Eliza

5

—ELIZA—

"Do you wanna take a nap, honey?" Mama asks me as I step inside the new room. It's a lot bigger than my old one, but there's no wallpaper. None of my things. Nothing to make it home.

Even the house is empty. It's full of people—smelly, rude boys—but that's it. It's not home, it's just walls and floors and ceilings and decorations that don't reflect anything.

     "Yes." I say. She smiles and lifts me up, setting me on her hip as she walks over to the big bed. She unfurls the covers, then sets me under. I'm in my comfy clothes, which is good. I'll be able to sleep better.

She tucks the covers into my sides, completely cocooning me within the blankets. She smiles down at me before pressing a kiss to the tip of my nose.

     "I love you so much, baby girl." She says.

     I frown. "Mama."

     Still smiling, she mumbles: "hm?"

     "Why won't you take me away from here again? Easton is nasty." I say.

     She heaves out a sigh. "I thought that was all sorted out."

     "He made me sad."

     Her eyes soften. "I know, honey." She says, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. "But you can't be rude to people and not expect them to say something back."

"I didn't say anything to him, I said it to dad!"

"I know." She says again, her voice calm. "But Easton was just trying to defend him."

"It was none of his stinking business!" I exclaim.

Amusement flares in her eyes, but it disappears when I glare at her.

     "Why don't you just go to sleep, and I can go talk to him?" She suggests.

     I shake my head. "What if he's mean to you too?"

     "I'll be fine, sweetheart." She says, then leans down to kiss my cheek again. "Go to sleep."

     I frown, but shut my eyes, rolling over onto my stomach, still tangled within my blankets.

—MIA—

"Mia." My ex-husband says, stopping me in the hallway. I turn around to look at him. "Is Eliza okay?"

"She's fine."

"I was thinking I could spend tomorrow with Eliza, and you can take the boys somewhere."

     "She doesn't like you." I say.

     He frowns. "I know, but she's never going to if she doesn't get to spend time with just me."

"It's not as easy as that. She doesn't like new things." I say.

"I can take her to an aquarium. She mentioned that in the car."

I think for a moment. I'm not happy we're here with him. I'm happy I can see my boys again, but they don't want to talk to me. So maybe this could be a good opportunity for me to be able to bond with them, too. But I don't want to put my daughter in a situation that could make her uncomfortable.

Eliza is hardly ever away from me. She's been at my side ever since she was little, and the last thing I want to do is separate that if she doesn't want to. She's not a regular kid. She needs routine and she likes things that are familiar.