Marla had handled a lot of the day-to-day, and I realized I should have helped out more. Her parents lived out of town and only visited once a year.
I sat on the edge of her bed. "Did you have fun at Grandma and Grandpa's house?"
She nodded. "We watched a movie and ate popcorn."
I raised a brow. "On a school night?"
She rolled her eyes. "I did my homework first."
"I guess it's okay once in a while." I knew my parents spoiled her. They didn't always listen to my rules, but that was what grandparents did.
"Don't forget you're my date to the fire department's holiday party," I reminded her.
Her eyes widened. "Do I get to dress up?"
"It's in a ballroom at Christmas Town, so I would think so." Just the reminder of Eve in that red dress had me feeling hot all over again. There was something about that woman that made my blood pressure rise.
Sofia sat up in bed. "I want to dress up as a princess."
"Of course." This was one of those times that dressing like a princess was appropriate.
Her eyes danced with excitement. "It's going to be so much fun."
"We'll have to go shopping for a dress." I was less excited about that. "We're escorting the woman who owns Christmas Town to the dance. Eve's the one who offered us the ballroom, and Frank wants me to go with her. You know, because I'm in the running to be the next fire chief." Hopefully, that made more sense to her than it did me.
She tipped her head to the side, considering me. "Is she your date then?"
"Frank thought it would be a nice thing for me to do." I hoped that she didn't ask any follow-up questions. Because the real reason was that I'd been a jerk to a lot of people, and he wanted me to be more affable before it was time to make a decision on my promotion. It was an impossible task. Not even a woman as dynamic as Eve could smooth my hard edges.
"Ah," Sofia said like she understood, but I wasn't so sure she did.
It wasn't a date in the traditional sense. "We're doing a good deed."
"You're being nice to her."
"That's right." In the simplest terms, Eve was doing us two favors: donating the hall and agreeing to be my date.
"Will Miss Eve come with us to pick out my dress?"
"I can ask her." I don't know why I agreed to reach out to Eve, but it made me feel something, and that was better than nothing.
It would be nice to have a woman's opinion on something like this too.
Sofia threw her arms around my neck. "G'night, Daddy."
I'd never get tired of her calling meDaddy,and I'd be crushed when she got too old to say it. I squeezed her back. "Night, Sof."
I closed her door so that it was slightly ajar and pulled out my phone. Eve had given the chief her number to coordinate the parade, and he'd forwarded it to me for our date.
Maddox: Would you be willing to help me find Sofia a dress for the party?
Eve: We have a princess-for-a-day package at the inn. It includes a dress fitting and hair and makeup. Do you think she would enjoy it?
Maddox: Sofia would love that.
And I wouldn't need to go dress shopping.
Eve: Bring her by that afternoon, and I'll get her sorted.
