It’s a Tuesday when Lucia calls the first time. Beatrice is leaving her apartment for a run when her phone rings, interrupting her favorite part of the song she’s listening to on her headphones. There’s no caller ID, but Beatrice recognizes the number, so she answers.
“Hello, this is Beatrice.” She’s formal. Lucia likes to try to blur the line between a professional relationship and a friendly one.
“Hey, Bea - ”
“Beatrice.” She corrects, dropping to her knee to retie her laces.
“Yeah, Beatrice.” Lucia’s mocking her, Beatrice isn’t stupid, but she lets it go.
“Is there a reason you’re calling?” Beatrice asks after Lucia goes silent.
“Right! Yes! Carlos misses you, I was wondering if we could do lunch sometime this week so he could see you?” Carlos. Beatrice loves Carlos. He’s fun, witty and charismatic and kind. He’s always been one of her favorite kids she’s worked with. Lucia, however, is one of Beatrice’s least preferred parents.
“I don’t know if you remember, but I’m in - ”
“In the city. Yes, I remember. Carlos and I just moved here too! Isn’t that exciting?” No. Beatrice thinks. Exciting is not a word I would use. Lucia drops her voice, nearly to a whisper. “He’s having a hard time making friends at his new school, I think seeing a friendly face would make him feel better about the move.”
Beatrice sighs, checks the time on her watch and realizes she’s spent half of her allotted running time on the phone with Lucia.
“I can’t do lunch, but I can do an early dinner. Maybe Thursday? I’ll have to - ”
“Yes, perfect! That works!” She hangs up before Beatrice can tell her she will be bringing Diana. She could send her a message, but that would mean Lucia would message her back and Beatrice doesn’t want to speak to her anymore than necessary.
Beatrice tells Ava about it that evening, between Diana’s snack and her bath while Ava’s scrambling about looking for the keys Diana hid.
“Who is this again?” Ava looks up from digging through the couch cushions, cheeks flushed and hair tousled.
“It’s a kid I used to work with before I started uni. Him and his mum.” Diana giggles around her fingers when Ava looks under the couch, Beatrice bouncing her and asking where the keys are quietly. Ava’s asked her three times, Diana isn’t answering either of them. “It’s okay if you don’t want - ”
“No, it’s fine! It sounds fun, just - make her eat something other than chicken strips, please? You always say you will then you cave when she pouts. She needs to try new foods.” Ava looks under the coffee table and through Diana’s toy bin. She’s going to be late if she doesn’t find the keys soon.
“Okay. I won’t have her out late, we’ll be back before the sun goes down. Won’t we?” Beatrice tickles Diana who squeals and pushes away, nearly toppling out of her arms. Beatrice grabs her leg to keep from falling and her shoe falls off, jingling when it hits the ground. Diana glances between the fallen shoe and Ava for a moment before she starts giggling maniacally.
“They were in your shoes? Are you serious? Diana, you little…” Ava picks the keys out of the baby shoe, holds Diana’s face between her hands and sighs fondly, shaking her head. “You little punk.” Ava laughs and kisses both of her cheeks. “I love you. Be good, yeah?”
Diana smiles and wipes her wet hand down Ava’s cheek. Ava grimaces and rubs her cheek against Diana’s sleeve, earning a full body laugh and a gleeful wiggle. Ava presses a soft kiss against Beatrice’s cheek before she’s gone.
Beatrice almost considers going after her, almost considers asking her to say no, almost considers telling her she doesn’t want to go. But she doesn’t.
She doesn’t.
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