That’s when I pulled out my phone. I had a feeling this was going to be damn good, and I wanted to commemorate the moment.
Wes was mid-sip of his drink when he glanced over at the young girl now standing beside his chair with tears in her eyes. “Daddy!” she wailed before flinging her arms around his neck.
I heard him choke on the sip he’d just taken as his eyes went wide with horror. “I—excuse me?”
“I miss you so much!” the girl sniffled as she stepped back, wiping the tears from her cheeks only for them to be replaced by more.
“I—” Wes let out a nervous laugh. “I haveno ideawho you are. Where are your parents?”
“Mommy misses you,” she sniveled. “Why did you send us away?”
His eyes widened more. “Send you—what?”
“Mommy is so sadallof the time,” her voice cracked. “She cries for you every night.”
I saw Wes’s eyes shift from the girl to the tables nearby, watching as other diners gave him odd looks and whispered to one another. Then, he looked at his date. The poor woman’s eyes were as wide as saucers, flickering between him and the young girl, almost as if she were trying to see the resemblance that didn’t exist.
“I’m so sorry,” he said nervously before looking back at the girl. “Look, kid, you’ve mistaken me for someone else.”
“You never call anymore,” she continued. “And you haven’t seen me in so long. It was my wish when I blew out my candles on my birthday,” her breath hitched, “for my daddy to show up, but younevercame,” she wept loudly.
I laughed at my table, holding my phone as I videoed the exchange between Wes and my little paid actress.This girl is good. I dropped my phone with a loud snort when she flung her arms back around Wes’s neck, clinging to him as he stiffened uncomfortably. The look on his face was priceless as he frantically glanced around for what I assumed to be this random child’s parents while trying to calm her down so she stopped creating a scene.
However, my moment of true victory came when his date stood from her chair. “I’m going to let you handle this…”
“Ava, wait!” He looked at her pleadingly—I think it was more tohelphim than for her to stay for their date.
“I don’t want to be a part of whatever this is.” Her eyes darted around to the on-lookers before she quickly walked away.
The second the woman disappeared inside, my little actress’s tearsinstantlystopped. She smiled at Wes as she wiped her cheeks, and without another word, she turned, skipping merrilyback across the terrace toward me. His wide-eyed gaze followed her, and the moment it locked on mine, I could barely contain my laughter.
I rested my chin on my hand, scrunching my nose with a smile as I offered a dainty wave.
When the girl returned, I slipped a wad of cash into her hands, my box of candy bars resting on my lap. “You were amazing.”
She grinned. “Thanks, lady.”
She skipped off back inside, and I looked over to see Wes approaching me, his hands stuffed into his pockets. I grabbed one of the candy bars and peeled it open.
“We’re payingchildrento do our dirty work for us now?” he sneered. “That’slow, even foryou.”
“You’re just mad you didn’t think of it first.” I bit into a piece of chocolate, grinning up at him smugly.
“That washumiliating!” he hissed. “And the birthday wish?Really?”
I slapped the table with a laugh. “That was a nice touch, right?” I stood from my chair, grabbing my bags and my box of candy bars. “Anyway, you’re welcome,” I said as I headed back inside, making my way toward the exit.
Wes trailed behind me. “Forwhat?”
“She didn’t appear quite prissy enough for you.” I chuckled as we stepped outside onto the sidewalk.
“Prissyenough?” he questioned. “You think I need someone prissy…so, someone like you then?”
“I amnotprissy.”
“Sure,Princess. Whatever you say.”
I walked along the cobblestone streets in the heart of Bayport, sipping a latte on my way to the shop. Lampposts were wrapped in evergreen garland and twinkling lights, and storefronts were decorated with wreaths and “on sale” signs for their early Christmas deals.
