Quixotic (2)

30

"With her, I liked the man I saw in the mirror," A tear rolled down her features as she sat tucked in her bed. Mila rested beneath her arm, cuddled under the large comforter.

"Is he talking about you?" Mila asked, and Aria turned off the television.

"No, bug," Aria told her with a heavy heart, "He is talking about someone else."

"Can I sleep in here tonight?" Mila asked her with a smile, and Aria didn't put up a fight. They cuddled in the bed together. Mila tugged at the covers, pulling them to her side of the bed until Aria was left with a thin sheet over her body.

She couldn't sleep. She couldn't tell if it was an apology, or a general statement. She stood, sliding her feet into a pair of white polar bear slippers before moving toward the living room. She pulled a blanket over her shoulders and turned on the television. The interview was replaying on almost every channel. Everyone wanted to know what was happening to the Impractical Jokers.

It was her fault. She stepped over the line. He was right, Eliza was not her daughter. Replaying the interview on her television at four in the morning, his voice was calming. 

"With her, I liked the man I saw in the mirror." Each time she watched the interview, she muted the television after that phrase. He kept talking, but she was afraid to hear what he had to say to her.

"Nanny?" She heard a small voice, and turned to see Mila wrapped in the comforter from her bed. It trailed behind her like a long cape, "Why aren't you sleeping?"

"Why are you awake, bug?" Aria asked, pulling the young child and the massive comforter into her lap.

"I didn't know where you went," Mila told her as she shifted to make herself comfortable, "I got scared."

"I'm not going anywhere," Aria told her, kissing the top of her head, "I couldn't sleep."

"Why?" Aria looked to the muted television, and Mila followed her glance, "Do you miss Mr. Brian?"

"Yeah, Mil, I do."

"Then, why'd we leave New York?" Mila asked, wanting to know the answer.

"We had to," Aria told her, trying to sound cheerful, "We couldn't miss Christmas with Maw and Paw."

"Yeah, I guess," Mila shrugged, and her eyes fell to look at her hands.

"What do you think?" Aria asked her, shifting to lay on the couch beside the child, "What do you think I should do?"

"About what?" The child asked with a yawn.

"About Mr. Brian," Aria answered.

"I think you like him," Mila said with a cheesy grin.

"You're not wrong," The child giggled. Aria kissed her forehead, "I like him a lot."

"I think he likes you too," Mila said with a smile.

"Do you?" The child nodded.

"Let's get to sleep," Aria told her as they rested on the couch, saying, "We don't want to be cranky for the start of the New Year."

-

"Mom, please," Aria laughed as her mother crowded the kitchen of the small apartment, "I can do this alone!"

"I want to help," The woman called with a smile as she stirred the pot of boiling noodles, "It's okay to ask for help sometimes, sweetheart."

"I know, but I don't want overcooked noodles in the spaghetti," Aria told her, turning the fire off on the stove, "Go sit with dad and Mila."