When we stepped outside, Margie grabbed my hand, and we walked down the sidewalk toward the sandwich shop.
“How far is the walk?” Margie asked.
“Not very far. It’s actually just around this corner.”
Margie smiled. “I like spending the day with you, Anna.”
“I like it too, Margie,” I said.
We got to Sunshine’s, and when we walked inside, my mom was standing at a table. She waved at us, and we headed over to them.
“Where’s Justin?” she asked as she gave me a hug.
“He had to stay and learn some new moves,” I said.
“Well, you’ll have to take something to him afterward.” She bent down and gave an anxious Margie a big hug.
“That’s my plan,” I said as Margie scooted into the booth. I scooted in after her.
“Hello, Margie. How are you today?” my dad asked.
“I’m good,” she said, and after a pause, she added, “How are you?”
Both of my parents laughed. “I’m wonderful,” my dad said smiled.
A waiter approached our table. “What drinks can I bring out for you?” he asked me. My parents both already had glasses in front of them. My father I assumed had tea and my mother a diet soda of sorts.
“I’ll have a Pepsi,” I said, turning to Margie. “What do you want to drink?”
“Do they have chocolate milk?” she asked me instead of the waiter.
The waiter nodded his head.
“She’ll have a chocolate milk then.”
He wrote it down and then said, “Okay, I’ll have that right out.”
We looked over the menu, and when the waiter brought us our drinks, we ordered our food.
“What’s new with you guys?” my mom asked.
“Anna’s my new mommy!” Margie said suddenly.
We all laughed. It felt good that she was saying it, and I wished it was true. I loved both Justin and Margie, and I couldn’t picture my life without them now. Still, I wondered how Justin would feel about Margie’s proclamation.
My mom looked at me as if expecting me to announce that we were engaged. I shook my head. “No, it’s not like that. She’s just playing pretend,” I said.
“No, I’m not. You said you’d always be here for me to talk to and play with. That’s what I see the other mommies at the park do,” she said.
It made me feel a little sad. She was noticing all the other kids with their moms, and she didn’t have one. I didn’t want to make her upset, but I also didn’t want to get her hopes up and tell her that I was going to be her mom.
My mom gave her a sympathetic smile and then changed the subject. I think it distracted Margie enough.
Our food arrived within twenty minutes. By then, Margie was practically drooling. I loved this time we were spending together, alone, with my parents. It made me feel like we could possibly be a real family one day.
“How’s your sandwich?” my mom asked Margie after she took her first bite.
“It’s really yummy,” she said. Then she took another bite and made an exaggerated “mmm” noise.