Page 96 of Mr. Almost

“Oooh, that will be so much fun. What are we going to do? Can we go to the aquarium? To the movies? To get ice cream?” She rattles off ideas.

“I will get it all planned, and we will have fun. For now, I need you to go to day care, and then when Mommy brings you home, pick out your prettiest dress and be waiting.”

“Thank you, Daddy. I can’t wait.”

I smile over at Olivia, mouthing, “Thank you.”

Her answering smile lights my world on fire.

“Wow, this place is really fancy,” Ari marvels as I hold her in my arms.

The restaurant is one that you would bring a date to if you werelooking to impress them with money. The food is quite fancy, but I called ahead and the chef agreed to make whatever my little girl wants. For a fee, of course.

“This is where a man takes a woman he wants to impress. Are you impressed?”

She nods her head, her little curls falling around her face.

She went full princess for this date. She’s wearing a blue dress with the puffy bottom that she wears when she wants to feel like that one ice queen from that kid’s movie. She insisted Olivia curl her hair, though. She wanted to be unique.

The kid is a hoot, but fuck if I don’t love her.

“Do I have to eat that stuff?” she whispers in my ear as we are led back to the table I reserved for us.

I look over and see the lobster with its head still attached. I can see why she wouldn’t want that.

“No, you can have whatever you want.”

She nods as I set her down for her to slide into the booth. I slide in across from her.

She picks up the menu the hostess left for her and pretends to read it. I asked them to leave her one so she could feel like an adult even though I know she can’t read the words.

“What are you thinking, love?” I ask her.

She beams up at me. “I don’t know. What are you going to get, Daddy?”

“I’m going to get a steak with potatoes and green beans.”

She turns her nose up at the mention of green beans. She doesn’t like vegetables too much.

“I want pasta,” she tells me.

“Do you like alfredo? Or red sauce?”

She shrugs. “I like both.”

“Okay, I’ll order for you then if you would like?” I ask.

“Yes, please.”

When the waitress comes over to take our order, I smile up at her.

“My date will have a Shirley Temple on the rocks. I’ll have your finest cola on the rocks as well.” I wink down at my daughter, who has started to giggle. “As for an appetizer, we will take some of your seafood fondue and some chicken tenders. Our mains will be steak with potatoes and green beans, medium rare. The lady will have two portions. One of the chicken alfredo and one of the Bolognese with meatballs.”

“Very good choices. I’ll be right back with your drinks.”

After the server leaves, I turn back to my daughter. “Now the man should try to get to know you better. Since we know each other, let’s talk about the things that interest you.”

The rest of the dinner is perfect. I let her talk all about the kids at her day care and her favorite movies. I tell her a little bit about my work, but only enough to keep her interested and not bore her. We talk about her favorite snacks.

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