Matt's POV
"Charlotte." I called up the stairs. "Are you ready?"
"Coming." She screeched.
I waited until eventually she came running down.
"What were you doing?"
"Making sure my room was clean." She told me. "So it's clean for next time."
I bent over, kissing the top of her head. "You're a good girl, now come on, I promised mom I'd have you home by dinner."
She groaned. "Mommy's cooking is horrible."
I chuckled as we got in the car, she was right, cooking never was Ana's forte, but now, now I would give anything to taste it, I missed her shitty cooking.
Charlotte did her usual, chatting the whole way, but by the time we arrived at Ana's she'd fallen silent.
"Ready?" I asked her, opening the car door.
She nodded and climbed out silently. I scooped her up into my arm's.
"I'll miss you puss." I told her, hugging her tightly to me.
"Can't you stay daddy?" She whispered.
Before I could answer the door opened and Ana stood there, watching us.
Charlotte wiggled out of my arms, running to her mom, I smiled watching her.
"Mommy, can daddy stay for dinner?" Charlotte asked Ana.
Ana looked shocked. "I guess, I mean if he wants to."
"Nah, it's okay." I said, I could see how the idea of me staying made her uncomfortable. "I got stuff to do."
"Oh okay." Ana said, while Charlotte stuck out her bottom lip.
"Listen Ana, let me know if you need any help on Saturday, anything."
Ana looked at me strangely. "Saturday?" She asked, trying to hide a smile, her beautiful smile.
"My party Mommy." Charlotte said, sounding exasperated.
"Oh yeah, I forgot about that." Ana grinned. "And thanks Matt, I'm okay, Sophie is coming over to help set up."
I nodded, of course Sophie was.
"Are you coming?" She asked me.
"Of course." I wouldn't miss it for the world.
Charlotte wriggled out of Ana's arms and ran inside.
"Mommy, where's my costume?" She screamed. "I wanna show daddy."
"In mommy's closet." Ana called back.
"Ana we need to talk." I blurted.
She looked at me. "You're right Matt, we do."
I nodded. "Yeah."
"But can we wait until after the party?" She asked me.
"Of course Ana." I was just relieved she'd agreed to talk.
"See." Charlotte screeched, coming back out with her costume.
"Beautiful, you'll look like a real princess."
She smiled brightly. "I will."
"Anyway I better go." I said hugging her tightly. "I love you and I'll see you on Saturday." I turned to Ana. "Call me if you need any help and maybe Saturday we can organize the other thing."
She nodded and smiled. "Okay." She said brushing a strand of her crazy hair off her face.
I went back to my car, watching them wave as I reversed when it hit me, Ana didn't have on her rings anymore.
That thought made me feel sick and I did my best to concentrate on driving while wondering why she wasn't wearing them. What if I wanted to talk about getting back together and she wanted to talk about divorce?
I couldn't get to Sophie and Brian's quick enough and before I could knock, Sophie threw the door open.
"You're late Matt. Christ." She said looking flustered. "We can't be late with meals in this mad house."
I glanced towards the dining room where a hell of a racket was going on.
"I'm hungwwwyyyy." Addie howled.
"Coming." Sophie wailed.
"Soph." I said grabbing her arm as she started to walk off. "Ana's not wearing her rings anymore."
"Oh yeah, she lost them or something."
"She lost them?" I asked.
"Nah, not really." Sophie said shaking her head. "I borrowed them for a bit."
"What the hell for?"
"Because I'm sick of this shit Matthew, sort it out already, I took the rings hoping that it would upset her." Sophie snapped.
"You took them to upset her?"
"Yes Matthew and I've had her blubbering on the phone to me every day because she can't find them and she's heartbroken."
"Sophie...."
"Relax, I'm putting them back on Saturday, I just wanted her to think about a few things." She told me.
"Sophie this isn't her fault." It was completely mine.
"I know that you fucking idiot, I'm trying to help your dumb ass." She snapped. "Can we eat now?"
I nodded and followed her into what could only be described as bedlam.
Addie was sitting in her seat, screaming, her face read, Brian had his head down on the table and Gabriella was squirting ketchup all through his hair.
"CAN I NOT LEAVE YOU THREE ALONE FOR FIVE MINUTES." Sophie screamed.
There was immediate silence, the three of them looking at her.
I smiled to myself, Sophie wore the pants here, some things would never change.
