“You cook for me all the time.”Annie leaned on the doorway, glancing at the twins.
“Of course I do!I’m your mother.But you know this is special.It’s not every day that a – ”
Annie cut her off.“Can I help with anything, Miles?”
A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.What was Clara going to say?That a what?Neighbor?Firefighter?Decent guy cooked for her?
He had a tendency to go overboard with these sorts of things, but this time maybe he’d gone extra overboard.Maybe there was a part of him that was trying to show up her ex-husband.Maybe he wanted Annie to know the sort of treatment she deserved.
Maybe he needed to keep that to himself.“The turkeys are resting, so we can sit down to dinner in about twenty minutes.Or later.Whatever you want!You’re our honored guests!”
The evening evolved into a wonderful chaos, first with fitting all the food onto the table, then getting everyone into their seats.The twins sat in their highchairs for a full sixteen minutes, eating bits of cheese and globs of sloppy joe before working their way back into the living room.
With Bella by his side, Leon wasn’t frightened at all.She became a magician, pulling out new toys every time one of the twins threatened to lose interest.
“When did you get all of these?”Miles asked.
She shrugged.“When you gave me your credit card, I reasoned it should be an investment into my business.”
He nodded.“I see that.”
“An unwilling investor,” Clara said, snorting a laugh.
Miles grinned.There was nothing unwilling about it.Unknowing, maybe, but not unwilling.
After dinner, there was far too much food left over.
Miles had planned for it.He’d bought containers to make meals for Annie and Clara to freeze.
“If you don’t have room in your freezer, I’ve got a chest freezer in the garage.”He paused, carving knife mid-air.“Unless you didn’t like the food.Then I won’t force it on you.”
“We like the food,” Clara said, pointing a finger at him.“Pack it up!”
“Mom!”Annie hissed, but even she couldn’t help but smile.“Thank you,” she said.“That’s very thoughtful.”
Focused on his work, he almost missed Clara’s announcement ten minutes later.“The twins are getting tired.I’m going to take them home and put them to bed.”
Annie, who had insisted on helping clear the table, set down a pile of dishes.“Let me finish up in here and we can go.”
“Nonsense!”Clara said.“Bella, you’ll help me, won’t you?”
Her answer was instantaneous.“I’d love to!”
“But – ”
“And you, young lady,” Clara said, scowling at Annie.“Try to imagine how differently this night would go if you were all the way over in Seattle.”
Annie couldn’t get a word in before her mother disappeared.
Miles pretended to focus on packing the rest of the leftovers as the twins were dressed and ushered outside.
When the door shut, it was quiet enough to hear the music again.
“Well, I am going to stay to help you clean up,” Annie announced.
He sighed.“Always the cleaning with you.”
She caught his eye and he winked as a laugh burst from her.He felt his chest swell.He needed more of that laugh.
