Contract Marriage: I Will Never Love You

Hailey

Rhea’s tiny fingers are sticky with juice, and somehow she’s managed to get glitter glue in her hair again. I don’t even want to know how. She twirls in a circle, her tutu catching the sunlight that pours through Matthew and Sarah’s living room like it’s performing for her.

"Look, Auntie Hailey! I’m a sparkly tornado!"

"You are," I say, chasing after her with a wet wipe in one hand and an empty juice box in the other. "A very chatty one."

Matthew chuckles from the kitchen as he unpacks groceries. "She gets that from Sarah."

"I heard that," Sarah calls from down the hallway.

I manage to wrestle Rhea into a hug and wipe her face, all while dodging the streamers she’s tied to her wrists. She giggles and hugs me tighter, her curls tickling my cheek.

For a moment, I forget the rest of the world.

Rhea runs off again, this time yelling something about unicorns and cereal, and I sit back on the couch with a sigh.

Sarah walks in and plops next to me. "You look like you’re thinking too hard."

"Just enjoying the moment with my little niece," I say, smiling. "She is too darned cute."