Girl Blue
"Four people in this damn house and we can't manage to…," Miranda's voice trailed off as she looked under the sofa for the remote. Anytime she wanted to watch some TV, the thing suddenly disappeared. Thankfully, the front door opened. Whoever that was could help her look for it or at least go upstairs and get her laptop.
"Ma?" Her youngest called.
Miranda popped her head up. "In here."
The fifteen-year-old found her climbing onto the sofa. "Are you okay?" Dani said coming toward her.
"Yes, yes. I'm fine. I was just looking for the remote," Miranda told her, calming her child. She looked up and saw her friend, Aniq, hanging back a little. The girl lived next door and had been Dani's best friend for years. And unbeknownst to anyone, Miranda had accidentally stumbled upon the fact that Aniq was also Dani's girlfriend. She'd wanted to ask Dani about it, but she was also giving her space to tell her own story. "Oh, hi, Aniq."
The girl gave her a bright smile, her face reddening. "Hi, Dr. Bailey. Can we help you look for the remote?"
"Yes, please. Although I don't know where it could be."
Dani took off her coat. "Well, Tuck was the last one with it and if I know him…" Her daughter walked out of the living room and toward the kitchen. "Got it!"
"Bring me a water please!" Miranda shouted back. "Aniq, would you like something to drink?"
"Oh, no, thank you," she said as Dani returned. "I just came to get something from D-Dani's room." Miranda nodded as both girls looked at each other. The woman tried to not change her facial expression. She knew that look. In fact, in about twenty minutes, she would be giving and receiving that look from her husband. "And then I have to get home. To do homework."
"Hey, you need to be more like Aniq," Miranda joked. Dani was a fantastic student. Both of her children were. She'd really gotten lucky.
"Here you go, ma," Dani said handing over the remote and water. "It probably has pizza dust on it." The three of them laughed. "Come on, Niq, let me… give you that thing." When they were gone, Miranda watched a little TV, with the volume low. She debated between going upstairs and having a casual stroll by the door and just relaxing. At Dani's age when Tuck had a girlfriend over to "study," they were restricted to the living room and kitchen. This was different. Maybe she'd have a talk with Dani later. Thinking of things to say, she didn't hear her husband come in the house.
"Miranda?" Ben asked sitting down next to her, hugging and kissing her.
"Yeah? Sorry, hon. What'd you say?"
"Where are the kids?"
"Tuck is somewhere. He texted me a while ago. He'll be home later. Dani is upstairs with Aniq."
Ben nodded and kicked off his shoes. "That's nice. And how are you, my love?"
A part of her just wanted to tell him everything she knew. Another part knew better. "I'm good. How was your shift?"
"It was really good." Miranda only nodded, her eyes on the screen. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing's wrong."
Ben knew she wasn't telling the truth, but didn't prod her. He made a noise and kissed her cheek again, walking away and leaving her with her thoughts. The sound of the teens giggling reached them downstairs. "We should order pizza tonight. And watch a movie."
"Sounds good."
Ben sat back next to her and pulled her into his arms. "Okay, what?"
"Nothing. Nothing."
She turned to kiss him. What started off as a distraction became an uncontrollable, passionate kiss. She played with the tiny hairs on the back of his neck. "Thank you for that," she said genuinely. They kissed again as the door opened for a third time.
"Ma! Dad!" Tuck shouted.
"We're in here," Miranda said stroking her husband's beard. "Want me to clean this up for you?"
"Later."
The twenty-year-old came into the living room. "Ugh, old people kissing."
Ben laughed. "Jealousy is a sin, boy." Tuck came and squeezed between the two of them.
"Hey!" Miranda chuckled. These were the times she was addicted to. When her entire family was home and safe. "What do you want, son of mine?"
Tuck rubbed his hands on his pants. "What's for dinner?"
"Whatever you're cooking or buying," she said patting his leg.
"Fine. Then, we're going out to eat," Tuck announced. "Where's Dani?"
"Upstairs with Aniq," Ben told him. Nodding, Tuck stood up saying that he'd be back. They heard his door close and Miranda was pulled into her husband's chest, accepting kisses. Someone cleared their throat and she looked up to see Dani and Aniq standing there. "Yes?" Ben asked.
"We have a guest in the house."
Ben made a noise. "In whose house?"
"Our house." Dani's smile turned into full-blown laughter.
He waved her off. "Hello, Aniq."
"Hi, Dr. Warren," Aniq said.
"Did you get what you came for?" Miranda asked the girl.
Aniq nodded. "Yes, ma'am."
"Good. Good."
Tuck returned. "Hey, Niq, we're about to go and get some food. My treat. Wanna come?"
Aniq looked at Dani who was blushing. "I, uh, have to call my mom."
Miranda nodded as the girl walked off. "Well, let me go and change my clothes," Ben said kissing Miranda again and winking at her.
"Tuck, get my shoes from my room," Miranda asked as Dani sat next to her.
"I'm paying."
"I birthed you," she countered.
"Mommy won," Dani said.
"Thank you, baby." Tuck jumped at his sister before running up the stairs. Miranda hugged Dani, her heart full of pride and adoration.
Aniq came back into the room. "My mom said I have to get home," she said sadly.
"Oh, well, that's too bad," Miranda responded. "Next time."
"I'll walk with you," Dani said.
Aniq waved, "Goodnight, Dr. Bailey."
When they were outside, Miranda went to the window in the kitchen that gave her the best view of the path from their house to their neighbors. It was the one she used to use when Dani first started going over there alone. Making sure she made it from Point A to Point B. Now, she was spying. And she knew it was bad form, but she couldn't stop herself. Leaning on the counter, she watched the teens stop between the houses. They looked around, somehow missing Miranda's face damn near pressed against the window. The hugged they shared was quick. They dropped their arms and held hands and Miranda's heart swelled. Her daughter was growing up. The girls looked around again before moving in for a kiss and Miranda turned away to give them the privacy they'd deserved at beginning. "Ma!" Tuck came into the kitchen. "What are you doing in here?"
