Page 6 of Surprised By Love

After a quick shower, I return to see my daughter standing at the bottom of the stairs, waiting.

Smiling, I swoop down and pick her up. Her legs wrap around my waist and her arms loop around my neck. I kiss her on the cheek. “There, Daddy’s all clean and dry now. You look pretty today.”

“I was having a princess tea-party with Gramma.”

“Did you have fun?”

“I did. It was so fun, but then Gramma said we had to stop so she could make lunch.”

“It’s important to eat lunch.” I kiss her cheek again. “Where’s your brother?”

“He’s in there watching cartoons,” she says, pointing to the great room.

“Let’s go check on him.” I carry Emily into the room where I see my four-year-old son, Jake, wearing blue track pants and a monster truck t-shirt, sitting on the floor in front of the television, watching his favourite show.

I place Emily down, and she hops up on the couch, grabbing her tablet. I walk over to Jake, rustling his dark brown hair. “Hey, buddy, whatcha watching?”

“Paw Patrol,” he says, without taking his eyes off the screen.

“Did they eat lunch?” I ask, looking up at my mom, who is standing in the kitchen entrance watching.

“We had grilled cheese and tomato soup.” Emily yells and I laugh. My daughter is the cutest thing ever.

“They finished about fifteen minutes ago. I was making lunch when you called. Come sit, have a coffee and something to eat,” Mom says, turning, heading into the kitchen.

Taking a seat at the kitchen island, I reach for the mug waiting for me. “Mmm, perfect. Thanks, Mom.”

“No problem,” she says, as she places a turkey club sandwich down in front of me and takes the seat across from me. “So, what happened?” She lifts her coffee cup and takes a sip.

“I was on my way home when I saw a woman on the side of the road trying to change a flat tire. So I stopped to help.” I take a bite of my sandwich.

“That’s my boy, always willing to help a damsel in distress.” She laughs. “Well, was she pretty?”

“Mom!” I say seriously, tilting my head.

“What?” Her voice raised, both hands in the air. “I was just asking.”

I take another sip of my coffee and notice my mom staring at me.

“Ugh,” I say with a huff. “Yeah, she was pretty, but not my type.”

“Why not? What was wrong with this one?”

I’ve been on quite a few dates in the past two years‌. Ever since Emily and Jake’s mother, Christine had passed away because of complications during childbirth. None of my dates did anything for me. Sure, they were pretty, some even beautiful, but there was always something missing.

I don’t want to settle as much as I want to get my mom off my back. My mom tries to set me up with every single woman she meets over the age of twenty-five. She has good intentions, but it’s driving me mad.

“Nothing wrong, mom, I don’t even know her. She was, I don’t know… very, girl next door.” I take another bite of my sandwich.

“Girl next door?” Maureen’s voice raised again. “Nothing wrong with the girl next door. I was the girl next door when I met your father.”

“Yes, Mother, I know.” I groan. “I probably won’t see her again, anyway. She was with a little girl, probably her daughter, and it looked as though they were moving. Just passing through, I’m sure.”

As much as I thought Samantha was pretty, she was the epitome of a girl next door. Not my type at all. Yet, I couldn’t help but remember how her sweater clung to her curves and her beautiful smile. It didn’t matter, though. It’s not like I’ll ever see her again.

Chapter Three

Sam

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