Katy's POV
Maya is two now, KC is four. I took them both to Bobby's Barbeque. Kermit was at work.
"Hey Katy," Mario Windleson, Bobby Windleson's fourteen year old son, said. "Hey KC Clutter, hey Maya."
"Hey Mario," I said. "Can we get one Bobby's Junior Spicy Burger, one Kid's Bobby Cheesy Fries, and one Bobby's Barbeque Spicy Burger? Oh, and a small chocolate milk in a sippy cup, a small Bobby's Cream of Root, and a medium Bobby's Cream of Root?"
"Yep, coming right up," he said.
"Tell your dad that I said 'Hi'."
"Will do," he said. He walked away from our table. I looked over at Maya.
"Mommy, why we here?" She asked.
"Because we like eating here," I said.
"No," she said. I know she doesn't like it as much as KC does, but I thought she liked it at least a little. "I wanna go to Mickie's."
"We'll go next time, okay, Maya?" I said.
"No," she said.
"Yes," I said.
"No!" She yelled. "Now!" She stood up in her highchair.
"Don't make a scene," I told her, "sit down, now." She sat down and pouted. I smiled a little when Mario brought our drinks.
"Here's your small Bobby's Cream of Root," he set it in front of KC, "small chocolate milk," he set it in front of Maya, "and medium Cream of Root," he set it in front of me. "Your Burgers and Cheesy Fries will be out soon."
"Thank you, Mario," I said. "Girls."
"Thanks Mario!" KC said happily.
"Thanks," Maya said, still pouting.
"Hey Maya," Mario said. She looked up at him. He did a funny face, stretching out his mouth with his fingers and sticking out his tongue. She started laughing. So did KC. He smiled. I smiled to. Thank you, I mouthed to him. No problem, he mouthed back.
"Order up!" We heard Bobby call from the kitchen.
"Be right back," Mario smiled. He went to get the orders.
"Hey Maya," KC said. Maya looked over at KC. "I love you."
"I wuv you too," she said. I smiled at my girls. It killed me knowing I had to take KC back to her father in Albany tomorrow. I could already tell that she wasn't happy with him.
The next day I was driving KC back to Albany.
"Mama?" She said.
"Yeah KC?"
"How old are you?"
"Twenty-one," I said.
"Then you were seventeen when I got here?" She asked.
"Yes," I said. I looked at her. "Where did you learn to do that math?"
"My head," she said. I have a smart girl, I thought. It was silent for a bit until she said "Mama?" again.
"Yeah, sweetheart?"
"Why can't I just stay with you?"
"Because the courts won't let me have you completely," I said.
"But you love me," she said. "They should let you have me." I looked over at her.
"I'll keep trying," I said.
"Maya wants me with you too, right?"
"Yes," I said.
"Then they should let you have me."
"I wish it worked that way," I said. After I dropped her off, I drove home to my other girl.