I can’t wait to see her. Riker has a press conference later in the day as a couple, but I really want to spend some time with Nia. I’m practically bouncing in the car. The ache for her in my heart only grows with each mile we get closer to her. I don’t know how to describe it, but I feel a tug back towards her whenever I’m far away. And I have been far away too long.
I practically run to the door when I get home. Everything else fades away, and my vision tunnels looking for Nia. I worry for a moment, thinking I’ll have to search room to room, making me wait even longer to see her. But, as I walk in, she comes running in from the other room with a grin plastered across her beautiful face. Her babysitter follows gives me a little wave from behind Nia. I hear that magic word.
“Mommy!” She exclaims.
We both rush towards each other, and I kneel down to meet the hug she’s opening her arms for. I squeeze her tightly to me and she squeezes back. I bury my face in her beautiful curly hair. Her hair smells like coconut. But, more importantly, she smells like home. Everything else melts away as my heart centers again. Riker, Manhattan… as nice as it all was, it’s now a distant memory.
“Nia, I missed you so much!” I say to her, trying to express in words how much my heart longed to be here. I never want her to think that she isn’t my top priority.
“I missed you too, mommy,” she says. I briefly wonder how much time I have for moments like this. Soon enough, she’ll be a teenager, and she’ll become too cool to hang out with mom. I push the thought away.
I hold the hug for a moment longer, savoring the feeling. I pull away and smile.
“Now, I think it’s time to relax,” I tell Nia with a laugh. I nod to the babysitter. “Please, feel free to take a break. I hope this one didn’t give you too much trouble!”
“You know she doesn’t, Jane. Nia’s a good kid,” she says with a laugh. She gives us another wave before disappearing into the other room.
Nia smiles up at me, and my heart melts. “So much happened while you were gone, mommy!” She exclaims. She drags me over to her dolls and gives me the latest rundown on their epic adventures.
When I’m caught up on all the latest aspects of their romances and courtroom drama (I think for a moment that my situation with Riker could be one of these stories with her dolls), I take one and begin to play out the next chapter. I try to be as involved as I can with Nia. She doesn’t have any brothers or sisters, so I know I’m it as far as playmates often go. She has her little friends, but at home, the buck stops with me.
I get up to get a glass of water, and I pass by my discarded purse on the way to the kitchen. I hear a buzz from inside the bag. Shit. I rush over and dig my phone out of my purse. I have plenty of missed calls from Riker. How could I have forgotten? I pull up my messages and start to draft a response apologizing for being away from my phone. Fake marriage or not, that was unprofessional. But I can’t regret the time I spent with Nia.
Before I can finish the message, however, there’s a knock on the door. My heart flutters. I walk over and open the door, feeling a bit floaty as I do so. I see Riker. My head starts to spin. This wasn’t supposed to happen like this. My personal and work life have collided in ways I could have never expected. They don’t teach you how to tell your daughter about your fake marriage to your client in law school.
“Riker!” I exclaim, unable to form many other words.
“Jane,” he says with a smile. “Sorry to bother you at home. You weren’t answering your phone, and you left so suddenly.”
“I’m sorry. I was with Nia.”
“Yeah, of course. I understand. I just wanted to make sure everything was alright. I can’t have my fiancée running away from me too soon.” He laughs.
I start to feel better about this whole thing. He understands, and we both know where we stand. I know she’s just a little girl, but maybe we can make this work. In spite of myself, I’m feeling hopeful about this situation.
“Would you like to come in?” I ask. He looks surprised at the offer.
“Sure. Of course.”
I step to the side, and he enters my home. It isn’t as fancy or extravagant as what he’s used to, I’m sure. But still, I see a smile crawl across his face. He likes it! I smile, too, and my confidence in the situation grows.
“Follow me,” I say.
I lead him into the room where Nia is continuing to play with her dolls. I want to grab his hand and interlace his fingers with mine, but I tell myself that this isn’t the time.
Nia looks up and looks back and forth between Riker and me. She’s confused, but she gives him her patented Nia charm and smiles.
“Hi!” She says brightly. “I’m Nia.”
Introducing herself first. Nice move. I’m proud, but where did this kid come from? I think I was in my 20s when I reached that sort of confidence.
“Hi, Nia,” he responds. “I’m Riker.” He holds out his hand for her to shake.
Nia looks incredibly pleased to be treated like an adult.
