Page 19 of Single Dad Dilemma

I help her into the backseat and climb behind the wheel. I had planned to work on the boat some more, but now that Violet is coming, I want to get everything ready for our little movie night. I clean up around the living room and make Margoa frozen pizza for dinner. She eats and then takes a bath. Then the two of us start pulling out all the goodies for the movie and putting everything in its place on the coffee table. Margo is bouncing around with excitement, and she hasn’t even had the candy yet. I have a feeling it has more to do with Violet than sugar.

Even though I’m excited to see her again, I’m also nervous because I know that means that we finally have to talk about that kiss, and I’m not sure how to explain it. What do I say? “Sorry, but I’m seriously attracted to you and I have no idea how to handle it because you’re the first person I’ve noticed since my wife’s passing?” Ha, I highly doubt that would work. It doesn’t sound like a good pickup line to me.

SEVEN

Violet

Lunch was nice and easy thanks to Margo being there. Carson and I couldn’t talk about last night or that kiss, which I’m thankful for today, but I know we need to address it soon, which is why I agreed to Halloween movie night. I’m hoping for a few minutes alone with him after Margo falls asleep.

I have to tell him that whatever that was can’t happen again. Not that I’m against the idea completely, but there is Margo to figure in, and that kiss was moving a little fast. If he’s interested in me, then we need to move slow and make sure that we’re actually compatible before jumping into something neither of us are ready for and possibly hurting Margo in the process.

After lunch, I leave them behind to get back to work to make the rest of the deliveries. I leave around five, letting Jane close herself so I can go home and get cleaned up. Like most days, my clothes are covered in a flour, sticky icing, and dried sweat from being near those hot ovens all day. When I make it home, I go straight to the shower. I wash and condition my hair, then go about shaving like normal. When I get out, I smother myself in my favorite scented lotion, Warm Vanilla Sugar, then I blow dry my hair. It falls down sleek and smooth like always. The only way I can get my hair to hold a curl is if I leave it in a knot allday or all night. Washing it takes all the curl out. I don’t bother with makeup. My usual thing is just some black mascara and lip gloss. Tonight, I add a touch of highlighter to makes my cheeks sparkle.

I go into my room and find a pair of black leggings. I pull them on with myHocus Pocussweatshirt and a pair of black Ugg boots. Might as well dress the part. I grab the dozen Halloween-themed sugar cookies I made before I left the bakery and hit the road.

I knock on their door, and Margo throws it open with Carson chasing after her. “Yay! You made it,” Margo says.

I laugh. “And I brought treats,” I tell her, bending down so she can see inside the box through the clear plastic panel.

“They’re Halloween cookies!” she cheers.

Carson laughs but takes the box from my hands.

“And look at my sweatshirt!”

She gasps. “Dad, can I wear my Halloween shirt?”

“I don’t see why not. Go ahead.”

She rushes out of the room.

Carson leads me into the living room. The coffee table is already littered with popcorn, candy, and drinks. He places the box of cookies down, and it completes the spread.

“Who would’ve thought we’d be having Halloween in the middle of June?” He laughs.

I shrug. “Hey, that’s my kind of thinking right there,” I joke, taking a seat on the far end of the couch.

He sits at the opposite end. “Listen, Violet—” he starts, but Margo is back and she’s jumping onto the couch in between us.

“We’ll talk later,” I tell him and he nods in agreement. He picks up the remote and turns on the movie.

Many hours later, both movies are over, and despite the sugar high Margo had, she’s out, sprawled out on the couchbetween us. Carson picks up the remote and turns off the movie, the blue light from the screen filling the room.

“I’m going to carry her up to bed. Then we can have a drink and talk if you want.”

I nod. “I’ll just start cleaning some of this up.”

“You don’t have to do?—”

I hold up my hand, cutting him off.

He picks Margo up and holds her in his arms, against his chest, to carry her upstairs. I stand up and bend over the table, cleaning up candy wrappers and empty popcorn bowls. I take the load I have in my arms into the kitchen and put things away. I head back into the living room, and Carson is just coming down the stairs. He passes me by, walks into the kitchen, and opens the fridge. I hear the clattering of glass bottles. I take my seat on the couch, angling my body toward his seat.

He hands over a bottle and sits where he had before, far away from me. “So, what’s up?” I ask, taking a drink.

“I thought that maybe we needed to address last night…”

I nod. “I thought the same thing, but honestly, it seems we’re both doing the right thing here, right?”

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