Page 24 of Something Stronger
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When we reached the ice cream shop downtown, I parked just a few spaces in front of Lou. The girls rushed inside together as I waited for her. “I’m sorry if I ambushed you with this, Hallie just doesn’t have many friends yet and they seem to really be getting along.”
“It’s fine, I owed her anyway. It’s been a pretty rough week,” she murmured.
“Well, let me make it better with ice cream.” I held the door open and she seemed surprised. “It’s my treat. Get whatever you want,” I told the girls.
“No, you don’t need to pay for us.” Lou started digging in her purse, for what I assume was her wallet.
“Nonsense. I invited you; it’s my treat.” I watched as the girls looked in the coolers of all the different flavors and then began reading the list of sundaes.
“I think I want a strawberry cone,” Amy said very slowly as if she was really thinking about her choice.
“Me too,” Hallie chimed in.
“You should get something different and then we can share,” Amy pointed out.
“Oh, yeah. I’ll get the fudge ripple.” Hallie changed her order. “In a cone.”
“And for the lady?” I turned to Lou. I could tell she was really thinking about what she wanted, and I still wasn’t sure she was going to let me pay.
“I’ll take a chocolate malt.” Her voice was timid.
“A banana split for me with all the fixings.” I rubbed my belly. I didn’t eat lunch today and this was a special treat. I might be training a winner this time next year.
“Coming right up.” The guy behind the counter wrote everything down and then started making our order. After he handed the girls their cones, they went to sit at a table. They had their heads together and were whispering about something, but every few seconds I’d hear them laugh, so I knew it couldn’t be too terrible.
“What’s so funny?” I asked after I paid and sat down with them.
“Nothing.” Hallie’s lip pressed together as her cheeks turned rosy.
“Yeah, nothing.” Amy giggled harder.
“Doesn’t sound like nothing,” Lou mused and Amy broke first.
“Sophie’s mom has a crush on you.” She cackled as she pointed at me. “She says that her mom is in love with you. Hallietold her that you didn’t even know her mom and she got really mad at us, but it’s true… right?”
“Daddy, you don’t know her, right?” Hallie snickered.
“I don’t know her.” I shook my head and went back to eating my ice cream. If this was what eleven was like, how was I going to survive the teen years? I rolled my eyes as they laughed more.
“Is she your girlfriend?” Amy giggled.
“No.” I shook my head as I stuffed another bite into my mouth.
“Do you want her to be?” Hallie added.
“No.” I looked over at Lou, who was quietly sipping her malt. She hadn’t said anything about this whole exchange. She’d just been enjoying her frozen drink and watching it all transpire. The more I watched her, the more I wanted to know about her, and I wondered if there was anyone special in her life.
Lou glanced at her watch. “Amy we gotta go.” Her voice broke me out of my trance. “I’ll drop you off at Grandma’s if you don’t want to hang at the shop.”
“Ok.” Amy slowly stood up. “I’ll see you in class.” She waved and walked over to the door where Lou was waiting.
“I’ll stop by the stoning class tomorrow.” I nodded and Lou waved.
“Thanks for the ice cream.” She held up her cup as they stepped outside and disappeared down the sidewalk.
Chapter 15
