I had to go back home, after all, walking, holding Bell's hand, who was complaining while dragging her shoes on the dirt.
"Mommy, why couldn't you just leave me at Auntie Mikki's? You could've had picked me up tomorrow."
We've had to wake her up after falling asleep on Micaela's couch to make her walk home, and she wasn't enjoying it at all.
"Micaela has to take a long flight to Mexico in six hours, Bella. We would have had to wale you up at like three in the morning for me to pick you up. Plus, I think we've bothered Mica enough, don't you think?"
Bell didn't say anything, but she was still dragging her shoes on the dirt.
"Baby, you're ruining your shoes" I tried to be nice to my daughter, since the both of us weren't in the best mood.
Isabella sighed and started walking normally.
"Thank you" I said and squeezed Bell's hand when crossing a street, full of cars with their music making my ears cry.
.
.
.
After walking six more blocks, we finally got to our apartment, tired. Isabella didn't wait for me to put her pjs on, she just fell asleep on the couch. I poured myself a glass of orange juice, took my daughter to bed, and I went to bed.
.
.
.
I got up and, first thing I did was check my phone to see if Mica had texted. It was seven, her flight had probably taken off about an hour ago. I went to the kitchen to make breakfast, some croissants, and went to Bella's room to wake her up.
"Mommy!" she started yelling, cracking up, since I had decided to tickle her to wake her up.
"Okay, okay, I'm done. I just wanted to tell you breakfast's ready."
"Well, you didn't have to do it by tickling me, mommy" she frowned. I did the same, and we both laughed.
"Go to the kitchen and start eating, I'll go get dressed."
Isabella nodded, and I left her room to go to mine. I put on a white tank top with a plaid shirt, a pair of jeans and my black, short boots.
"Wow, mommy, you look like a cowgirl" Bella said when I entered the kitchen.
"Really?" I asked her, laughing.
"Yeah, like Julie from the cartoons Aunt Mikki and I watch" she smiled.
I sat next to her and poured us two mugs of milk. Bell's mug had princesses on it, and mine said I ❤️ NY.
I hurried Isabella, who was taking too long to eat her croissants, and I dressed her up with a green shirt and black jeans. I helped her slip on her white converse, and tied her long hair in two ponytails.
We left home and rushed to Starbucks. I said my hellos to all of my co-workers and boss and signed in. I then put on my apron and started working.
The day was pretty normal, a lot of people had decided to go to Starbucks to have breakfast, lunch and even dinner. I didn't have to meet with Paisley that day, so I just stayed until we closed.
As a normal Thursday, I got my weekly paycheck. Gretchen gave me mi e. $550. I sighed and Santi hugged me.
"You wanna go get dinner, Em? My invitation" he said.
I considered Santiago my brother. I had with him the same relationship I had with Mica, and Isabella also loved him as the uncle she never had.
I accepted his offer and we went to a Chili's nearby. We were talking as we waited for our food, when my phone rang.
"Oh, it's mom. Excuse me for two hours" I said, and Santiago laughed as he nodded.
I slide my finger to answer the call.
"Hi, mom."
"Hey, honey, how are you?"
"I'm great, how are you guys?" I asked about dad and the rest of my family.
"We're good. Were you doing anything?"
"I'm here at Chili's, with Santi and Bell."
"Oh, that's good, getting a break from work... This won't take long, sorry. I just wanted to know if you're coming next weekend."
Next weekend was my favorite cousin's wedding. She lived in Colombia, just like the rest of my family.
"I want to go, mom. But you know... money's an issue."
"Oh, honey, I'll just talk to Paula, I'm sure she won't mind sending you a ticket..."
"Mom" I nagged. "It's not her place to send a ticket."
"Don't be ridiculous, I'm sure she'd prefer it rather than not having you here. Plus, her fiancée has a hell ton of cash..."
"Mom!" I said, laughing.
"Don't worry about a thing, baby, I'll talk to her. You do have where to leave Bell, right?"
"I could leave her with Mica... but she's in Mexico right now, and I don't know when she's coming back."
I looked at Santiago, who was looking at me, confused.
"I mean, yes! I do have where to leave her."
"Great, then I'll talk to her and let you know what she says. Take care, Em."
"Okay, mom, love you."
"Love you too. Bye, bye."
I hung up the phone and Santi looked at me.
"So... I'm your daughter's babysitter now?" he asked, with a frown that instantly changed to laughter.
