「Five years later.」
I sat in my ex's consultation room with my daughter.
My ex: "What's the problem?"
I was so nervous I stammered, "An upset stomach. She ate too much."
My jerk of an ex chuckled. "Heh. Just as gluttonous as you."
"..."
'As if you know everything.'
1
It was a weekend.
I used the pretense of taste-testing new desserts to lure my bestie, Elise Duval, into working for free at my shop.
And, of course, to help me with the kid.
Once Elise arrived, I confidently handed over the shop's operations to her.
Then I hid away in the back kitchen to work on developing a new cake recipe.
As I came out carrying a freshly baked avocado cheesecake, I spotted my daughter huddled secretively next to Elise.
They both glanced back, looking as guilty as sin, and jumped when they saw me standing in the doorway to the back.
My daughter's mouth was smeared with cream. It was clear Elise had let her sneak a treat while I was away.
"Elise Duval! How many times have I told you? Don't do this behind my back!"
Seeing that the shop was empty, I couldn't contain my anger. "Melanie Sutton! Have you forgotten the last time you ate too much and ended up in the hospital with a stomachache?"
Elise immediately flashed an appeasing smile. She gestured with her hands, fanning the air in my direction as if to cool me down, but she didn't dare come any closer.
"Nora, calm down, calm down! Roly is just so adorable! The moment she starts begging, I just can't bring myself to say no!"
My daughter peeked her little head out from behind Elise.
"Mama, don't be angry. Roly asked Godmother to get it for me! Roly hasn't had any of Mama's little cakes in a long time."
Seeing the two of them presenting a united front, I was both exasperated and amused.
"You two are unbelievable..."
I sighed, deciding to ignore them.
I carried my new creation over to the refrigerated display case.
But then little Roly immediately toddled over. "Mama, can I have a wittle bite of dis one?"
I looked down and gave her a stern look. She stuck out her little lip, her face the very picture of dejection.
No wonder Elise couldn't bring herself to say no.
No one could resist such a cute little fluffball making a face like that.
But I was still shaken by what happened a year ago, when Roly ended up in the hospital after eating too much and getting an upset stomach.
For the sake of her health, I had to play the bad guy.
That night, after we got home, Roly's stomach started to bother her.
Seeing her little face all scrunched up in pain as she curled into a ball in my arms, my heart ached uncontrollably.
I picked her up, left our apartment complex, and hailed a cab to the hospital.
On the way there, I called my younger brother, Evan Sutton, and asked him to come to the hospital once he got off work.
The pediatric wing of the hospital was much more crowded on a weekend than a weekday.
By the time our number was called, nearly an hour had passed.
I carried Roly into the consultation room.
From the doorway, I could see that a computer monitor was completely blocking the doctor's face.
The nurse standing nearby seemed to recognize me.
"Oh? It's you, isn't it? Roly's mom?"
I recognized her too—she was the same nurse who had taken care of us a year ago, when Roly had been here for indigestion and a stomachache.
"Hello, Nurse Leigh," I said, forcing a smile. "Are you and Dr. Sloan on duty together again today...?"
I sat down at the doctor's desk as I spoke.
When I saw the face of my ex, Brendan Forrest, appear before me, I blanked out for a second.
Brendan Forrest froze for a moment when he saw me, too.
His voice seemed to be coming from far away.
"Dr. Sloan isn't in today."
I mumbled a quiet "Oh."
"What's the problem?" His voice was completely detached, devoid of any emotion.
I answered truthfully, "She ate too much and has an upset stomach."
Brendan Forrest glanced up at me and muttered, almost to himself, "Just like you."
"..."
It seemed I was the only one who heard him; the nurse didn't react at all, so she must not have caught it.
