“Alright, hungry bear, go freshen up before Mel gets here. You’ve got way too much caveman energy going on.”
I showered, shaved, and pulled on dark jeans and a pale-blue button-down. Abby wrangled Cassy into a soft dress and braided her hair neatly. The house settled into that precompany hush: lights on, table set, and soft music low. But I wasn’t settled as I waited for Mel’s car to pull up. We hadn’t logged years of history, but it already mattered to me how she’d see my place, if she’d like the living room…. I wanted tonight to feel easy, not me, a grown man with a crush, tripping over himself to make a good impression.
Shortly before five, the crunch of tires on the driveway pulled me to the door.
Mel stepped out of her car, late sunlight catching on the light-yellow dress scattered with small shapes, the hem brushing mid thigh. Hair loose. My pulse skipped.
“Hey,” she said, walking to the door with a smile.
I greeted her with a kiss on the cheek and stepped back to let her in. The right foot, the left foot, and every other part of me were officially on board.
She held up a small gift bag. “I brought something for Cassy.”
Cassy came forward. “Hi.”
Mel knelt and handed over the bag. Inside was a skating-themed coloring book and a pack of glitter gel pens.
Cassy’s face lit up. “Thank you!”
She gave Mel a quick hug before darting to the couch.
We laughed.
Mel straightened and came face-to-face with Abby.
“Hi, Mel, I’m Abby. Nice to meet you,” she said warmly, extending her hand.
“Nice to meet you, too, Abby. You and Sean definitely share the family smile.”
Abby laughed. “I hear that a lot, but I’m thankful to be on the smaller side.”
We chuckled, and Abby led us to the dining room.
She peeked into the living room. “Sweetie, dinner time.”
“A minute, Mommy,” Cassy called back.
I poured drinks, and we settled in. Cassy joined us soon after.
“I’ve gotten to know you these last two weeks through endless gushes. Glad to finally put a face to the awesome Mel,” Abby said, smiling.
“If it’s from Cassy, I don’t mind. But from Sean, that needs investigating,” Mel replied.
“Hey, that’s not fair,” I countered. “And I’m sitting right here.”
She turned to me with mock surprise. “I didn’t notice. That tongue-tie might benefit from an investigation, too.”
That cracked me up. Abby laughed hard, and Cassy’s confused giggle joined in.
“That account I set up for sass collection is filling up nicely,” I said, catching my breath.
Mel tilted her head toward Abby. “You see what I put up with?”
Abby grinned. “Oh, I see it. And I like you already.”
Before I could respond, Cassy piped up, giggling through a mouthful of bread. “Mom doesn’t like it when Uncle Sean steals the bread.”
Abby and Mel laughed. I shot Cassy a mock glare. “Traitor.”
