Page 60 of Secret Baby
Clara's question about marriage had shaken him. The last thing he needed was a wife, though Vicki staying would have benefits. At the fridge, he found the bread for toast and the hash browns. He returned to the stove to get another pan started. Quickly he set the table for the breakfast.
Vicki would be a good wife. The thought spun in his head. He spooned the hash browns on the plates, added the eggs, and the toaster clicked. Vicki and Clara sat there with their pinkies together, like they'd made a promise.
Done, he returned to the table, placed the plates down, and stared at Vicki, with her eyes wide, shining with tears. "Thank you, Colt."
Her smile set off fireworks inside his belly.
Then she turned serious. "Now what's going on, Colt? My phone has almost a hundred missed calls and text messages."
"Mom," Clara said, "Dadsaid he scared them off."
Colt massaged his neck. "Your mom doesn't have to call me dad. That's what you call us, not what we call each other."
"Jenna's mom and dad call each other that," Clara said. "And you're my family."
Vicki hid her phone in her pocket and stared at Colt. He sat and found his fork. "Wow, I'm hungry right now. Sit and talk more to your daughter, princess."
No one moved. Perhaps he was bad company this morning. Colt dropped his fork. "You two get started. I'll find out what happened in the real world."
A half-smile grew on Vicki's face as she stared at Clara, who launched into another speech on a matching wardrobe run.
Colt scrolled through the messages on his phone.
Then another knock rang through the house and the girls stopped talking. Colt dropped his phone on the counter and went toward his bedroom.
Vicki whispered, "Don't. See who it is first."
She would have an opinion on guns. They needed to find out why reporters were here.
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Colt unclenched his fists and took a few deep breaths as Vicki glanced at the door. "I'll get rid of them."
"Thank you, Colt."
He stormed toward the door.
Reporters were never good. Vicki's hand covered her racing heart, and her legs were still weak. For a moment she thought she'd faint, but then she stared at Clara. Their innocent girl needed to stay that way. They'd go to the kitchen or her room. "Help me clean up."
Colt went outside to deal with a second set of reporters on his property.
Vicki kept her daughter close. Clara helped with the dishes and the pair of them brought everything to the sink.
Her daughter stared at her. "Mom, Dad made breakfast, but never ate. Can we pack him something?"
At least their baby wasn't disturbed. Vicki nodded. "Great idea, though he should return in a moment."
Clara stepped onto a stool to help with the dishes. Vicki turned on the faucet, and Colt stormed through the hall. Seconds later, he returned to the front door with some paper in his hand.
She said nothing as he went outside.
Clara elbowed her lightly. "Dad said I can't take you to show and tell. At school, will you meet my friends?"
"Sounds like a plan." Vicki laughed, and rubbed her daughter's arm as she kept her gaze on Colt at the door. "Why can't we throw a party for your friends here?"
"Yeah!" Clara shouted.
A party for five-year-olds couldn't be too hard. Vicki nodded. "Okay, but we'll have to ask Dad if it's okay."
