Best of Women

Pippa

Just as Lin had predicted, Eva was planning on going straight to the gym after school the next day. I met the kids after school, ready to take Mia and Rio.

"Eva, you need to head home," I told her. "Remember what your dad said."

"But I'm fine now," she told me, pointing at her foot. To demonstrate, she did a couple dance moves, but I didn't miss the tenseness on her face.

"Eva, no," I told her. "You need to take a rest. One day won't hurt."

"Are you kidding me?" she gaped. "One day is everything. It's the difference between medaling or not."

Wow, she was dramatic.

"Eva, don't make this difficult," I told her, pressing my fingers to the bridge of my nose. "Just go home and rest up. Please."

"You're not my mom," she said coldly, crossing her arms.

I scoffed and looked up for a moment. "I know that, Eva, but we both heard your father loud and clear. He told you to take the day off. If you're not gonna listen to me I'll have to call him and things aren't gonna turn out well for you."

She rolled her eyes, which really irked me. "I'll call him," she decided. Eva pulled out her cell phone, apparently thinking she could outwit me and talk her way out of the one-day ban. She stuck her finger in her other ear and turned away as she called him.

"Dad, my ankle's fine now," she told him. "Uh-huh. Yes, I've been taking it easy. No, I don't think so. Why not? Dad! But why??"

She was silent for a few moments as he talked. She turned and glared at me as she ended the call. Eva tucked the phone into her pocket and crossed her arms.

"What did he say?" I asked her.

"To go home," she grumbled.

I nodded. "That's what I thought. Rio, would you like to go home with Eva, or come with me to the gym?"

"I'll go home," he said. Eva gave me another glare as she and Rio went the other direction.

"She's so dramatic," Mia said as we went the other way.

"Has she always been like that?" I asked.

"Pretty much," Mia said. "Total drama queen."

I worked on my laptop while Mia practiced. She had a solid session and we headed home together. Lin was busy cooking dinner and Rio was assisting. Eva, apparently was in her room sulking. I gave Lin a quick kiss.

"Sorry about Eva," he told me, stirring the pot of chili he was making. I sank into his side, and he wrapped an arm around me.

"'Sokay," I told him.

"No, it's not," he said. "She shouldn't be trying to take advantage of you like that."

"She's a very stubborn child," I said, grabbing the spoon from the holder. I dipped it into the chili and tasted it. "Delicious."

"Good," he said, kissing my head. "Why don't you go relax?"

I didn't argue, kicking my shoes off. I laid down on the couch and caught the end of the news.

At dinner, Eva was glaring at me from across the table. Everyone else was conversing about their days, friendly and pleasant. Finally, I'd had about enough of being glared at.

"Eva, is there a problem?" I called her out, looking over at her. She glared at me, then looked at her dad. Lin shot her a warning look.

"No," she said quietly.