Page 67 of A New Chapter

Sure enough, the heart-shaped waffle maker that he had bought in Chicago sat on the kitchen counter with steam pouring out of it.

“Smells good. I love waffles!”

Zack smirked at her and went back to his cooking duties.

“What can we help with?” Emma asked.

“You two can set the table and pour the juice,” Zack said.

Gracie excitedly showed Emma where to find the plates, forks, and glasses, and the two of them arranged everything on the table.

“I can pour the juice,” Gracie said.

“Uh, Gracie, why don’t we let Miss Emma do that. The last time you poured the juice, we ended up with a sticky mess, remember?”

Gracie looked like she was about to argue, but then she glanced at Emma and thought better of it.

“How about if you hold the glass while I pour?” Emma suggested.

Gracie nodded and gave her a sweet smile.

When the three of them sat down to eat, Gracie offered to pray again. They held hands around the table and bent their heads.

“Dear God, thank you for telling Robby not to pinch me, and thank you for letting Miss Emma come over for waffles. Amen.”

Emma’s heart was as full as her stomach by the time brunch was over. Gracie had bounded up the stairs to play, and now she and Zack were cleaning the kitchen.

“You’re really lucky, Zack. Gracie is a great kid,” Emma said while they worked side by side.

“Thanks. She thinks pretty highly of you too.”

“You think?”

“I know. In fact, she was mad at me yesterday when I suggested we go to a movie instead of story time.”

Emma was hesitant to dredge up the events of the last few days, but she was curious. “Did you end up going to a movie?”

“No. Gracie went into her room and refused to speak to me for most of the morning.”

Emma giggled at the little girl’s feistiness. “So that makes two of us who thought you were being a stubborn ass.”

“Guilty as charged,” Zack said, and then he swiftly changed the subject. “You have the day off, right?”

“Yes, why?”

“Gracie asked me to take her shopping for a Halloween costume. Come with us.”

“Are you sure she’d want me to go?”

“Go where? Go where?” Gracie skidded into the room and stopped in front of them.

“I asked Miss Emma if she’d like to go costume shopping with us.”

“Would that be ok with you, Gracie?” Emma asked, feeling cautiously optimistic.

“Yay! You can help me pick out a girl costume instead of a boy costume like Daddy would pick.”

“Then it’s settled. Get your shoes on, and then we’ll go,” Zack said, smiling at both of them.