Back to you

a phone call

She looks at me whilst I'm standing next to the dining table holding my phone in my hand, Reluctant to answer his call. My nerves take over my body making it hard for me to press the green button on the screen. Every time he calls. He has this effect on me. Always has, Always will.

"Hey!" I say finally answering the phone after calming my nerves down.

"Hey! How are you?" Hearing his voice surprisingly calms me down a bit as well, After getting myself all worked up over nothing.

"I'm good, I'm good! How are you?"

"Yeah, I'm doing great today! How's Leilani?"

"Yeah, she's doing okay!"

"Oh, that's good! How did today go?"

I focus my attention on Leilani after being in my own little world whilst talking to Brad, Giving her a signal letting her know I'm going to head to the kitchen to continue our conversation.

"It was alright! Very emotional day but we're getting through it! She seems to be doing good now! We're spending the night eating and talking in front of the fire in the living room so she can feel more comfortable, You know?"

"I'm sure you're making her feel very at home already! How does she feel about everything so far? Does she understand what her new life will endure yet?"

"She's actually doing a lot better at understanding than I thought! She gets it and I think it's mostly because of her maturity!"

"Her maturity? How mature is she? She's 13!" I heard him giggle on his end of the line, making me reciprocate.

"I know that's what I thought but she's so mature for her age! She explained to me it's because she grew up knowing that she was different from her family and she had to stick up for herself at school and things. Brad, I just feel so bad, She got bullied because of me! I couldn't hold on to her and because of that she faced so much crap that was so unnecessary."

"Jen please don't do that to yourself! It was what was best for her, for all of us! Imagine trying to raise our child during the divorce. It would have been hell. The media painted you as this lonely, broken woman which is so far from the truth it's not even funny! But imagine having to go through that with a baby, you did the best thing for the two of you and I am so sorry that I wasn't there to support you to make this discussion, To hold your hand through it all. I don't think I can ever make it up to you."

"Well thank you. And I'm sure you will soon be able to make up for it. You've been so supportive already, and you only found out yesterday!"

"Like I've said I'm not letting you do this alone."

"Thank you, That's very sweet of you."

"Anytime! Hey, are you busy tomorrow night?"

"No, I've taken pretty much the next month off to be here with Leilani! Just until she settles in. How come?"

"Oh, I was just thinking we could do dinner? The three of us? I didn't get much time to talk to Leilani last night!"

"Of course, we can! My place or yours?" I say twirling the loose strands that have fallen from my claw clip with my fingers.

"Definitely yours! I haven't been able to stop thinking about that pasta you made!" He says in a serious tone making me laugh.

"Brad, You had that last night that's why!"

"No Jen I swear that pasta changed my life"

"Oh my god, Brad." I say unable to control my laughter. "Alright then, Come over tomorrow night! Does 6 O'clock work for you?"

"6 works great! I'll see you two then! Alright, Bye Jen, Have a good night!"

"You too, Thank you. Bye Brad!"

I end the call with a smile on my face before walking back over to the living room to find Leilani looking up at me after hearing my footsteps.

"What did he say?" She asks as I resume my place on the couch, covering myself with the blanket.

"Oh, He just wanted to know how today went! And he's coming for dinner tomorrow night!"

"Oh, Okay cool." She puts her head down looking at fidgeting hands resting on her lap.

"Are you nervous about tomorrow night?" I ask placing one of my hands on top of both of hers.

"I mean a little bit. I don't know I just... This is all happening so fast you know? I mean It's Brad Pitt." She laughs fixing her attention on me. "But it will be good! We can talk more and hopefully build a good relationship."

"Exactly! Honey if it's too much for you I can tell him not to come. I'll go text hi-" I go to get up off the couch but before I can she cuts me off

"No, No it's okay! This it's good for me!"

"Are you sure? I'm sure he'll understand" I ask before receiving a nod from her letting me know tomorrow can go ahead.