Find me again

chapter 11

"Happy birthday, piccolina" Maya and Carina said at the same time as they entered the room, Frankie smiled and put her arms up, obviously wanting to be picked up or cuddled. Carina placed the gifts she was holding down on the bed and sat down next to her daughter.

"I'm this many?" Frankie held up three fingers and Carina smiled and nodded.

"Tre." She whispered. "My big girl." Frankie smiled and cuddled closer, crawling into Carina's lap.

"Mommy made pancakes."

"Not hungry. My tummy is still sleeping." Both the adults laughed at that and Maya placed the tray of food on the nightstand and got into bed on the opposite side of Carina and Frankie.

"That's okay, sweet girl." Carina stroked her curls and kissed the top of her head. Maya laughed at them and Carina immediately felt annoyed. What was so funny? Maya always seemed to be laughing at her. She shot Maya a look.

"She fell back asleep," Maya giggled.

"It's early... What did you expect?" She said harshly. Maya took a deep breath and pinched her nose.

"Listen. I don't know what I am doing wrong here so you have to tell me, Car."

"Ew, don't call me Car."

"Ew?" Maya shifted, obviously uncomfortable. Carina shot her another look. "You know what? Whatever. Can we please just try to be adults today? It's her birthday, I just want her to have a good day, you can be annoyed later, but this is her day and I don't want it to be tainted with whatever this is."

"This? This is me trying to tell you not to laugh at me, I am trying."

"Shh. Lower your voice." Maya whispered. "And you saying 'ew don't call me Car', is not the way to go about getting me to stop laughing at my cute and adorable toddler drooling on her mamma." Maya said matter of factly. Carina looked down and saw that Frankie was in fact sleeping open mouthed and looked adorable. "I wouldn't laugh at you Carina, I was just trying to have a moment, a connection... I am sorry you felt that I was laughing at you, but we used to laugh at the silly things she does all the time and I'm not used to you not finding it funny anymore."

There were a lot of things Carina could have said in response to that, including an apology. She knew she was in the wrong but instead she laughed too. "It's a little funny." Maya giggled again and Carina was relieved at that.

"Let's wake her up again."

"How?" Carina asked. "She's fully out."

"Piccolina we have presents." Maya leaned over and tickled Frankie's cheek. The little girl's eyes shot up and she looked at Carina as if to confirm what Maya had just said.

"It's true. Right there. Carina pointed to them and Frankie grabbed the presents excitedly.

"Are both mine?"

"Yes, it's your birthday, piccolina. Today is your day. And those presents are yours." Carina explained gently.

"Yey." Frankie exclaimed and ripped the paper of the first gift. It was the book. "Mommy, read?"

"Yes. We'll read it, baby." Maya smiled and leaned over to kiss her cheek. Carina could smell her shampoo and a calm spread through her, it was a new feeling. Something she couldn't identify, she looked at Maya who pulled away seemingly embarrassed.

"Sorry." She muttered and Carina was immediately sorry she had snapped earlier, making Maya feel timid or even bad.

"It's okay." Carina tried to convey in her smile that she was sorry.