"Toby," Terry warned with a chuckle, but lifted an eyebrow in the direction of his son. "How about you actually greet my friend first before you start confessing to ice cream crimes?"
Toby's face immediately shifted into the slightly embarrassed expression of a kid who'd been caught forgetting his manners, but his grin never dimmed. "Sorry! Hi, Ms. O'Neill. It's really nice to meet you."
"It's nice to meet you, too," Sandra said, extending her hand with the same natural warmth she'd shown when talking to Emma.
Toby stepped forward eagerly and shook Sandra's hand with careful politeness, but Terry could see his son was already comfortable with her. Sandra leaned forward slightly, lowering her voice to a conspiratorial whisper that immediately captured Toby's attention.
"Just to set the record straight, I like ice cream, too. Especially eating it right out of the container."
Toby's grin widened to epic proportions, and Terry felt his chest expand with something that felt dangerously close to hope.
Sandra turned to Emma, extending her hand with the same genuine interest she'd shown Toby. "It's lovely to meet you, Emma."
Emma stepped forward more slowly, her natural caution evident in the way she studied Sandra's face before extending her own hand. Her smile was polite but genuine, though Terry caught the way his daughter's eyes moved carefully over Sandra's features, processing and evaluating.
"Nice to meet you too, Ms. O'Neill," Emma said, her voice carrying the careful courtesy she used with adults she was still figuring out.
Terry couldn't help but wonder what was going through Emma's mind. His daughter had always been the more observant of his children, the one who watched and listenedbefore deciding how she felt about new people or situations. But whatever conclusions she reached, Emma's naturally sweet disposition didn't suggest that she found Sandra lacking.
He jerked his attention back to Toby, who had somehow already managed to involve Sandra in what appeared to be a serious discussion about ice cream philosophy.
"I think it depends on your mood." Toby’s expression was thoughtful in the way that meant he was working through a complex problem. "Chocolate is good, but you're limited with what you can put it with. We had apple pie last weekend, and chocolate ice cream with that would be weird. Good thing we had vanilla, because that made it perfect."
"What about with chocolate cake?" Sandra asked, giving Toby her full attention, which made Terry's heart pound.
"Oh, chocolate ice cream would be okay with that," Toby replied, his face scrunching as though he were pondering the secrets of the universe. "But then that might be chocolate overload. I'm not sure if that's a real thing, but it could be. Strawberry or vanilla would be safer choices."
Sandra laughed with delight. "I came in tonight just to pick up a few things. Now I think I might need to get ice cream and maybe hit the bakery section!"
"Now you're talking!" Toby declared with the enthusiasm of someone who'd just converted another person to his way of thinking.
Emma rolled her eyes at her brother, but Terry caught the small smile tugging at her lips. She was carefully observing Sandra's interaction with Toby, and he could practically see the wheels turning in his daughter's mind.
Sandra's attention shifted to Emma with the smooth transition of someone genuinely interested in both children. "I really like your bracelet, Emma."
Emma's eyes widened with surprise, and she glanced down at her wrist before looking back at Sandra. The compliment seemed to catch her off guard, but pleasure flickered across her features. "Thank you. I got it at one of the shops in Baytown. It's supposed to track dolphins, though I'm not sure if that actually works."
Terry noticed how Emma's response was more reserved than Toby's immediate enthusiasm, but not unfriendly. His daughter was simply taking her time.
"Even if it doesn't work, the bracelet is beautiful," Sandra said with sincerity that couldn't be faked. "I might have to check out those shops. It's been a while since I've explored Baytown properly."
Emma nodded, her smile becoming a little more genuine. "There are some nice places. The bookstore has a good selection, if you like to read."
"I love to read," Sandra replied, and Terry watched his daughter's interest spark slightly at this common ground.
Terry's chest filled with something that felt like pure joy. He'd randomly run into the woman he'd been trying to see all week, his kids were now officially introduced to her, and while Emma was being characteristically cautious, neither child seemed uncomfortable with the encounter. Hell, Toby was already acting like Sandra was a long-lost friend.
"Toby, Emma, give me a second to chat with Sandra, and I'll catch up to you," he said, his voice carrying just enough parental authority to make it clear this wasn't a request.
Toby looked mildly disappointed to have his ice cream conversation cut short, but nodded agreeably. Emma's expression was more thoughtful, her gaze flicking between Terry and Sandra.
Both kids said polite goodbyes to Sandra, then pushed the cart slowly down the aisle at a deliberate pace that suggested they hoped to overhear whatever came next.
"I don't have a lot of time, and I need to make this quick," Terry said, stepping closer to Sandra than was generally acceptable in a grocery store, but he wasn't about to let this opportunity slip away without saying what needed to be said. "I miss you. I haven't had a chance to tell you in person how sorry I am about last weekend."
Sandra shook her head, her expression softening in a way that gave him hope. "You've already apologized. And I told you it was just a weird situation. No one's fault."
"I know, but it was fucked," he said, the frustration he'd been carrying all week bleeding into his voice. "I never meant to shove you away like you were some hidden embarrassment. Far from it. If we'd already introduced you to the kids, I never would have asked you to stay in the bedroom. Believe me, Sandra, you’re no secret."
