Was that all that life was for this man? A joke? Because the look in his eye seemed to say so, and Avery was sorely tempted to swipe it off his face with a bat of her hand. Of course she could do no such thing right now, not when her daughter was staring up at this (arguably, and regrettably handsome) man, obviously delighted that he was partaking in her game of make believe. She could only stand behind Marigold with her arms crossed, alternating between glowering when her daughter’s back was turned and a perfectly neutral expression when she looked up at her for signs that it was okay she was talking to this man.
“She likes marigold flowers!” Came her daughter’s chirp as she eagerly took the twigs and placed them onto the large slab in front of her. “Because that’s my name. And she likes orchids too, but we don’t have them in the house a lot because Mama says they’re too expensive.”
Two flags of color had appeared on Avery’s cheeks at this. How had Marigold even known that? She hadn’t once told her daughter the reason why they couldn’t have orchids in the house. “Marigold, they’re not too expensive, the cat’s just allergic to orchids.” She quickly amended, referring to an animal they neither had, nor would ever likely get. Not that Mr. Selwyn would have to know that.
“What are you talking about mama? We don’t have a cat!” Her daughter turned to stare at her, trilling out a laugh before beaming at Mr. Selwyn as if he was in on the joke.
Well, there went that plan.
“Marigold, it’s time to finish on up here darlin’,” Avery interrupted, pressing her lips together, eyeing the large figure of Mr. Selwyn crouched by her daughter. If he laughed, she might just kick the mud pie into his face. “I have a client to go see — do you remember Mrs. Cranston? She has puppies that you can play with.”
“She likes marigold flowers!” Came her daughter’s chirp as she eagerly took the twigs and placed them onto the large slab in front of her. “Because that’s my name. And she likes orchids too, but we don’t have them in the house a lot because Mama says they’re too expensive.”
Two flags of color had appeared on Avery’s cheeks at this. How had Marigold even known that? She hadn’t once told her daughter the reason why they couldn’t have orchids in the house. “Marigold, they’re not too expensive, the cat’s just allergic to orchids.” She quickly amended, referring to an animal they neither had, nor would ever likely get. Not that Mr. Selwyn would have to know that.
“What are you talking about mama? We don’t have a cat!” Her daughter turned to stare at her, trilling out a laugh before beaming at Mr. Selwyn as if he was in on the joke.
Well, there went that plan.
“Marigold, it’s time to finish on up here darlin’,” Avery interrupted, pressing her lips together, eyeing the large figure of Mr. Selwyn crouched by her daughter. If he laughed, she might just kick the mud pie into his face. “I have a client to go see — do you remember Mrs. Cranston? She has puppies that you can play with.”
