They were as different as daylight and dark. His son, an athletic bundle of energy with two hollow legs, and Emily, his princess, a quiet, soft-spoken book worm.With it creeping up on seven o’clock, he couldn’t let Caden starve. Emily would have been fine, but his boy had burned off his burger and fries from lunch and the twenty Bagel Bites he’d put away for a three o’clock snack. The kid could eat.
With the kids served, drinks poured, and the argument over which was better, mild salsa or medium picante sauce resolved, he was lifting his taco to his mouth when he heard a car in the driveway.
Dan set his untouched taco down and wiped his hands. “That’ll be your mom. Eat up. She’ll probably want to tear out of here as soon as she knocks on the door.”
“Okay, Daddy,” Emily said before taking a dainty bite.
“I’m not leaving until I’ve had my four tacos,” Caden said, talking with his mouth full as usual. “Mom will just have to wait. I’m starved.”
“Ew, Cade. I can see everything in your mouth. That’s gross.”
His son did not care, already reaching for taco number two.
Dan had to agree with Emily. Seeing a mouthful of chewed-up taco was disgusting. “Boy. We’re gonna have to sign you up for charm school or something.”
“Save your money, Daddy. Me and Mom have tried. He’s hopeless.”
Caden simply shrugged and reached for another shell. “All the guys eat like me. We’re men. That’s how it is.”
“If you ever want to get a girlfriend, you’ll have to change how it is,” Emily wisely warned.
A knock on the front door hurried Dan along. When he pulled it open, ready to blast Allison’s tardiness again, he nearly choked on his words, seeing Bella on his doorstep, beautiful as ever.
“You’re early,” he blurted out, stating the obvious.
“I hope that’s okay. I wasn’t sure where I was going, so I gave myself plenty of time.” She lifted the plate she was holding. “I brought cookies.”
“What kind?”
Dan turned to see his son and daughter behind him, Emily studying Bella while Caden studied the plate.
“Chocolate chip,” she said, smiling tentatively at them both.
“Awesome,” Caden said, relieving her of the plate she extended to him then disappearing into the hall leading to the kitchen.
“That was Caden, my oldest,” Dan said. “Sorry. He’s thirteen and thinks of sports, food, and video games. They’re all equally important, so there’s no order.”
“That’s okay. I made them to be eaten.”
“Is this your girlfriend, Daddy?”
“Yeah, sweetheart. This is Bella.”
“She’s pretty,” Emily said to him rather than her. “I like your shoes.”
Bella looked at her feet. “Thanks. I just bought them today. I got them on a BOGO rack, and the second pair is just as cute.”
Dan had no clue what BOGO meant, but he wanted a word with Bella that did not involve shoes or shopping. “Sweetheart,” he said, stroking his hand down Emily’s long hair. “Head on back to the kitchen and eat. Your mom is due any time, and if you’re not careful, Hoover, your brother, will inhale your tacos, too.”
“That’s okay,” she said as she turned. “But I’ll hurry because I would like a cookie.”
Dan took Bella’s hand and drew her inside, closing the door behind her.
“I thought your kids were leaving at six?”
“The ex is late again. I’m not sure you want to meet her just yet. She’s not exactly—”
The doorbell rang.