Page 23 of An Unexpected Chance

“You know that answer to that.”

“Then figure it out,” he said.

* * *

Later that day, Mia came into our kitchen, pulling herself up onto a stool, watching as I made a simple supper. We had left Evan’s place after lunch, and she had been her usual busy self, coming and going, reading, playing, and keeping occupied. She’d had a great time with her cousins but had been happy to be by herself for a while.

“Daddy?”

“Yeah, Sweet Pea?”

“Did you have fun last night on your date?”

I turned and met her serious expression. I turned off the sauce I was heating and sat across from her. “Yeah, I did.”

“You like Ms. McNeil?”

“I do,” I replied cautiously, wondering where this was going.

“She was nice to me when we saw her. Her eyes are kind.” She wrinkled her nose. “Not like some people’s. I like her smile.”

I had to agree; she had a great smile.

“What are you trying to say, Mia?” I asked.

“Auntie Holly explained dating to me better than you did, Daddy. She said everyone has someone who fits them really well. Like my favorite sweater. She said sometimes you think they fit, then you find they’re scratchy or the sleeves are too short, and you have to try on someone else. She says she’s lucky because Uncle E fits her perfectly.”

“They fit each other,” I agreed. “But in this case, I have to make sure they fit you too.”

“I’m not a baby, Daddy.”

“I know. You’re growing too fast. I don’t want to upset you.”

She shook her head. “I meet some kids I like, but when I get to know them, I don’t want to be best friends with them. I meet others and really like them. That’s sort of the same thing. If I didn’t like Ms. McNeil, I would tell you. But I have to meet her first. Let her see my room and have supper with her. I can’t decide if I don’t know her.”

I ran a hand through my hair.

When did my kid get to be so smart?

She kept talking. “If you like her, Daddy, I think I will. She’s a teacher, so she must like kids, right?”

“Yes, she does.”

“And she’s nice?”

“Very nice.”

“She likes you? You said you had to see if she did.”

I thought about how we made love. How her smile made my chest warm. Her beautiful honesty.

“Yeah, she did.”

“Then we should invite her to supper. Auntie Holly always invites people to supper. We could make lasagna.”

I smiled. Mia and I made lasagna together. She loved to help layer it, and it was decent. I could add a salad and bread.

If Amy forgave me.