THEN YOU CAME BACK [mcd]

chapter three

Turkey sandwiches. I made turkey sandwiches, and they're not even for me. I made them for Kandi while we talk over lunch. With Laurance coming back, there's a lot on all of our minds.

Elizabeth had sat with us at the table. She quickly ate and lost interest in us after learning we're not finishing any time soon. She'd rather play by herself outside where I can see her, than bore herself to death by listening to adult talk.

Her legs dangle over the side of the chair as she sits, and I notice she's begun to kick her feet. It is quite adorable. Garroth has to help build the chair up, so she can reach her plate, so that only adds onto the distance between her feet and the ground.

"Did you end up telling her who Laurance is?"

I glance outside the window to my daughter before sighing at Kandi's question. With everything Garroth and I talked about last night, that wasn't something we wanted to touch on.

"No, it's something Garroth and I need to discuss. I'm not going to make the decision for the both of us."

She lets out a hum before taking a bite of her sandwich. I gag internally at the thought of it being turkey before looking down at my own plate. It's barely touched. For some reason, I don't feel hungry. I think it's from my anxiety and stress.

"That's fair. Laurance was his best friend, and you two have children together."

I can't help but to get up to refill my glass. My mind has been everywhere today. I thought I would be better after last night, but this conversation is making my brain scatter. "How is Travis taking everything? You?"

Kandi stops eating before placing the sandwich down on the plate, wiping the crumbs off on a napkin. This is serious enough for her to stomach eating a sandwich when pregnant. She doesn't say anything. It's like she doesn't know what to say.

I don't blame her. I felt that way yesterday, looking at a man whom I thought would never come back. It takes time to think about something you were expecting or may not know the question to.

"I don't think Travis is taking it too well. We're married with a child, and he knows that, but I think he's doubting himself because of my history with Laurance. It's like he's degrading himself, and I can't seem to get through to him that what happened with Laurance and me in the past is just that. In the past." She stands from her place to put her plate on the counter. "But myself? I'm happy he's back, but I still can't believe it. There are so many questions I have for him. It was hard for me when he left, but there's the selfish side of me that's thankful he left because it led me to Travis."

"It led Garroth closer to me. . ."

Elizabeth runs into the house, squealing happily. Garroth walks in behind her and sits her down in a chair, so she can get her shoes on. He kisses the side of my head and greets me before looking over to Kandi.

I laugh at the glare he's given when he goes to take one of her sandwiches. He's already off of work, so it means Kandi and I have been here for quite a while.

By this point, Elizabeth has begged Garroth to play with her, but she's turned down and promised a playmate later. He sits at the table, looking up at the two of us expectantly. "Did I walk into something important? From the look my sister is giving me, this is more serious than me taking a sandwich."

"We're talking about how we've been getting along since Laurance got back," I admit, feeling a bit sheepish in saying it. I look around, seeing if Elizabeth is around.

Garroth slowly nods his head as he eats his sandwich silently at the table. I go to grab him a glass and another half of the sandwich before bringing it back to him at the table. Kandi follows behind and sits down.

"I'll admit, the world of his arrival has traveled around Phoenix Drop already," Garroth says, taking a sip from the cup. "He was bombarded by questions from Aphmau."

I can see Kandi roll her eyes from my peripheral vision, and I hold my giggle in. While my relationship with Aphmau has gotten slightly better, Kandi still holds a grudge against her. She's threatened to beat her after a few conversations, regardless of which one is pregnant. Now we just feel like acquaintances. I don't go out of my way to please her. I don't place her on a pedestal like others do.

Holden begins to cry, and I stand from my spot. Garroth goes to stand too, but I shake my head and tell him to continue eating. When I leave the room, Kandi and Garroth immediately start a conversation.

Holden has woken up from his nap, and he is not happy about it. I place soft giggles on the skin of his face as I check to see if I need to change his diaper. I'm thankful that it's clean for now. This is something Kandi has to look forward to."

I lift Holden into my arms and bring him into the kitchen with me once he calms down. I stand in the doorway, rocking him slightly to keep him calm. I lift an eyebrow, confused, when I see Kandi is gone.

"Where'd your sister go?"

Garroth looks up at me from his seat before smiling at Holden. He walks to us, tickling Holden from under his chin. "She wanted to give us some time together, so she took Elizabeth to her house to play."

I nod my head before looking back down at Holden. His brown eyes stare up at me happily, and I feel a sense of pride within me to see that there's a feature of him that takes after his mama.

"Al, do you think we should tell Elizabeth about Laurance? It's going to continue to get harder the more time that passes by."

My mouth goes dry at his words. I can't speak, and it feels like I can't understand what he's trying to tell me. It takes minutes before I'm responsive. "I-I guess we should," I say. "It's just going to be hard. She's only three."

His facial expression softens. "You don't have to do this alone. I'm here with you. We don't have to do this right away"