“Sure, what do you want on it?”
“Nothing.I just need a clean plate to feed him.”She motioned toward Carter.
“Is paper okay?”Taylynn asked Tania.When Tania nodded, Taylynn turned to Rene.“Bring one of the plates we use for birthday cake.”
Rene nodded and hurried off.
Chapter Eight
Carter started fussingin Taylynn’s arms.Tania knew he smelled the food and wanted some for himself.
“You might slide some off to the side and cut it up fine so it can start cooling,” Tania said to Smokey then turned to Tania.“I’ll take him, if you don’t want to deal with him fussing.He’s hungry.”
“I’ve got him,” Taylynn said.“Rene will get back with that plate soon then we’ll settle him in with some food, won’t we?”The last was said to Carter, not Tania, but Tania couldn’t help but smile at the way the other woman interacted with her son.“Besides,” Taylynn said.“I get the feeling you haven’t had a chance to eat many hot meals without him on your lap recently.”
Tania tilted her head in acknowledgement but didn’t say anything.Instead, she picked up her fork and dug into the enchilada casserole she’d asked for.Flavor burst in her mouth, and she savored the taste of not just something she didn’t have to prepare, but she didn’t have to plan it or shop for it.She hadn’t had more than the rare meal out, usually some business meal that Rod insisted she and Carter attend, that she hadn’t cooked since before Carter was born.
She focused on eating, listening to what was going on and letting the others deal with Carter, but still listening in case he needed her.She was halfway through the serving when she noticed the way her mouth burned.Reaching for her glass, she drank half the water in it before setting it aside, but it didn’t seem to help.
Rene appeared with two more plates, setting them in front of Raven and Taylynn.He started to leave when Smokey stopped him.
“Can you bring us a glass of milk?”Smokey asked.
“Sure thing.”
A moment later, Rene reappeared, a glass of milk in one hand, he set it on the table and Smokey slid it over in front of Tania.
“Try that.It will work better than the water.”
She stared at him like he’d lost his mind but took a drink.Almost instantly, the fire that burned her mouth and down her throat was diminished.Not completely gone, but better and now tolerable.
“Wow,” Tania said when she could speak without feeling like she was breathing fire.“I’m glad we didn’t give any of that to him.”She motioned to where Carter was smearing sauce and cheese all over the tray to the highchair, and smashing noodles into his hair.He’d need a bath after this.She didn’t want to think about the logistics of that, especially since the bathroom in the room they were now sharing with Smokey only had a shower.That was a problem for later.
“Yeah, that probably wouldn’t have been good,” Smokey said.
She could imagine the crying that would follow and how inconsolable he would be.No, best to keep to blander foods until he was older.With the milk to keep the burning to a tolerable level, Tania finished the rest of her meal, then pushed the plate away, fuller than she could remember being in a long time.
