Page 22 of The Family Man

Daire puts them down to sit on the bar stools.

“It’s a movie with cute creatures that turn into monsters. Rahh!” Daire roars as he forms claw hands and begins to tickle the kids. Poppy and Nikhil squeals as Daire plays with them.

“You can’t watch it now. You have to get older. It’s a scary movie,” I reply.

Poppy stops laughing, and Nikhil is still coming down from the thrill as Daire pulls away.

I place the plate of pizza quesadillas in front of two of them.

As is the new norm, Poppy pushes my food, as she has become an instant food critic.

“What’s this?” she asks as she pokes at it like it’s radioactive.

“Food! Eat it!” I respond. I reprimand myself. “It’s pizza quesadillas.”

Unlike my daughter, my son is easy going. He is already digging into it. No questions asked. Why can she be like that?

“I don’t like quesadillas.” She pushes the plate away. God help me. This has been an ongoing battle since she got here.

“Pops, try it.” Daire takes a triangular piece of the quesadilla from her plate and sinks his teeth into it.

He groans dramatically. “This is so good and cheesy. You have no idea what you’re missing.”

She bites her thumb and stares at her brother for confirmation. He looks at her and gives her the thumbs up.

She screws her lips and sneers back at the quesadilla. “It’s looks okay.”

“Okay, you know your daddy is a top chef, right?” Daire dips a piece into her small container of sour cream. “Try it with this.”

Does she give Daire any lip? No, because Uncle Daire says it’s good, so it’s good. Shit, I’m sounding like a toddler in my own head.

“What time is your date?” Daire opens my fridge and takes out some grapes and begins to chomp on them.

“I just got those, wash them,” I state. I wash my hands and dry them off and reach for my leather jacket.

“I am going to get her now.” I pick up my keys and the flowers I brought her from the wicker basket on the island and I look at my kids.

“I will be back soon.” They both regard me with blank stares, like my absence is not a big deal.

“Okay, um, D, call if you need me.” I pat my pockets to make sure I have my wallet.

“You are more like dad than you know,” Daire utters while popping a grape in his mouth.

“You two don’t give your uncle any trouble,” I point at Poppy and Nikhil, they continue eating as if I’m bothering them. Maybe I should stop and kiss them good night. I look into the eyes of my daughter, and I decide against it.

Walking out to my garage I open the door to my four cars and a bike. I take the fob for my newest baby that I got last year, the BMW 2022 M4 CS. I fell in love with this car the first time I saw it. The deep cherry red metallic paint was an extra cost, but it was worth it.

Clicking the fob I jump in and start my car.

I intend to make this night an epic one.

* * *

SAGE

“I can’t believe you are wearing that.” Anise pouts while Rosemary puts the last flick of my mascara on.

“I think she’s fab. You want her to look hoochie!” Rosemary comes to my defense. I don't know what happened between last week and now but something or should I say someone, changed her for the better,

---