to tell us if he’s a good kisser.” Caroline finally spoke up.

”Okay..that’s enough…some things y’all don’t ever need to know…” Marla said handing them the pieces of paper for their activity.

**

Marla pulled her SUV in the pre-school parking lot later in the day stopping to say hello to several of the other mothers picking up their children. She saw Rosie playing with clay at a table in the back of the room with several other kids. She touched her daughter’s hair making her jump. ”Lo siento, mi amor. Are you ready to go home?” she asked her daughter.

”Mom….look…” Rosie pointed to her clay flower she was making that was surprising very good for a 4 year old. I’ve got a baby artist. Marla laughed to herself. ”Because you have a flower in your tummy.” she said loudly.

”Your mom has a seed in her tummy?” one of the kids asked.

”Mama…I didn’t tell anyone though. It’s still a secret that your tummy has a fever because you’re gonna have a baby.” Rosalia said loudly catching the few other mother’s off guard.

”Marla! Are you serious?” one of the mothers asked. Marla shook her head disguisted by her wordy daughter.

”We’re not sure yet.” Marla answered taking her daughter’s hand leading her to her backpack. ”Let’s go, Rosalia.”

”Mama…I didn’t tell anyone! I didn’t!” Rosie exclaimed as they walked toward the door.

”I know you didn’t Rosie.” Marla answered opening the door for her daughter. They drove home and she made them dinner getting ready for a normal night remembering that Bruno had texted her earlier in the evening saying that he was going to call them that. Marla gave her daughter a quick bath telling her that her dad was going to call them getting her even more excited that before.

”Mommmm…I want to talk to dadddyyyy…” she sang to her mother as she dried off her hair brushing it to the side seeing the small curls already forming making Marla laugh. ”What?” Rosie asked widening her eyes.