Such a Fun Age(42)

“Nah, it’s cool. It’s only two days,” Emira said. She turned back to Briar and said, “I’m not gonna see you for a little bit, B.”

Briar’s top teeth popped out in response. “No,” she disagreed. “No, you see me.”

“So I usually see you three times a week?” Emira explained. She held up three fingers and Briar grabbed onto them. “But this week is Thanksgiving so I’ll only see you two.”

When Emira put her ring finger down, Briar looked offended. “Nuh-uh.” Briar shook her head. “No, you see me three.”

“But then I’m gonna see you every day next week. Isn’t that cool?”

“You’re really saving me next week,” Alix said. She opened the refrigerator door and the quickness of it made a loud suck of air. “Emira, I hate to say it”—she winced—“but you should really check on the status of your flight tonight.”

“Really?”

“Just to be safe.” Alix started moving containers and plates around in the refrigerator. “You can use the computer there.”

Was this cruel? Trying to win a best supporting Oscar as she waited for Emira to learn her flight was canceled? Who cared, she’d make up for it anyway. The realization that Emira could have a seat at their Thanksgiving table made Alix practically high. Suddenly, the fourth Thursday in November wasn’t just a holiday. It was four (or hopefully five or six) hours to finally make Emira family. It was a night to say through Malbecs and yams and candlelight and pie that Alix hadn’t forgotten about that night at Market Depot. That she thought about it every day, multiple times. That she’d never go to that grocery store again, even if it was an emergency, even if it was snowing the way it was now, even if Emira wasn’t her sitter. Emira moved to the computer and clicked and clicked as Alix prayed that Zara didn’t have family in Philadelphia.

Emira put her elbows on top of the desk, touched the sides of her face, and said, “Well, shoot.”

“Oh noooo,” Alix said. She closed the refrigerator door. She couldn’t overdo it, but she had to appear like this was in fact a tragedy. “Emira, my heart is breaking for you, I’m so sorry. I feel like I jinxed it.”

Emira kept staring at the screen. She bit her bottom lip and took a deep breath as Briar crawled into a nearby chair. “No, sorry. Is it okay if I call my mom real quick? They bought my ticket so they might know about a later flight.”

“Absolutely. Briar, get down.”

Briar said, “Mama, you can’t touch Mira’s water,” and as Alix set her on the ground, she said, “Okay, I won’t. Thank you for telling me.”

By the time Emira came back upstairs, Alix had turned music on low. Paula Cole played softly as Briar explained that even a snowman needs a nap sometimes. Alix picked up Catherine, who snuggled tightly into her chest. Emira sat down at the windowsill.

“Looks like I’m the last to know,” she said. “The earliest flight I can get is tomorrow night, which would make the trip pointless.”

“I’m so sorry, Emira.” Alix turned Catherine around, the back of her head leaning into Alix’s chest. Briar walked to Emira and began tapping on her knees. “Maybe it’s better to find out now than at the airport?”

“Yeah, I went home last summer so it’s okay. And there’s nothing I can do, I guess.”

“Emira.” While she rocked her second daughter in front of her stomach, Alix walked over to her sitter at the windowsill. “I know it’s not your first choice,” she said, “but we would absolutely love if you spent Thanksgiving with us.”

“Ohhh, wow, no no.” Emira shook her head.

“Okay, ’cause Mira?” Briar interrupted. “I . . . I’m your first choice.” Alix thought, Yes, Bri, good girl.

Emira laughed. “Well, I can’t really argue with that,” she said. She reached forward to pick up Briar from underneath her armpits and turned her around to sit her on her thighs. “That’s extremely nice, but I’ll be okay.”

“Emira.” Alix kept on bouncing, hoping it gave some coolness to her words, which she knew she had to deliver like a decent option rather than a desperate plea. “I’m telling you that the grocery stores are nuts. And I’ve been in my twenties and I’ve done Chinese takeout for Thanksgiving before, and it never made me happy. It made me really depressed and I swear it also made my face break out.” It was still a thousand times better than spending the day with her own parents in a smelly nursing home, but that wasn’t the point. “My three best girlfriends from New York are coming in. We are going to have way too much food, and we’d love to have you.”

Briar reached up with six fingers and said, “How many is dis?”

Emira touched her hand and said, “That’s six. Mrs. Chamberlain, I really appreciate it. But it actually looks like my boyfriend will be stuck here with me.” She glanced at her cell phone. “He was supposed to meet his family in Florida but his flight got canceled too.”

This was even better.

“We’d love to have him,” Alix said. “Bring your boyfriend. Four o’clock on Thursday, and you won’t be here as a sitter. No diaper changing or anything. You guys will just be here as guests.”