Protected

Stress Eating

Helping Zay and Ava didn't take too long. Zay could tie his own tie, so I just helped him with his hair gel. I helped Ava into her poofy flowered dress, and she insisted on lip gloss, so I had to help her with that.

Pretty soon, it was twelve-thirty, and I went back to Riley's room to get her lunch.

"Do you want to eat downstairs or here?" I asked, sitting down on the bed next to her.

'Up here, I think," she said. I nodded.

"What do you want?" I asked.

Riley shrugged, "What do we have?"

I huffed, "Sandwiches, leftover pasta, ramen noodles, fried chicken..." I trailed off, "You get the idea."

She laughed and nodded, "Ramen noodles sound fine."

"Cool. I'll be back in ten," I hopped off the bed and hurried downstairs. As fast as I could, I boiled the noodles and put them into a bowl. I put them in a silver platter, along with a Kool-Aid, one of the Dole Fruit Cups Riley likes so much, and a slice of watermelon. I was proud of the lunch I had made in such a short time.

Lucas came down the stairs, "You need help?" he asked.

"I just finished. But, could you get me one of the big bath towels... and one of the king sheets from the closet?" I asked. I didn't want Riley to get food on her dress.

He nodded and went to get the towel and sheet, while I put a napkin, a knife, and a spoon on the platter. I balanced it in two hands and went up the stairs. Lucas caught up to me halfway with the linens in his hands.

"Come on," I said, "She's in her room."

We went up the stairs to Riley's room, where she was sitting on the bed. I set the platter down on the table in the corner, then helped Riley tuck and tie and maneuver the sheet and the towel so that every inch of her dress was covered. No matter what she spilled, it wouldn't touch her dress.

She ate gratefully, eating almost all of the Ramen Noodles within thirty seconds. She loudly slurped the watermelon. Lucas raised his eyebrows, but didn't say anything.

"She stress-eats," I said to him out of the corner of my mouth, so Riley wouldn't hear. He nodded slightly, but otherwise didn't give any other sign of hearing me.

Riley devoured everything, then washed her hands and face in the bathroom. We untied the sheet and towel, and I carefully examined every inch of the dress to make sure there were no stains. I was almost positive, but I had to be thorough.

"Squeaky clean," I said, satisfied.

"Hey, I should probably get back to Farkle," Lucas said. I nodded, and he kissed me quickly before walking out. But, before he left, he turned to Riley.

"You really do look beautiful," he said, then he left. Riley smiled, and I cleared her dishes for her. As I was rinsing the platter, there was a knock on the door.

I ran over and threw it open.

"Mom! Topanga! Mrs. Minkus!"