Page 67 of One Hot Daddy

He pouted briefly but then gave up the battle.

We've just walked into Lucio's Family Ristorante, the best pizza place in Millbrook Valley.The hostess, a woman with dark-red hair that has purple streaks in it, greets us with a wide smile."Table for six?"

"Yes, that's right," I confirm, watching Jennifer herd the kids into a line.

The restaurant buzzes with Friday night energy---families laughing, waiters balancing trays of steaming food, the wood-fired oven crackling in the open kitchen.The familiar smell of garlic and tomato sauce makes my stomach growl.

"Dad, look!"Henry points to the arcade games near the back."Can I have quarters?Please?"

"After dinner," Jennifer tells him before I can respond."Let's get everyone fed first."

"Good idea."I am enormously grateful for her ability to maintain order when all I want to do is give in to Henry's pleading eyes.Something about the way Jennifer handles the children with such ease reminds of how lucky I am to have found a woman like her.She has a natural talent I lack.

"Fletcher?"Jennifer catches me staring.

"Sorry, just thinking about how good you are with them."

We follow the hostess through the bustling restaurant and settle into a large corner booth.The kids immediately grab the paper placemats and crayons, except for Amelia, who's busy texting under the table.

"No phones at dinner, pet," I remind her.

She rolls her eyes but complies with minimal huffing.It's a bloody miracle.

Jennifer slides in beside me, her arm brushing mine as she reaches for a menu.The scent of her wafts over me, and I suddenly need to adjust my crotch.She always smells like...woman.It's intoxicating.

"I can't believe how hungry I am this evening," my wife whispers to me."It'll be fun when Claudia and Marcus visit us for Thanksgiving."

"Yes, I'm looking forward to it as well."I freeze, abruptly shocked by what I've just said."Crikey.Can't believe I'm actually excited about seeing them both."

Jennifer laughs gently."My, how our lives have changed.Your ex-wife is now a good friend to both of us, and the kids are happier than ever despite school starting in a few days."

"It's quite shocking, isn't it?"

She laughs again in her sweet way that always warms me up from the inside out.

After our celebratory meal at the pizzeria, the kids are unusually well-behaved, a rarity worth savoring.Even Henry hasn't tried to stick a straw up his nose yet.

"What are you thinking about?"Jennifer asks, nudging me with her shoulder.

"Just how completely normal this feels.Family dinner.No disasters.No one's thrown food either.Yet."

She tries not to laugh but snorts instead."Don't jinx it, sweetie."

Our server appears, a college-aged lad with an impressive tattoo on his left arm."Ready to order?"

Henry bounces in his seat."Chicken fingers!With extra ketchup!"

The server jots it down."Got it, little man."The server turns to me, pen poised."And for you, sir?"

"I'll have the meat lover's pizza, medium."I glance at Jennifer."Share with me?"

She nods, her eyes crinkling at the corners."Perfect.And can we get a side of garlic knots for the table?"

Amelia pipes up without glancing away from her placemat."I want the pesto pasta, no mushrooms."

Once everyone's ordered, I lean back in the booth, my arm naturally falling behind Jennifer.The weight of the day seems to lift in this moment of normalcy.

During the next few months, leading up to Thanksgiving, Claudia and Marcus invite us to their place in Los Angeles for an extended-family meal.That means three sets of grandparents will come with us too.Marcus does very well as a yoga instructor, thanks mostly to his YouTube channel, so he and Claudia have gone all out for this event---paying for airline tickets for the whole family and setting us up in a swanky hotel.