She walked toward him pushing him out of the room. "Making a grocery list."
"Oh."
Ben bounded down the stairs. "Are we ready?" He asked. "Where's Danielle and Aniq?"
"Aniq couldn't come so she's probably outside."
"Alright, let's rock and roll," Ben said clapping his hands.
"W-wait, I haven't even put on my shoes and I don't have my purse."
She and Ben looked at Tuck. "I'll get it," their son said running back to their bedroom. The door opened and Dani walked in smiling down at her phone. Miranda wanted to hug her daughter again, but she just slipped into her shoes.
Her husband went to the bottom of the stairs. "Get my wallet off the dresser, too, Tuck!" Ben grabbed Miranda's jacket and helped her into it. "I bet I end up paying for this meal." She nodded, distracted. "Hellooo. Earth to Miranda." She blinked a few times. "Damn, woman, where are you today?"
"I just have a lot on my mind." At the restaurant, Miranda tried to join in the conversations, but the idea that Dani didn't trust her seeped in and she withdrew. Ben held her hand beneath the table. When the bill came, Tuck paid for half with Ben covering the other half and the tip. "Thanks for dinner, my handsome men," she said as they walked into the house.
Tuck hugged them all and said he was going to his girlfriend's house off-campus apartment for the night. Miranda, Dani and Ben started a movie. Halfway through it, Ben kissed them goodnight and went to bed. Dani snuggled up to Miranda who stroked her hair. Truth be told, she wasn't paying attention to the movie, but she liked being with her daughter. When she couldn't stand it any longer, Miranda paused it. "You're going to bed, too?" Dani asked.
Miranda took a deep breath and turned to her daughter. "I love you so much. In a way I don't love anyone else." She looked into the girl's brown eyes. "And there is nothing that can ever change that. You are my daughter and I'm proud of you and you can always talk to me." Even with tears in her eyes and seeing tears in Dani's, she continued the movie. A few minutes later, Dani grabbed the remote.
"Nothing?"
"Well, you know, if you tell me you're a mass murderer or that you don't like my cooking, I'll have to disown you. But other than that…" They laughed. Miranda waited.
Dani didn't un-pause the movie. "I… do want to tell you something."
"Yeah?" The teen nodded. "I'm listening."
Dani tapped on the remote a few times. "I like Aniq." Instead of responding, she listened like she promised she would. "I really like her. She's my girlfriend." Dani looked at Miranda whose face hadn't changed. "Did you hear me, ma?"
Miranda nodded. "Yes."
"We like each other. A lot. I'm… gay, I think."
Her heart was beating profusely. "Okay."
Dani squinted and Miranda wanted to laugh. That was her face! "You're not mad?"
"About what?"
The girl shrugged. "That I may not be, you know, like you and daddy."
"Wise?"
Mother and daughter laughed. "No. Straight."
"No. How can I be mad at that? It's who you are." They were quiet for a few minutes. "So, no, I'm not mad." She moved her head from side to side. "Plus, I already knew."
Her daughter's face drained of color. "Did Tuck tell you?!"
"No, of course not. I found out a little while ago and confirmed it tonight when you walked Aniq home."
"Did you spy on us?"
"A little bit. Like I always did when you were younger. And like I do sometimes when you're leaving for school because the world is terrifying, but—" She took a deep breath. "Pushing all that to the side, I guess I'm worried about why it took you so long to tell me."
"I don't know. I told Tuck. And he said I should tell y'all, but.. but I didn't know how."
Miranda inhaled. "Did you think we wouldn't accept you or yell?" Dani bopped her head. "Do you know us at all? We love you without pretense. You are literally a piece of us. Do you understand?" The teen nodded. "Do you want to tell your dad?"
"Yes."
"You don't have to."
"No more secrets. I'm glad I told you," Dani said wiping her eyes. Miranda did the same, smiling. She leaned over to kiss her daughter's head, hugging her.
"Okay, so tell me about Aniq."
Blushing, she said: "We're dating."
"Well, who said you could date?"
"Who's dating?" Ben asked walking into the room. Dani looked at Miranda, her eyes wide.
"I thought you were asleep," Miranda said staring at her shirtless husband. Maybe it was time for bed. He sat on an ottoman and rolled over to them. "What happened to you sleeping?"
"I missed you," he told her simply. Miranda gritted her teeth as her heart flittered. "But who's dating?"
Miranda cleared her throat. "Babe?" She said poking him, getting his attention.
"Hmm?"
"Daddy?" Dani started.
Ben looked at the teen. "Is everything okay?"
Dani nodded and grabbed Miranda's hand. "I have to tell you something."
"Okay. I'm listening."
"Dad, Aniq is my girlfriend. I like her and she likes me." The confidence with which she said it the second time around made Miranda beam.
Ben glanced at Miranda and then looked at Dani. "We love you. You know that, right? You are my baby girl. I don't care who you decide to love. I care that you're happy and safe." Their daughter hugged him and Miranda couldn't stop the tears from falling. He sniffled. "We still have to talk about you dating," he said.
"Daddy! I'm 15."
"She's right," Miranda agreed. "Tuck went on his first date at 15."
Sighing, he looked at the girl, her wide eyes roping him in. "Fine."
Dani started the movie once more and the three of them continued to watch. Miranda felt so much better. And there was still so much she wanted to talk about. But for now, she just held her daughter in one arm and her husband in the other, thankful.
