Before he could answer, she pressed again.
"She did, right? I know she did."
Nick reached out to muss Katie's hair, but his too-smart-for-his-peace-of-mind daughter ducked out of the way. "You can ask her when she comes back. I," he gave his daughter a pointed look, "am going to shower and change. Take a look in the kitchen and see if we have anything for lunch. If not, we can look at going out before you have to get your rehearsal."
"Sweet!" Katie jumped up and then took off for her room.
"Hey," he called after her. "Where are you going?"
She stopped halfway up the staircase and leaned over to grin at him. "Going to make sure my dance bag is packed. I'm hoping you'll take us to the new Curry House for lunch, so I need to have my bag all packed up to go in the car with us."
And she was off like a rocket.
Again.
The whole atmosphere in the Curry House was electric.
The noise level was easily manageable, but everyone was enjoying themselves.
Nick looked around the room and didn't see a single frown anywhere.
"Why," he wondered aloud, "is everyone so happy?"
From the other side of Ruth, Nick heard Katie snort a little laugh. "Because the food here is awesome! That," Katie giggled, "and they're not all you, grumpy."
Nick drew in a breath and was about to say something when Ruth took his hand and gave it a squeeze.
Smiling he shook his head and when the host gestured for them to follow, he gestured for the ladies to go ahead of him.
Katie gave him a wink, and a nod and Ruth blushed for a moment before she followed his daughter.
And Nick?
He put his shoulders back and followed them, his whole heart bursting with pride.
When they got to the table, the waiter reached for a chair and smiled at Ruth. "Miss?"
Nick gestured to the chair he was holding out. "Katie, why don't you sit over there."
He smiled at Ruth, hoping he had his charm on full display and gestured to the chair in front of him. "Honey?"
Ruth seemed taken aback by the endearment, but Katie clapped her hands together before flouncing into the chair held by the restaurant host, who was now smiling at the whole scene.
Nick reached out his hand and gently caressed Ruth's arm. "You okay?"
Ruth nodded slowly and took the seat he was holding out.
When he sat down beside her, she put her hand on his arm. "Are you really worried about all the smiling?"
Nick exhaled through his nose and reached his hand over to cover hers. "I just feel like it's a little weird."
Katie leaned forward against the table poking her pointer fingers into her cheeks to accentuate her smile. "Smiling isn't weird, dad. You smile around me all the time."
He leaned in and scanned the room with his eyes. "Not this much. I feel like we're in a cult or something."
Ruth laughed and Nick felt his heart skip a beat in his chest.
It left him a little breathless.
