No Shame (Book 2 - No Regrets)

Chapter Twenty-One - Fool's Box

KATIE'S POV

"I have fruit snacks, granola bars, and popcorn in the pantry. The fridge is stocked with juice boxes and there are two full gallons of milk." Aria says showing me around her kitchen, even though I have been over to the apartment a handful of times. "There are pull-ups in guest bedroom, I set them in the pack-n-play, and there is are extra in the closet in case you need any more." She leading me from the kitchen into the guest bedroom.

The guest bedroom is a small room with a twin bed pushed against the wall with the trundle pulled out for Mollie to sleep on. On the opposite side of the wall is the pack-n-play with a tall stack of pull-ups. "I rented some kid movies and shows from the library, they're on the tv-stand in the living room." Aria leads me back into the kitchen and out to the living room, where Mollie is on the floor coloring in her coloring book. "The child-safety latch is on the glass sliding door leading out to the balcony, do you know how to work it so she can go out there to play with chalk and bubbles if she wants?" she asks.

I nod my head. "The balcony also has safety netting." Aria adds. She pauses for a moment thinking. "I plan to be back way before dinner time, but if I am running late or you two get hungry, I have boxes of Easy Mac or you two can order a pizza, I can give you some money." Aria goes over to where her purse is set at the kitchen table.

"Aria." I say stopping her. "It's okay. Mollie and I will be fine. In fact, we'll be great. Go, take your time, and don't worry about a thing." I say reassuring her.

Aria sighs and gives me a grateful smile, "Thank you again, Katie. I feel so bad for having to ask you to come, but I had a really important thing today. I couldn't move it." She says.

"It's no problem." I assure her.

Aria's phone buzzes in her hand, she checks the screen. "Okay, that's my cue to go." She says. She looks at me, "Make yourself at home, feel free to invite a friend or two over after Mollie is down for her nap, I did steal part your weekend after all." Aria says as she grabs her purse. She mumbles a list of things she needs to grab under her breath as she collects her wallet and sunglasses. She walks into the living room, she crouches down in front of Mollie. "Mollie, be good for Aunt Katie. Aunt Aria will be right back, as soon as she can. Give me a hug and kiss goodbye."

Mollie sets down her crayons and stands up. She wraps her arms around Aria and gives her a quick kiss before returning to her coloring book. Aria rises up, she thanks me again for coming over and then races out the door.

I walk over and sit down on the floor next to Mollie. "Oh Mollie, I love your coloring." I say in a cheery voice. "It is so pretty!"

Mollie smiles proudly, "Look I used red!"

"You did." I say clapping my hands. I point to the part of the picture she has colored blue. "What's that color?" I ask.

"Blue!" Mollie declares confidently.

"Very good." I praise.

"An-and-and that's yellow." Mollie says pointing to a yellow colored dot. "And that's green. And purple." She points at other parts of the drawing.

I nod, "Excellent." I praise. "How about we take a photo and send it to your mommy and daddy?" I ask.

"Yes. Yes." Mollie asks putting on the goofiest forced smile that shows all her teeth. I laugh as I take the photo. Mollie crawls over and sits on my lap to watch as I text the photo to Dominick and Tyde.

Mollie stares at my phone screen until the screen dims and then turns off. In the reflection, I can see Mollie's pouty face. "I'm sorry Mollie, but it can take time to get a reply." I explain. "That's why we have to be patient."