The Fling

20

Eloise tied some balloons to the stair bannister. "So Bert and his child bride are actually coming?"

"Yep. I couldn't very well exclude him from his daughter's birthday party." I looked around at the open-concept living area and smiled. "This place looks very festive!"

A few months ago, Hannah went to a party at a friend's house that was like the celebrations kids had back when I was young. There were games, cake, ice cream, and zero frills. The little girl's mom told me she was over all the excess and wasted money. Han came home declaring it was the best birthday party ever and that she wanted one just like it. At first I was relieved that I wouldn't have to find some expensive venue to do a big shindig with a theme like LA children were accustomed to, but having it at our house wasn't exactly easy.

"Hannah is going to flip when she gets home!" Mia declared. "I can't wait to see her reaction!"

"Let me know when you want Paul to walk them over," El added. Hannah and Bertie were both at her house so that the girls and I could decorate.

We'd spent the whole afternoon hanging streamers and balloons inside. Out on the patio, we'd put up dozens of strings of fairy lights, which would make the backyard sparkle after the sun set. There wasn't really a theme, though I asked Han what colors she wanted for the decor, and she chose turquoise and yellow.

Her guests were due to arrive at five, and the party would kick off indoors with a game followed by pizza. Then we'd watch short movies outside after the sun set. Bert was bringing a projector and some reels of old black and white slapstick comedies, which he borrowed from a cinematographer he knew. We'd hung a white sheet on the fence and scattered a ton of pillows and blankets on the ground, though thankfully it was very warm out for this time of year.

I surveyed the room again. "Do you think we need to add anything else?"

"It's perfect!" Mia replied.

"Then I guess the kiddos can come home."

Twenty minutes later, Paul arrived with my two, as well as Nathan who was there for Bertie.

"Mommy! It looks so good!" my daughter yelled as she ran around looking at everything. "Did you take pictures?"

"No, but I guarantee Mia will take hundreds." This was one of the things my friend offered to do since I'd be busy.

"Can I go put my new outfit on?"

"Knock yourself out, birthday girl," I told her. I then asked Paul if he wanted to stay, but he mumbled something about having to clean the pool and left.

"Paul doesn't like large groups of children," Eloise explained. "That's why we only have one."

Bertie and Nathan went outside with Cosmo and I checked my phone for the hundredth time. "Lizzie still hasn't texted."

"Do you think that means she's not coming?" Mia asked.

"I'm not sure. I guess I'll know when Bert gets here."

"Are we allowed to have wine? I think it's needed right now," El suggested.

"Not during the party, but when it's over, we're drinking while we clean up."

Hannah came back down the stairs looking adorable in a polka dot dress with matching leggings. We oohed and ahed over her as she did a twirl. "Is Shawn coming to my party?"

My heart leapt in my chest at the mention of his name. "No. Why would he?"

"When I showed him my room last week, he saw the extra invitations, so I gave him one. It felt rude not to."

Eloise and Mia started giggling from the kitchen.

"Han...you can't invite people to your party without telling me," I scolded.

"He's your friend, so I didn't think you'd mind. You said you ordered extra cupcakes, if that's what you are worried about."

"He doesn't look like he eats cupcakes," Mia said in a not-so-hushed voice.

I shot her a look before turning back to my daughter. "It was sweet of you to invite him, but I doubt he's coming."

She stuck her bottom lip out and went outside with the boys.

"Have you talked to him this week?" El asked when we were alone.

"Nope. That's why I'm sure he won't show up. Plus, he's definitely got better things to do on a Saturday night."

Mia walked over to me. "You okay?"

"I'm the one who didn't want it to continue, so yeah, I'm fine," I lied. In truth, it hurt a little that he hadn't texted at all, but perhaps turning down his offer of pizza sent him a crystal clear message that we were done. "I'm going to go change. If anyone shows up early, let them in."

I threw my hair up in a messy bun and put on a tiered minidress in a bright blue color along with some silver sandals and jewelry. Surveying myself in the mirror, I felt good about the woman in the reflection. I'd probably look ancient standing next to Bert's wife, but youth wasn't everything. I took a deep breath and went downstairs right as the guests started to arrive.

After the game, which I'd stolen from the wellness resort, using kid-friendly people and characters on the labels, it was time to eat, but the pizza was running late. Bert hadn't arrived either, which wasn't surprising. He knew when I planned to start the movies and would presumably show up by then. El and Mia led the children outside to play another game, and as soon as they were gone, the doorbell rang. I opened the door to Lizzie, whose gaze was on her shoes.

"Hi, sweetie!" I said happily.

She shuffled her feet awkwardly. "Hey. Dad is carrying everything around the side. Reagan has a migraine so she's not here."

"I'm sorry to hear that. Come on in! I can use your help because keeping up with these kids is like herding cats."

She smiled slightly. "Cool." Then she went through the house to the backyard.

I was about to shut the door when the pizza guy pulled up. He carried the huge stack of boxes in, and I handed him an extra cash tip. I quickly set up a buffet on the kitchen island, and within minutes, the kids had their plates filled, which they took outside to eat picnic-style. My friends offered to supervise them while I tidied up the mess left behind.

"Projector works," Bert told me as he helped himself to some food. "Bertie seems to be doing well."

"He has some trouble sleeping, but otherwise he's his normal self. He was really excited to show off his cast at school."

Lizzie came in for another slice, which she took without saying anything.

"She's pissed at you," Bert told me after she was gone. "Didn't you consider her feelings before starting something with that kid?"

I took two steps closer to him and pointed a finger in his face. "Shawn is older than your wife, so this is one subject you have no right to lecture me about. I regret not being honest with Lizzie, but let's not forget that you cheated on me and broke up our family. Do not ever judge me!"

"Sheesh. No need to get so angry over me being concerned about my daughter."

"I forgot that you're such an adoring father. That's why you ditched our children when it was your weekend to spend time with them. I guess I shouldn't have been so surprised. Remember when you left us and didn't contact them for weeks?"

A group of Hannah's classmates came in for more food, which prevented Bert from responding. I took a big bite of sausage pizza and was angrily chewing it when the doorbell rang. I stomped to the foyer, opened the front door, and saw Shawn standing there, a large present in his hands.