My mom smiles at her with fondness. “I’ll share my recipe with you.”
I feel a warm glow deep inside me at how well Penelope is meshing with my family. Is my mom right? Should I officially ask her to be my girlfriend?
We go into the kitchen and the smell of cookies only adds to my happiness. Then I see Kailee’s little hands clutching a giant cookie and I get a horrible sinking feeling. What if Laci wins the custody battle? What if this is one of the last times everything feels right in my life?
I dispel the thought and grab a cookie. It’s best to stay positive.
* * *
I’mon the phone with Penelope.
“That was so much fun. Your mom is like the sweetest woman on earth,” she says.
“She’s definitely up there,” I say. “Top five, for sure.”
We left just a couple of hours ago, after hanging out there all afternoon. Penelope really bonded with both my mom and Kailee. She loved my mom’s backyard vegetable garden, and my mom was more than happy to tell her about it as well as offer some tips for starting her own.
“You guys got on really well,” I say. “I hope my mom didn’t talk your ear off.”
“Not at all. It was really interesting. I actually went on Amazon as soon as I got home and ordered some seeds. I’m going to start my own little vegetable patch.”
“Well there ya go. I’ll have to tell my mom. She’ll be glad to hear she helped you discover your . . . inner green thumb.”
“Or, I can tell her myself.”
“You just want more cookies, don’t you?”
“Duh! They’re the best I’ve had. And I love hanging out with Kailee. She’s so smart.”
My heart and soul swell with fatherly pride. “She sure is. And she just loves you.”
“Aww. Well, I mean it—I’d love to see them again. And I’d love to see you again, Mr. Matthews. Sooner rather than later.”
“How about Friday night?”
“Friday is perfect.”
“Great. And, uh . . .I was thinking maybe you could come over to my place and I can cook for you.”
I hold my breath. A second passes. Then another. I feel disappointment brewing in my gut, but Penelope’s voice turns that disappointment into ecstasy with three simple words.
“I’d love that.”
“Great,” I say, trying to sound cool, like my hopes aren’t skyrocketing to the moon. “Also, thanks again for coming to the hearing today.”
“It was the least I could do. And I know it’s hard, but try to stay positive. You are such a great dad, Harp. The judge will be able to see that.”
“Yeah,” I say, not feeling so sure. “Unless Laci can manipulate him into thinking I’m a monster.”
“She won’t. Youarea good man. Your lawyer knows it. The guys at the station know it. And soon, the judge will know it too. The truth will come out in the end. I believe that from the bottom of my heart.”
“What about you?” I say.
“What about me?”
“Do you know that I’m a good man?”
“Okay, mister. Now you’re just fishing for compliments.”
