Aloha

The week leading up to the trip had been a tangled mess. Juggling a workload, managing Emma's annoyance, and perpetuating the facade with Dorothy kept me on edge. And then, on one restless night after work, Ruby called.

"What am I going to do, Ruby? This lie just keeps growing," I lamented, hoping for some solution.

"You should have been discussing this with me from the start. I could've played Lily, and I don't have any kids, so this would have been over," Ruby chided, her frustration evident.

"I know, and now I'm stuck on this weird trip with Emma, who's furious, and Dorothy, blissfully unaware," I explained, feeling the weight of the situation.

"Ugh, quit complaining. You're one lucky ass bitch, and you don't even realize it," Ruby remarked, her tone a mix of envy and jest.

"Rubes..."

"Regina, I'm hot because you made me this way. I'd kill for a shot at Emma," she admitted, a tinge of longing in her voice.

"Too bad you're too busy to come along and be my buffer," I mused, sensing her frustration with work.

On the morning of our flight, Emma and the kids arrived early. I observed Emma, the two little terrors in tow, waiting at the gate as I approached. "Hey," I greeted her.

Emma handed me a coffee without a word, a silent acknowledgment of our mutual struggle. "Oh, you're a lifesaver," I sighed, taking the coffee.

"I can't believe I got tricked into this by a twelve-year-old," I remarked, somewhat incredulous at the situation.

"You're angry at yourself for getting into this mess," Emma pointed out, her patience wearing thin. "And frankly, my tolerance for this nonsense is almost at its peak."

Dorothy joined us, exuberant about our impending trip. As she and I moved closer, ready to share a kiss, a voice interrupted us.

"Wait! Wait!" A heavily accented voice echoed across the terminal. Ruby dashed towards us, creating an unexpected upheaval.

She dashed to Emma, planting a kiss on her. My blood boiled at the sight, instantly protective of Emma. "Muffinschtein, I couldn't bear to be away from you," Ruby declared.

Emma, perplexed, muttered, "Inga?"

Turning to me, Ruby switched roles seamlessly. "Oh, there you are, Dr. Generous. Thank you for inviting me on your trip so my Lily didn't feel alone."

"Wait, what?" I was caught off guard by Ruby's unexpected presence.

"I'm sorry I haven't introduced myself," Ruby, now Inga, continued, "I'm Inga Lundgren, Lily's little love monkey."

I cringed inwardly at the charade. Emma looked bewildered, Dorothy seemed pleased to see my hot ex-wife with her super hot girlfriend.

I attempted to salvage the situation, explaining how I had invited Inga to create positive energy around the family. Emma, however, was visibly incensed, though she managed to mask it well.

Meanwhile, Ruby's provocative comments only added to the tension. Emma skillfully redirected the conversation, dragging Ruby away by the tongue to the water fountain, creating a temporary distraction.

Sensing the chaos, Dorothy pulled me away from the commotion. "You should stop eavesdropping," she advised.

"I'm not. I just don't want this to turn into a thing," I replied, hoping to mitigate any further drama.

As the awkwardness subsided momentarily, Ruby hinted about her ticket payment, prompting me to reluctantly dig into my purse for my card. In the process, my arm swung back, accidentally smacking Ruby in the face. A visceral reaction to her dalliance with my ex-wife.

Finally, as we boarded the flight, the tension lingered. The kids were bouncing around, Dorothy included, while Emma remained quiet, attending to her toddler and napping. Ruby, seated far behind due to the last-minute ticket, maintained her distance.

Upon arriving at the hotel, I arranged for the most expensive suites available due to the last-minute booking. Settling Emma, Ruby, and the kids in the larger suite, Dorothy and I took the smaller one.

"I've got the room sorted. Let's get comfortable," I suggested, attempting to quell the unease.

"Great! Who's up for the beach?" Dorothy asked.

"I do!" The kids chimed in unison, prompting Dorothy to lead them toward the beach.

"Who wants drinks?" I proposed, and the two remaining adults eagerly followed me back to our rooms.