"Ginny!" Ivanka exclaimed.
Ginny was still in her seat, lost and unmoved. It hurt so much when she heard that the greedy Dave asked for Fiona too. Then Ginny blinked as Fiona touched the back of her hand. She looked at her only daughter in disbelief.
"I'm sorry. Did I ignore you little girl?" Ginny tried to pull the corners of her lips together to smile at Fiona.
Ivanka shook her head anxiously. She felt she couldn't leave Ginny alone with Fiona at a crucial time like this.
"Fiona doesn't want to take a nap, I think she will sleep soon tonight," Ivanka said.
"Ah, thanks, Iv. I'll take her into the room and put her to sleep. You want to go home?" Ginny asked. Then she said again. "Don't go home yet, I think I need you. Just a moment," said Ginny again.
Ivanka nodded. That's exactly what she was thinking too. Ivanka hadn't even asked Ginny how things were at the office at the moment.
It was very hard for Ginny to go through all this. The big and luxurious house she had worked so hard for so far had to be completely gone. Living in a cramped and small apartment, returning to an office that is now on the verge of collapse, losing the husband she loves and ... A knock on the bedroom door interrupted Ginny's daydream again.
"Sorry to interrupt, I just wanted to make sure. Mayonnaise or mustard?" Ivanka asked carefully.
But Ginny smiled. "Both of them." Ginny answered. "Are you going to make something? Some kind of sandwich?"
"Yes, but it's not a sandwich. Let this old lady take care of you and your child." Then Ivanka closed the bedroom door again and left.
There was one thing Ginny was very grateful for. She is still surrounded by good people who are always beside her. Ginny looked at Fiona who was loosening her grip on her fingers as time went on. The little girl was already fast asleep.
"I'm sorry Fiona, I promise I'll make you feel like you're living a decent and fun life again." Ginny whispered softly.
Ginny slowly got out of bed after gently kissing Fiona's forehead and cheeks.
"So what is this old lady doing?" Ginny asked while grinning at Ivanka.
"Eat it."
"Thank you," Ginny said then took a piece of toast filled with ham and cheese complete with a mixture of mayonnaise and mustard. "I can't pay for all this," then Ginny laughed softly.
"No one asked you to pay for it," Ivanka laughed, pointing to Ginny's fridge. "I took the ingredients from there,"
This time Ginny actually laughed even though her eyes felt hot and tears suddenly ran down her cheeks, without the owner's permission.
"Seriously, it's mine. Damn." Ginny cursed between sobs.
Ivanka patted Ginny olean's shoulder and smiled. "It's heavy, right?"
"Heavy? Sure."
"It sucks that you still have to fight. Eat first, you will choke if you eat while crying," said Ivanka.
"You always know that I'm a multi-tasking woman," Ginny said casually, wiping her tears.
"Indeed. But not this time," Ivanka replied.
Ginny stopped sobbing and then started to focus on nibbling every part of the toast Ivanka made for her. Then she looked up at Ivanka who seemed to be busy working on something on the laptop. "Doing something?" asked Ginny.
"Find out if you emailed me work or not,"said Ivanka.
Ginny shook her head. "Not today. I said I'd handle it myself while you helped me take care of Fiona like you told me. And I'm really grateful for that. Really,"
"What happened today at the office?" Ivanka propped her chin on her hands which she put together on the tiny dining table which now changed in size to many times what Ginny had before.
"I didn't do anything. I think my mind was blown again when that damn lawyer came into my room and asked me to sign all those damn papers." Then Ginny took a deep breath before continuing her seemingly long sentence. "I took all our family pictures and ..." Ginny's voice started to choke.
Ivanka again handed a few sheets of tissue to Ginny. "You're crying again,"
"No. I'm not going to cry over an asshole who also asks for Fiona as if he can take care of her," Ginny said annoyed. In fact, he was crying to himself. Crying over her fate of having loved a motherfucker like Dave.
Ginny let out a heavy breath. "This is crazy, huh? My life is a complete mess,"
"You can fix it," Ivanka encouraged. "You didn't lose everything you loved, you just lost your home and your damn husband. But not Fiona and your God."
Ginny was stunned for a long time. It should not be brittle for too long and also be weak for a long time. There are other people she must bring up, Fiona her lovely daughter and also her pride.
"What if I take Fiona to the office?" Ginny suggested.
"Seriously!" Ivanka was wide-eyed.
"That's the only way I won't bother you," Ginny joked.
"I told you it wouldn't be a hassle. I'm determined to change my profession from being your assistant to now I'm going to be Fiona's babysitter." Ivanka said. "Can't you think of me as a grandmother to Fiona so you don't feel pressured too?"
"But, Iv ..."
"We've talked about all this. Discussed it and you agreed. So this time we will not talk about this again," said Ivanka. "You understand, Mrs. CEO?" Then Ivanka almost laughed. "Should I call you young miss now?"
"I like your last question. Sounds good," and Ginny grinned.
"Listen. Focus on your company, and prepare yourself if Dave insists on taking custody of Fiona,"
"I hate that lawyer. He's my best friend . . . originally. And he stands up for Dave," Ginny sighed. "But that's his job, I shouldn't have the right to be angry with him, right?"
"You're only angry with yourself. At the situation and also at the bad luck that befell you,"