Page 111 of Delivery After Dark
Little Mac always seemed relieved to see him when he got home, which was endlessly adorable. Of all their kids, he looked the most like his daddy, which his mommy found amusing. Two Macs, mirror images of each other. Just what she needed.
He sat next to Maddie on the sofa with Mac snuggling up to him and gave her a kiss. “Hi, honey, I’m home.”
“Can you tell me why my mother was here to do something upstairs that she couldn’t tell me about?”
“I could, but then it wouldn’t be a surprise anymore.”
He loved when her smile was so big it included her eyes. “Tell me.”
“Not yet, my sweet. Give me the babies and go get ready for a night out. I’ll make dinner for them.”
“Gramps said he’s bringing Mario’s,” Thomas announced loudly.
“Well, then, I guess I’m not making dinner.” He put Mac down to play and took Emma from Maddie. “Go on.”
“They might be getting hungry soon.”
“I’ve got this,” Mac said.
“No, you don’t,” Thomas said with a snort of laughter.
“Hey, whose side are you on?”
Thomas dissolved into giggles. “Mommy’s side.”
“I see how it is. Go,” he said to Maddie. “While you can.”
“I’m gone.”
Mac gazed down at the sleeping face of his baby daughter as her twin sister snoozed in the baby swing.
“I can help you, Daddy,” Hailey said.
“That’s very nice of you, sweetie. Thank you.”
“No problem.”
As she skipped off to bother Thomas, which was her favorite thing, Mac could picture her at fifteen, gorgeous like her mother and swatting boys away with a stick. He couldn’t even think about having three teenage girls who were as pretty as their mother without wanting to wail.
He’d almost dozed off himself when Francine and Ned arrived, bearing pizza. The scent made Mac’s stomach rumble.
Thomas and Hailey attacked the pizza as if they hadn’t been fed in a week.
“Let’s see some manners, you guys,” Mac called to them. “And a big thank-you to Gramps.”
“Thank you, Gramps.”
“Yer welcome. Chew it good, will ya?” He lifted little Mac into the high chair and cut up his pizza like the professional grandfather he’d become. “Whatcha lookin’ at?”
“Grandfathering looks good on you, old friend,” Mac said.
“Best thing ever.”
“I’ll take her, Mac,” Francine said. “Go get ready.”
He transferred Emma to his mother-in-law. “Thank you for this.”
“We love every minute with them,” Francine said.
