It’s now Saturday. After we said goodbye on Thursday’s Poker night, Max advised the girls we were invited to next week’s Poker night, too. I guess they liked having us around.
We didn’t see each other on Friday because we were all busy. And today I’m doing something I haven’t done in two years.
I’m taking the day off.
I’ve left Nat in charge of the store. When I told her I wasn’t working she looked at me like I must be seriously ill but after I told her what I was going to do today she thought it was an awesome idea.
Today, I’m very underdressed and nervous about seeing Nik in this state. I walk out of Safira and make my way over to The White Rabbit.
I arrive on the second floor and walk down to the ‘chill out’ room. There, by her lonesome, is Ceecee. She hasn’t seen me yet and I smile at the back of her head. I don’t know how today will turn out, I could be making a huge mistake but I won’t know unless I take the chance.
I creep over to her and cover her eyes, her body stiffens. I say, “Guess who, honey bear?”
She giggles and cheers, “Tina!”
I chuckle and walk around her, “You’d be right my dear! Get your things, we’re leaving. ”
Ceecee looks so confused that I giggle and tease, “Well, c’mon slowpoke, we’re going to be late!”
She whispers, “Where are we going?”
I kneel in front of her wheelchair and stroke her pretty auburn hair. I tell her, “We’ve got a big day of deluxe princess treatments to get through. ” I use my best bored tone and straighten my spine. “I know it’ll be difficult to get through but, hey, when you’re a princess you have to do all the things princesses do, right?”
Her face holds a look of shock but she whispers, “Right. ”
Then she beams and fast as lightning is out the door yelling, “Daddy!”
I follow her out. Max is out of the conference room in a flash, “What is it, baby?” He sounds alarmed and kneels in front of her with his hands on her shoulders. When he sees her smiling face he relaxes slightly. “What the heck, Ceecee? You scared the hell outta me. ”
Ceecee beams, “Tina’s taking me for a deluxe princess treatment! Can I go? Please, daddy, please, please, pleeease!” She holds her hands together in front of her chest just under her chin like she’s praying.
Max finally notices me and asks, “Hey T, what’s this all about?” He smiles at me.
I use a matter of fact tone, “Well, as princesses, we need to do what princesses do. We need facials, manicures, pedicures, we need to get our hair done and finish with a massage. We’ll be gone most of the day. ”
I hear someone clear their throat and Nik is standing in the doorway of the conference room. His eyes are on me and dancing. “Tina, you look beautiful. ” I look down at myself. My sweatpants are not beautiful; they are tatty, huge and comfortable. I look up at him and state, “You need your eyes checked, Niki. ”
He laughs and says, “So, where are you taking my Cricket for said princess treatment?”
I give Max a card of the salon down the street and say, “I called and booked us in this morning. We’ll be a few hours. I hope Ceecee isn’t busy. ” I give Max a meaningful look. I know she was going to be bored all day and really want him to let her come with me.
His eyes crinkle, he know what I’m doing. He responds, “No, Ceecee isn’t busy. If she wants to go with you she can…”
Ceecee puts her little hands in the air and shouts, “YIPPEE!”
“…As long as you take my credit card and pay for the both of you with it. ”
My face falls and I glower at him. He smiles big at me. He knows I hate this.
He pulls out his wallet, takes out a black shiny credit card and says, “The limit is enough to buy a new car. ”
I snatch it out of his hand. I grit my teeth together and answer with a hard, “Fine. ”
There is no way in hell I’ll use that card.
Max turns to his beautiful daughter and whispers loudly enough for us all to hear, “You tell me if Tina doesn’t use that. Okay, honey?”
Uh, Max! You suck!