Page 20 of Family Bonds: Alana & Brennan
“That’s a good choice,” he said, looking at his watch. “Pick the last one, please. I’d like to read the news before we have to get you dressed.”
Becca closed her eyes and swung her finger in the air and popped the sticky maple covered digit right on his screen. “That one.”
He looked at the Bluey doll. “Got it.” He pulled his laptop closer, wiped the screen with a napkin and placed the order.
While his daughter finished her breakfast, he drank his coffee. In five minutes he’d have to get her dressed and ready to bring to his mother’s. He’d go a few minutes earlier, knowing his mother would want to talk about his date last night.
He could play the game he didn’t have time and rush out the door, but his mother would hunt him down to get the information another time, so he might as well get it over with.
“I’m done.”
Becca’s plate was clean, her finger running through the rest of the syrup and licking it off. Guess he gave her more than he should have.
He wiped her hands before he picked her up. He didn’t need any of it transferred onto his clothes since he was dressed for work.
Becca raced to the stairs and grabbed the railing, then went up them one step at a time as if he’d throttled her energy back. It’s like she did it in exaggerated moves on purpose half the time to humor him.
Or maybe it was the fear that she’d get carried because, if she moved too fast, he snatched her up again. Two-story living was a new thing in their lives.
Once in her room, he pulled out underwear and a T-shirt, letting her choose her jeans and sweater. He was fearful of having a little fashionista on his hands in the future. He didn’t even want to think about all those things as a single father.
Twenty minutes later, they were in his SUV and driving the five minutes to his mother’s house.
“I thought you’d be late this morning,” his mother said when she opened the door for them.
“Grandma,” Becca said, hitting his mother square in the legs for their morning hug.
“There’s my girl,” Sadie Austin said, picking her granddaughter up. “You’ve got braids in your hair.”
“Alana did them.”
“Alana?” his mother asked.
“She’s my new friend.”
“Interesting.” Becca wiggled to get down. “Why don’t you play while Daddy and I have a chat?”
Becca’s little sneaker-covered feet took off toward the toy room in his mother’s house.
He met his mother’s questioning look. “Yes?”
“I didn’t expect you to bring your date home to see your daughter.”
“I didn’t go on a date with Alana.” Though he would have enjoyed that a lot more. Hell, he enjoyed the fifteen minutes he’d spent with her and his daughter together more than he had the ninety minutes with Celia. “Celia was my date, Alana watched Becca.”
“You found another sitter,” his mother said. “I felt bad about not being around and thought for sure you’d just reschedule.”
“That was my plan,” he said. “But a coworker overheard my situation and offered to watch Becca for me.”
“A coworker?”
“Yes.” He looked at his watch.
“Don’t pull that. You’ve got time. Tell me how your date went.”
“It was fine. We didn’t arrange another, which I was thankful for, and I don’t plan on reaching out to do it.”
“You didn’t set this one up,” his mother said. “What makes you think she will not ask you for a second one?”
