RIYA
"Mommy?" Tiana calls from the living room.
"In the kitchen!"
A moment later, she walks in with a wide smile.
"What are you doing in here?"
"Just doing the dishes and, you know, making lunch."
"You don't like doing the dishes."
"I know, baby. I wish the dang things would do themselves." I spare her a wolfish smile as I squat before her. "How was school?"
She wraps her little arms around my neck and when I lift her into my arms, she lets out an exaggerated sigh.
"Same old."
"Yeah? Did you have fun?"
"I did, until Levi teased me again."
"What did he say?"
"That my Dad hardly ever shows up at school unlike his."
I smile tightly despite the sudden tightening at the pit of my stomach.
"What did you tell him?"
"That his Mom doesn't show up at school like mine does, and th
