Make Me Yours

The female nods and leaves the room.

“Daddy and I had pigs in blankets for lunch!” Lillie announces proudly as she pushes the sweet potato mash around her plate.

Eleanor’s eyes go wide. “Who in the world gave you that? Remington?”

He starts to answer, but Lillie cuts him off. “Ruby made them, and I helped! Ruby’s not like Tiana. She can’t cook everything in New Orleans.”

My lips press together, and I’m not sure if I want to laugh or crawl under the table.

Eleanor puts her fork beside her plate and glares at me. “You might just as well have fed her dirt. Do you know how many chemicals… how much sodium is in a hot dog?”

“Ruby said they were cocktail weenies.” Lillie starts to giggle, stacking her sweet potatoes higher on her plate. “She said weenie.”

“Lillian, stop playing with your food. It’s bad manners.” Elea

nor clears her throat and turns to me. “Perhaps we should sit down and create a menu for lunches each week.”

Remi puts his fork beside his plate. “It was a delicious lunch, complete with baby carrots—”

“And ranch dressing!” Lillie cries.

Eleanor puts her hand to her chest as if she’ll faint.

My lips press into a frown, and I push my own sweet potatoes around. Ma was pretty much Suzy Homemaker when I was growing up, but all I know how to make is spicy dumplings and kimchee. Drew’s house was where I got American food, and we ate all the things I know how to prepare… none of which are free-range or organically grown.

“I appreciate your feelings about a healthy diet, Eleanor,” Remi continues. “I also appreciate Ruby’s effort preparing a fun lunch for Lillie, even if it falls outside your nutritional norms.”

He’s kind of awesome sticking up for me, and I give him a grateful smile.

“Remington, you can’t let her eat that trash. Too much sodium is bad for her heart, juvenile diabetes is at an all-time high, obesity is—”

“We can talk about it later.”

Looking down at the fancy meal before us, I guess pop tarts are off the list. I’ll have to do some research on healthy eating and step up my game a little bit, maybe pull Ma into the mix. I don’t want to make Lillie unhealthy.

Finally we’re done, and I lead my little charge up two flights of stairs to her elaborate bedroom. It’s like a room in a palace with an ornate headboard and thick, fluffy duvets and loads of pillows.

She’s bathed and dressed in her Elsa nightgown, searching for a book to read as I pick up her clothes and put them on hangers.

“You’re old enough to hang your own clothes now.” My tone is gentle, and I pull the sleeves of her coat out of the body. It’s when I notice a crinkly ball in the pocket.

Reaching inside, I pull out three packets of ketchup. The kind that comes from fast-food restaurants. “What’s this? Where did you get these?”

The minute she sees me, her face flushes with shame. She runs to where I’m standing and takes them from me. “Don’t tell Gigi. She’ll never let me get a puppy.”

My mouth drops open, and I watch as she reaches under her bed for a plastic, heart-shaped box. It looks like the one the evil queen gave the huntsman for Snow White’s heart, and I pause for a moment to consider just how gruesome that storyline is for children.

She opens it, and it’s stuffed with ketchup and mustard packets. I’m completely bewildered by all this new information. A puppy? And what the hell is up with all the condiments?

“Where did you get all of these?” I rake my finger through the little foil pouches.

She shrugs, taking one out and squishing it in her hand. “Feel it.” We sit together, and I give one a squish. She squishes hers back and forth in her little fingers, whispering, “Gigi says I can’t have them.”

Pressing my lips together, I think about what a little scientist she is. Or a little weirdo. “You need to mind your Gigi.” Her brow falls, and I lean closer. “But I’ll let you keep them. Don’t get them in your bed. They might pop, and that would make a huge mess. We’d probably have to get a whole new bed.”

She jumps forward, throwing her arms around my neck. “I love you, Ruby. You’re my best friend.”

It pretty much seals the deal. “I love you, too. Now put these up and get in the bed.”