Into You

I ran, for my ride

People who live with kids will be fully aware of the fact that they dictate your lives. So when I was woken with small feet jumping next to my head and my bed bouncing, I already knew that my day would no longer be my own.

"Lily! Alright, alright! I'm up." I tiredly said to an excited Lily.

She giggled in response finally sitting down. She was on her knees leaning her head close to mine and grinning at me. I looked up into her green eyes as a strand of hair from her messy braid tickled my neck.

"Why are you so giddy?" I asked suspiciously.

"Becaaaaaause, we get to go to the barn today!" She yelled in glee, "and grandmama said I can pet all the animals."

She was too cute for her own good.
I glanced at the clock on the nightstand and saw it was already 7:08 am.

"Alright Missy, we need to get going. Time for a bath."

Lily jumped off the bed and padded her little feet in a rush down the hall to the main bathroom. I finally sat up in bed and twisted my legs over the side to put my feet on the ground.

Today was going to be an odd one. I had to go back to the diner to discuss my job with Tina, whom I hadn't seen in years. And then I had to go sort out the issue with my car which meant I had to talk to Eddie again. That was a whole other matter in itself.

I wasn't too sure how I felt about whatever was going on between the two of us. All I knew was that I had to put Lily first, and that probably meant I shouldn't be wasting my time flirting with mechanic-architects.

But I still had to meet up with him and just get on with everything. So I stood up and made my way to the bathroom to wash Lily and then myself.

Within half an hour we were both washed and dressed, heading down to the kitchen where I could already smell and hear Maggie frying eggs.

Lily skipped in and hopped onto a chair at the table. I walked up to Maggie and kissed her cheek.

"Morning Maggie."

She looked up at me from her short height with a grin, "Oh, good morning girly. How'd you sleep?"

I turned from her and crossed the kitchen to pour myself some coffee from the coffee maker. "Well actually. Which is odd for me, you know how I always find it hard to sleep in a new place."

"Well that's probably because this place isn't new! Its your home girly. Always will be."

I chuckled at her reply. I turned to face her, leaning my hip on the side as I blew on my hot coffee.

"Honestly," She remarked, pointing her spatula at me, "you're like a daughter to me - in fact you are a daughter to me. And that means that what is mine is yours. So if this place is my home; then it's yours too."

"Thank you Maggie. Really. Thank you. Its not often that I get to feel like that."

"Now stop this sappy stuff. I might be old but I'm not about to be called weak. Now come get some breakfast and be gone. Lily and I have a whole day planned together, don't we Lily?"

Lily cheered happily, "Yes! Its gonna be so much fun!"

I laughed at the two of them. "Alright I'll get out of your hair."

I quickly ate up the scrambled eggs with my coffee and headed out to the front to wait for Eddie on the porch swing.

It wasn't long until I heard the hum of an engine and saw the red dust on the ground float up into the air.

As Eddie pulled up Maggie and Lily came through the front door hand in hand ready to go off to the barn. Eddie switched off the engine and jumped down from his truck.

I hate being a hypocrite, but I just couldn't help ogling the man. His hair was curlier than usual due to being wet and also darker. He wasn't in his grease covered overalls today, instead he wore light blue jeans which fit him well showing off his strong physique and a white cotton v neck top.

He walked up to the house his boot covered feet kicking at the stones as he did.

"Morning ladies."

Maggie replied first, "Morning Eddie baby."

"How you doing Miss Maggie?"

"I'm as good as an old woman can be, Eddie."

He chuckled at her cheeky response, "Well your humour hasn't aged at all Maggie," he walked closer and looked down at Lily bending down to her height, "and who's this little princess?"

Lily looked up at him shyly and then quietly answered, "My name is Lily."

He spoke enthusiastically, "Lily? Well that's a beautiful name. Very pretty, just like you."

Lily giggled at his compliments making Eddie grin.

"Who are you? I haven't seen you before?" Lily's childish curiosity was beginning to sink in.

"Well I'm Edwin, a friend of your Mama and Maggie's. But everyone calls me Eddie," he looked up and over to me, "Well except your mama. She calls me Ed." He grinned cheekily as I rolled my eyes hiding a smile.

Lily's eyes lit up with excitement as she jumped up and down, "Oh, oh, oh! Can I call you something else too? Please, can I?"

Eddie nodded his head agreeing to her plea. "Yeah, 'course you can."

Lily held her chubby little fingers up to her face in thought as she thought hard about what to call him. Her face brightened after a few seconds as she quickly replied, "I know! I can call you...Winnie!"

We all laughed at her, especially Eddie.

"OK, that's fine with me. You can call me Winnie."

Lily looked completely content with herself. Maggie said her goodbyes and so did Lily as they carried on their walk to the barn that was about five minutes from the house.

Eddie got up and walked to me. He reached his hand out for me to take.

"You jumping in for a ride, or what?"