“Amelia.”
“Yeah?” She whipped her head around to me, giving me all her attention.
“Why don’t we show mommy what you made and put it on the fridge?” Her eyes lit up as she made grabby hands for the folder I had. I handed it over to her and Melanie put Amelia down. She opened the folder and handed her mom the drawing, a proud beaming smile plastered on her face and I watched as the look on Melanie’s changed. She was enthralled with listening to Amelia talk about her day with me but as she looked at the drawing, her smile started to fade. I could see the sadness start to form but then she stood up straight and a smile took precedence.
“This is the most beautiful drawing I have ever seen, Amelia.”
“Really, mommy?” Amelia bounced around with excitement but that’s not where Melanie’s focus was. Her eyes were trained on me and the smile didn’t fade.
“Really, honey. Jack’s right though. This belongs on the fridge. Would you like to help me put it there?”
“Yeah!” Amelia ran first to the kitchen while Melanie and me slowly walked behind her. We didn’t say a word to each other, but our hands met together and we didn’t let them break. Even when Amelia ripped the drawing out of her mother’s hand and began putting magnets all around the edges to make sure that it didn’t go anywhere else besides the fridge.
The drawing looked like it was almost meant to be there, hanging at the perfect height for Amelia to see every day when she came in here.
“What’s for dinner, mommy?”
“I was thinking spaghetti.”
“That sounds good!” Amelia had the last word before running off to her room upstairs, leaving Melanie and I in the kitchen alone. She turned toward me, placing a hand on my chest before pulling me into a hug. I wrapped my arms around her, holding her in the kitchen.
“Would you like to stay for dinner?” Melanie asked me and instead of answering immediately, I made her wait it out while I stood there pretended to contemplate it.
“I’d love to.” I kissed her head after finally accepting the offer. “But I have one question.”
“What’s that?” She pulled away, looking up to me.
“Am I staying just for dinner?”
I let my question sink in for her. I’d been to the house a few times now but I’d never spent the night. I’d wanted to be appropriate when it came to having men in Melanie’s house while her daughter was here.
Her eyes searched mine as I waited for her answer. I was leaning toward one rather than the other but I wanted to know how this night would end and I wanted it to be up to Melanie.
“Stay the night, Jack.”
* * *
“I’m stuffed.”I leaned back in the chair, placing a hand over my stomach.
“Me too,” Amelia dramatically answered and mimicked my exact moves, placing a tiny hand over her belly. She even went as far as to stick out her stomach to show how full she was.
“Well aren’t you two just the pair.” Melanie grabbed for our plates and headed back into the kitchen. We’d managed to eat everything that she’d made, including all of the garlic bread.
“Amelia, why don’t you go get ready for bed? We’ve got a big day tomorrow, grandma and grandpa are coming into town.”
I remembered Max mentioned that his parents were coming in for his mom’s birthday in order to celebrate with the grandkids. I had completely forgotten that meant Melanie, too. That meant me staying the night was something big for her, since she knew she had to be up to go see her parents but still wanted me to be here with her until she had to leave.
Amelia ran up to her room, leaving Melanie and myself alone again.
“That was delicious, love.” I came up behind her, wrapping my arms around her waist and pulling her into me. She leaned her head back, having placed the now clean dishes on the drying rack beside us. I closed my eyes, taking in the moment of pure bliss that had been this day. From spending the day with Amelia, to having a family dinner with these girls, I didn’t know how it could get better.
“I think I have an idea on how it could.”
“Did I say that out loud?” I laughed, not realizing my thoughts had come from my mouth. I looked down at Melanie who was now turning in my arms, wrapping her own around my waist, pulling me closer.
“You did,” she lifted up on her toes and leaned in to whisper in my ear, “and I have the perfect idea how to end the night with a bang.”
“Mommy!”
