If Only...

IN A NUTSHELL

Stella!

My heart leaps with joy at that one name.

Only, it isn't just a name. It's a phenomenon. A force of nature that I haven't experienced in the last two days!

"Is that Auntie Stella?"

"Uh-huh!" I blare too loudly in Rosie's face and drop her down to her feet, this abrupt energy courses through me and makes me all nervous.

"Mommy, maybe you shouldn't go out there."

"What?" I chuckle, walking out anyway, not paying heed to Rosie cringing behind the washing machine.

"She sounds really angry." She whispers.

"I'm sure she's just playing around, honey--"

"Oh, you wish I'm just playing around, honey."

"Stella!" I yelp; from the excitement and her sudden appearance right in my face, and throw my eager arms around her neck.

"Oh, I've missed you so much! . . . ." I sigh into her shoulder and sway us around, the same way she always does, but I grasp soon enough that she isn't returning any of it.

"What's wrong?" I ask pulling away, but her face looks clenched and . . . dangerously twitchy, almost like she's holding in something she isn't supposed to.

"What's wrong?" She repeats, mocking every syllable. "Are you trying to avoid me, Alex?"

"What? No!" I gasp, horrified.

"Then how come you're home a day in advance and I don't get one single phone call?!" She barks in my face, and I nearly swoon from the intensity.

Whoa.

Like I said; force of nature.

"Stella, I was going to--"

"Oh, don't give me that sh--"

"Sh! . . . " I clamp my hand to her mouth in warning, and steer her out after taking a look at Rosie.

She looks glad I didn't let Stella finish. It's not only that I don't want her to get influenced by them, but Rosie despises swear words.

Stella obviously loves them.

"Did you and your lover really think you'd sneak past ME?"

"Stella--"

"I mean, it's bad enough not having you and my girl around for two days and now you're avoiding me?"

"Sweetie, just let me ex--"

"Well, I'm here to tell you that it's not gonna work. You're not getting rid of me so . . . suck it up."

"Okay! I will." I acquiesce, relieved that she's finally letting me talk.

"I mean, how could you, Alex! Do I not mean anything to you?"

"You know that's not true--"

"What, two days away on a dirty weekend with Danny and you forget all about me?"

"I was at a wedding! And I didn't forget about--"

"And then you tell me you're coming back tomorrow, yet magically, you're here! How come?!"

"It's my birthday, okay! And it was Danny's plan to have me all to himself. That's why he dragged us down here without telling anyone!"

There!

I breathe deeply, clutching at my moist neck, swallowing.

"It's your birthday?"

I welcome Stella's cheeky grin with a glare, and she wraps her arms around me, swinging us from side to side.