Not just me & you anymore (G!P)

C. 35 - Maya

Hello everyone! Thanks always for still being here...it's game night! See you soon

Despite the fact that today is Saturday, I had to work to catch up on some projects that had been left a bit behind this past period, so I missed all the things that had become our wonderful weekend family routines: lunch out right after Viviana's swimming lesson, the first hours of the afternoon in absolute relax together with Carina, while both girls are asleep, an electrifying afternoon of whatever activity Viviana has in mind, where of course the more sweating the better, a funambulistic bath with Viviana, while at the same time I check on Celeste, while Carina in the kitchen makes pizzas, which will then be voraciously eaten in the living room, in the usual impromptu movie theater for Saturday night. Here, today I have lost all these activities, but mostly Viviana has lost them too, both because Carina alone has managed to keep up with her half as much as we usually manage to do as a couple, and also because we had to cancel our movie night tonight, because with the arrival of spring and also with Celeste's growing up, we have decided to reopen ourselves to social life and so we are all invited to Andy's house.

This means that Viviana is a concentrate of anger, nervousness, annoyance mixed with hatred that could kill us all with just a look. She hates me because I have not been present and therefore according to her I am the cause of every bad thing that has happened to her today; she hates Carina because she made her late for swimming class and then did not let her play pirates, the week's new obsession, in order to force her to "waste time," to quote her words, in the house before going out to the park, where I have now joined them. From here, we will go straight to Andy's house, where we will mix an adult appetizer with a toddler's pizza party, and devote ourselves to dinner afterwards.

As soon as I arrived in front of my family at the park, I was literally sequestered by Viviana, who dragged me to a clearing on the lawn to play ball, using the same grit to confront me on the playground as a steamroller. Harmony thus appears rediscovered until Carina calls me to her with a wave of her hand: she stands on a bench in the shade, to hold Celeste with her.

M < hello babe..> I whisper to her with a kiss on the lips.

C < stop playing soccer: she's sweating too much and we can't go by the house to change..> I sigh, already foreseeing the clouds gathering over us.

M < or maybe we can..>

C < no, love we can't. And in fact does she look like she's dressed for soccer?> I smile.

M < I know, but she's a child...let her vent..>

C < she's been venting all day against me already..> I bend and kiss her forehead.

M < I'm sorry..> I say, although that is not what I meant by "let her vent." I turn to Viviana then, who is waiting impatiently for me, and call her back to us, trying to convince her to chat just for a while before we reach the car and our friends.

V < what the hell! > she exclaims vehemently, surprising us both.

C < Viviana, do these look like manners to you? >

V < yes, that sucks!> she exclaims again, this time openly challenging her. I sigh and physically step between them, taking Viviana by the hand.

M < Vivi, stop..> I try to call her back gently and she only snorts. < apologize to mom..> I beg her.

V < but I want to play!> she complains.

M < and I understand that, but that's not a valid reason to say what you said and address your mother like that..>

V < okay, sorry!> she says vaguely to both of them. < but this is a wretched day!> I look at Carina and almost laugh.