I shoot back a thumbs-up emoji, and just like that, it’s a date. I spend the rest of my day preparing for Micah to come over. I make lists of phone calls to take care of—I’ve gotta call the landscapers first thing in the morning to cancel my services. There’s also half a dozen work-related calls I need to deal with. We’ve got a new campaign for a snack food of some sort coming up, and so far, all the kid actors my casting directors have auditioned have been terrible. I almost wish Hailey was an actress. She’s a smart kid; I bet she could read lines no problem, and as an added bonus, she’s adorable.
She can’t be worse than the one who gave us the twelve-minute off-key rendition ofTomorrow.
Chapter 11
Iris
Much to Karen’s dismay, Micah comes over to cook dinner and work on my yard every night that week, and we go out to dinner the following Friday, leaving Hailey with Becky. I told Micah it was fine with me if she came along, but he said he wants to have some “getting to know each other time” without her at least once a week. Since Becky can only stay until ten o’clock this time, I’m assuming he really meant getting to know each other, and there isn’t any hidden intent in his words.
Micah doesn’t skimp on the meal. He takes me to a high-end seafood restaurant and springs for escargot and lobster tails. The food is exquisite, and by the time we leave, I’m pleasantly stuffed. I pat my stomach as we head to Micah’s car, hoping I’m not too bloated from all that food.
“You really put that away tonight,” he says. “I kinda dig it. Some women think they have to be all delicate and dainty. It’s a little annoying, especially because to us guys it’s usually pretty obvious.”
“Well, that’s just silly. I was hungry, and the food was delicious. What’s the point of taking teeny bites and only eating half the meal when I’m famished?”
“My thoughts exactly. If you’re hungry, eat. I hope you never think you can’t eat around me.”
I giggle and lean into him. “I think it’s a little too late for that. Seems like every time we get together for something, we eat. Which is not a complaint! Your cooking is amazing, and it’s fun to get out and have dinner like we did tonight. I might end up getting fat from it, though.”
His hand drifts down to my hip. “Curvier, maybe, but fat? Never.”
We get in the car and head home, and Micah gives me a kiss on my front porch that will surely have the neighbors talking at the next neighborhood get-together. I know they’re already talking about the giant hickey he left on my neck last week, which is only just now starting to fade. Thank God for the option to turn off video on Zoom calls.
We still haven’t found an actress for our new campaign, and the clients are getting antsy. They’re extremely picky, though, and insist on attending every audition to weed out any kids they don’t want in their ads. Since I mostly manage things from home, I usually Zoom in for auditions. I just give the clients some lame lie about having a nasty cold sore and not wanting anyone to see it.
When Micah arrives for Saturday morning “brefkiss” with Hailey in tow, something’s off. He gives me a noncommittal grunt and a hug, then heads to the kitchen with his bags of food. Hailey seems fine, as she’s busy talking my ear off, but Micah just kind of frowns while he starts cooking.
I listen to Hailey tell me about the games she played with Becky the night before, but my mind is preoccupied with Micah’s preoccupation. What gives? Did I do something wrong last night? No, that doesn’t make sense. He wouldn’t be here this morning if that was the case.
We sit down to eat, but Micah just stares at his plate for a minute, pushing the food around with his fork and barely even nibbling on it. Finally, I ask what’s up.
Micah sighs and runs a hand through his hair. “It’s work. I got an email this morning that I need to go out of town for a few days, and I can’t take Hailey. Becky’s got finals next week, so I can’t have her stay with Hailey, and both my parents and Lisa’s live out of state. There’s not enough time to arrange for any of them to fly out for a visit. I just don’t know what I’m going to do.”
Oh, no! Poor Micah. I can’t imagine being in that kind of situation. I have a friend who lives a few minutes away that checks on Cleo if I have to travel for work, but even if that fails, I can just board her at a vet for a few days. That’s not exactly an option for Micah.
“Why don’t I watch her? I mostly work from home, so she can either stay here, or I can bring my equipment over to your place while you’re gone and stay with her there.”
The words are out of my mouth before I even think.
Micah’s eyes widen, and his jaw goes slack. “You’d do that for us?”
I shrug it off like it’s no big deal, even though it’s the biggest commitment I’ve made in, well, ever. “Sure. Hailey and I get along great, right Hailey?” I lean forward. “Would you like for Miss Iris to stay with you for a few days while your daddy goes out of town? It would be like a slumber party.”
Hailey nods enthusiastically. “Uh huh! Can we, Daddy? I promise I’ll be good.”
Micah surges up from his spot on the couch and tackles me in a bear hug. “Oh, Iris, I can’t tell you how much this means to me! I’ll take care of everything—meal prep, Hailey’s bedtime schedule, temporary power of attorney … I’ll even leave you with my car, so you don’t have to worry about installing the car seat in yours.”
A sudden surge of regret flows through me. Well, maybe not regret. I don’t regret offering to help Micah with Hailey while he’s gone, but … maybe being overwhelmed is better. I hadn’t considered how much might go into such a simple offer.
“Uh, Micah? Why would I need power of attorney? It’s just a few days.”
He brushes it off, but I’m still hung up on the enormity of that kind of responsibility. “Oh, don’t worry about it. It’s just in case something happens, like Hailey falls off a swing set and breaks her arm or something. So the doctors have someone to make decisions. Probably won’t even be needed.”
Wait a minute. If something happens to Hailey, I’m not only supposed to somehow stay calm, I’ve also got to make rational, informed decisions about her care?
Then, before I have a chance to back out of it, Micah plays dirty.
He kisses me.
