Yesterday's Tomorrow

Chapter Two

"How many people are gonna be there?" Vivianne asked.

"Well, I don't know. It's your daddy so probably half of Manhattan," I said, helping her pull the dress she'd picked out over her head.

"That's not true!" she laughed, her head popping free from the dress. I took her face in my hands.

"Oh honey, I wish I was kidding," I laughed, squishing her cheeks slightly. She laughed, "Go on and brush your hair and I'll put it up when you're done," she trotted off toward the bathroom. I pushed myself up from the ground and went back to my room. The dress I'd picked out, lay on the bed where I'd left it. I quickly shimmied into the dress. It was a deep red velvet with a swooping neckline from the one shoulder strap. It had an intricate knot on the side above my hip before cascading down to my knees with a slit up one side to my mid-thigh. I walked into the bathroom, putting make-up quickly.

"Mommy!" Vivianne called from the hallway.

"In here Viv," I called back. She skipped into the bathroom, her hands swaying her dress with her motion. When she passed through the door, I was finishing my hair.

"We match!" she exclaimed excitedly, skipping up next to me and putting her flowy red dress next to mine. I laughed.

"We do!" I said. I lifted her up and she pushed off the ground. I sat her on the counter next to the sink, "So, how do you want your hair done?" I asked. As she thought about it, she kicked her white sandaled feet back and forth.

"Can you do that flower crown you did for me last time?" she asked.

"I can do that," I said. I opened the drawer and pulled out the white flower crown that Vivianne loved. Her naturally wavy hair fell around her face perfectly. I put the crown on her head and wove some of her hair into the sides of the crown. I found some bobby pins and secured the crown in place. She wrenched around to see the hairstyle.

"I look like a princess!" she said. I laughed and helped her down from the counter. She started pulling my hand along after her as she skipped toward the door.

"Wait, honey, I need my shoes," I laughed, pulling her to a stop. I sat down on the end of the bed and pulled on my Louboutins. Vivianne trotted over to me and grabbed my hand again. We walked toward the elevator and took it down to the party deck. Vivianne skipped ahead, pulling me along behind her as she led me through the room and down the stairs. Through the crowd of people that had come for Tony's birthday, we spotted him near the center where the couches were set up in a rectangle. Vivianne jumped up and down and pulled me along behind her faster. I laughed as she pulled her hand from mine and ran.

"Daddy! Daddy!" Vivianne shouted as she pushed her way through the crowd, letting go of my hand and ducking through legs as only a child can. Tony instinctively turned toward her when he heard her. He smiled and caught her as she reached him and threw her hands in the air. He laughed and hoisted her up.

"Where's mamma?" he asked. She pointed over at me and he followed her finger with his eyes. I reached him as they both looked up at me. His free hand wrapped around my hip and he kissed my cheek. "Look at how beautiful my girls are," He muttered, kissing my hair.

"Gross!" Vivianne squealed. Tony looked over at her and laughed. He pinched her side causing her to howl with laughter.

"Do you want anything to drink, birthday boy?" I asked.

"Yes. Vivianne, go with mamma. I have to talk to someone but I will meet you both by the bar very soon," he said. He kissed Vivianne on the cheek a few times. She giggled, pushing her hands into his face. She hopped down to the ground and wrapped her arms around my leg. Tony shot me a quick look before turning and disappearing in the crowd.