"She told me no... I mean. she didn't tell me no per say but she still didn't come. So here i am sitting in a diner mesmerized by my beautiful daughter She looks so much like Callie. She looks so adorable with spaghetti sauce all over her face and hands." Arizona thought as she sat next to her daughter picking at a Cesar Salad.
Callie has really been trying to develop Sofia's hand eye coordination with eating and using utensils. But Arizona couldn't help but love watching this little girl dig into her pasta with her cute little fingers. Looking down at her phone for the 10th time since we've sat down wondering if Callie was going to call or text her. She was so nervous in a good way at the thought of seeing her wife again today. When she told Callie she looked amazing, she smiled. And not a fake smile but an actual thank you smile... Granted it wasn't that gorgeous heart stopping smile that she uses to melt you heart with when she's super happy. But it was a genuine smile directed at her and that's what made her heart stop. Arizona couldn't help but smile as she replayed that event in her head.
Jumping up as her phone rang, she scrambled for it eager to hear that melodic voice. She physically deflated when she saw it wasn't Callie. It was her therapist, Dr. Wendy. She too didn't take her seriously with a name like that but she really challenged her. She didn't allow Arizona to shut down too easy and knew when to give Arizona a few minutes to process her thoughts.
"Hello. This is Dr. Robbins." Arizona answered professionally because it made her feel strong in public settings.
"Hey Dr. Robbins, I just wanted to confirm our appointment for tomorrow at 6."
"Yes, Wendy. I will be there." Arizona responded with an eye roll. She's been going to see a therapist since the day after Callie left. She'd went every day for 2 weeks and now her appointments were every Friday at 6pm.
"Just making sure. Is there anything you'd like to talk about now since you have me on the phone?"
Arizona knew she should probably mention that Callie returned but she couldn't. She knew Wendy would likely tell her to give Callie some space to get used to being back in Seattle. To get used to being back in Seattle and to adjust living apart from her wife. But that's what Arizona was afraid of. She didn't want Callie to get used to a life away from her wife. She wanted to remind Callie of the love they'd shared. The life they made.
"Nope." Arizona responded popping the P. "Mommee!" Sofia called to Arizona.
"Arizona. Who is that?" Arizona glanced at Sofia who had poured the spaghetti all over herself. Arizona exhaled a deep breath. "I gotta go." and with that hung up the phone.
"Sofia Robin Sloan Torres. You, my dear are about to get me into more trouble than I already am."
Arizona worked at getting Sofia cleaned up, wiping her hand and arms. She looked at Sofia's head and chuckled. "Maybe I should really stick to you using a spoon next time."
Wiping off the spaghetti sauce from her daughter's face, Sofia started to complain. "Noooo! No, Mommee!" Sofia pushing away Arizona's hands trying to get her to stop. When Arizona proceeded to clean her daughter's face Sofia began to cry.
Arizona explained, "Baby, your face is all dirty. We have to clean your face. I cannot take you home looking like this." Home. The hotel was not home. Home is where Arizona and Callie were together and happy. Just as Arizona was thinking this all through, how she was going to get Callie to move back home her phone rang.
Without looking at her phone, Arizona answered a little frustrated at her life's situation. "Hello."
A second of silence, "Hey. Umm... Everything okay?" Callie asked. She could hear Sofia crying in the background.
"Yea! Yup. Good. Everything is good." Arizona answered a little too chipper. Callie knew something was going on but didn't question it further. "Okay. Well, I'm back at the hotel so you can drop Sofia off anytime. Its getting kinda late and she needs to go down for her nap soon."
That statement just made Arizona feel all kinda of upset. Because for one, her wife and daughter were not at home with her. Two, because she knew the time her daughter needed to go down for an afternoon nap. She helped plan the schedule so Callie didn't need to to remind her. And Third!! Because Sofia was a mess and needed a bath but knew her daughter was tired enough to fall asleep on the 10 minute drive to the hotel. Which meant she would have to be woken up and to be given a bath. Which also meant Sofia was going to be cranky and not want to go down again.
Arizona sighed, "Okay. I'll drop her off in a few. We are just finishing lunch now."
Silence.
"Okay. Umm.. I'll just wait for you in the lobby. Bye." And with that Callie hung up.
"Mommee. Me have Iceece pees. Mommee pees!" Sofia asked nice and loud.
The waitress brought over the bill and an ice cream sundae. "I have one her age. She's very well mannered. Mine just demands ice cream. How old is she?"
"Umm.. She's 2 and a half years old." Arizona answered smiling ag her daughter.
"Oh my gosh. She's so talkative! You and and your husband must talk to her so much." She said looking at Arizona's ring finger and noticing her engagement ring and wedding band.
Putting cash on the table Arizona responded "Umm.. yea. My wife and I read to her constantly." Noticing Sofia was making herself a bigger mess with the ice cream in front of her.
Arizona got up to take her fussy daughter out of the high chair. "Noooo... Mommee peees! Icecee!"
"One more bite okay. Mama is waiting for us." Sofia nodded opening her mouth wide as Arizona fed her daughter a healthy spoon of ice cream. "Mmmmm yummy huh!" Arizona enthusiastically said to her daughter.
Sofia's smiled big smile caused some ice cream to dribble from the corners of her mouth. Arizona couldn't help but laugh. "Come on big girl. Let's go see Mama." Arizona glanced up and noticed the waitress was still standing there watching. "Have a nice day" Arizona smiled and walked out of the restuarant.
She was right. About half way to the hotel, Sofia fell asleep. Once at the hotel she carefully extracted her daughter from the car seat and carried her to the front doors of the Archfield. Once in the lobby Arizona noticed Callie sitting at one of the tables drinking coffee looking at some papers.
As Arizona approached Callie noticed her wife and child headed her way. Quickly putting away the papers in the Manila folder and greeted them. "Hey. What... in the world. Did you throw food at her or something?" Callie asked getting frustrated at the appearance of her daughter.
"I'm sorry. I turned away for a second and.. I'll help you give her a bath and put her back down."
"This is why we need to teach her to use forks and spoons." Callie stated pinching the bridge of her nose. Reaching for Sofia, Arizona took a step back. "Please let me help you give her a bath." Arizona asked pleading.
Callie let out a sigh. Should she let her help? Could she let her help?