“So this morning, you decide to make him bacon and sausage as a reward for good behavior?” Queen asked.
“That’s for you, dummy. I’m trying to be reasonable here. I know the man isn’t a vegetarian. Never met a cop that was,” she said and winked at Queen.
“Very funny,” Queen mumbled.
Delilah busied herself with getting drinks to the table, and all the while, Queen watched her. She was working her nerves with the way she stared.
“Why?” Queen frowned after her question.
“What do you mean, why?” Delilah asked. “I don’t know why cops eat what they eat.”
“Stop being cute,” Queen said. “You’re never reasonable. You’re the one in control over me, Noah, Goodiva, your parents, your law firm, this town—” Queen prattled on.
“That’s enough—”
“You’re never this calm when someone is trying to hurt any of us, either. Never,” Queen continued.
“He’s not the enemy Queen. He’s just a man who wants to know his kid, for goodness sake,” Delilah said.
“Okay, I call foul. You’re hiding something. Did he threaten you? Did you learn something else that Charles did? Something that could hurt us in the custody case? What am I walking into? Tell me, and I got your back, sis. What is it?”
“I—”
“Good morning,” Maverick said.
Queen’s head whipped to the left. Maverick entered through the side door of the kitchen that led out to the guest house. He wore his heavy leather bomber jacket, a grey crewneck sweater, and dark jeans. His hair was tucked under his skullcap. Delilah could not believe how handsome he was the morning after. Or was his handsomeness a reaction to the night before? She didn’t dare smile at him. She knew she looked nice. She had groomed herself to be a lady of sophistication. Today Delilah would act the part and reclaim her dignity. The two of them stared at each other, speaking with their eyes and smile and not words. Queen’s gaze volleyed from Maverick to her. Delilah sensed her friend caught the meaning behind the tension, so she turned away and went to the cabinet to retrieve a bowl.
“Morning,” she mumbled with disinterest after placing her back to him. “This is Detective Queen Douglas. My best friend.”
“Morning,” Maverick extended his hand to Queen. They politely shook hands. “Nice to meet you.”
“Nice to meet you too. I’m told you’re an ex-cop?” Queen asked.
“Yeah, 44th Precinct the Bronx,” he said.
“Welcome to Falcon Cove,” Queen said.
“We can eat,” Delilah announced.
“Eat - eat! MavBic?” Noah got off his scooter and raised his arms. Delilah and Queen watched as Noah was swept up by Maverick and the two went to the table. Queen frowned at the ease of their new bond. She glanced at Delilah for an explanation. Delilah had none. Her son only knew him for close to twenty-four hours. Queen and Delilah would always have to chase Noah down and bribe him to sit in their lap and enjoy a meal. The scooter was the only compromise to keep him mildly interested. The ladies joined them at the table, and Delilah busied herself with making sure the orange juice, apple juice, and grapefruit juice were all there. She kept popping up, looking for something to add to the meal. She couldn’t stop herself.
It was awkward. Delilah was not a woman who he guessed showed her nervous side to others. She had taken too much time and effort to plan the perfect breakfast. And she looked beautiful again. However, something was definitely different about her. There was too much makeup on her face, for starters. From her eyes to lips, everything was covered in soft shades of color to unblemished perfection. Concealing the honest woman he spent the night thinking of. She wore a green pressed bloused and dark blue knee-length skirt with matching green heels. Who cooked in high-heel shoes? She tied an apron that matched her clothes the way the housewives of the fifties wore when they served or entertained. It had ruffles around the trim and was knotted in a bow to her back. Her hair was groomed into a ponytail once again. It swayed as her hips did while she performed her gracious hostess routine. He didn’t mind any of it if the performance were for him. He felt the sinking feeling the performance was for the detective. Her nervous fluttering about kept drawing attention to herself. She hadn’t sat down at the table for a few seconds before she was up again. Maverick, Queen, and little Noah watched her go from the counter to the fridge to the cabinets and retrieve more items.
Last night had flipped a ‘Suzy Home Maker’ switch inside of her head. He feared he may have genuinely messed up any chances for them by pushing her too fast and too far. He hadn’t come to Falcon Cove to seduce her. He had no desire to risk his heart on loving a woman the wrong way again.
“Dee! Would you sit down so we can eat?” Queen demanded.
“Huh? Oh? Yeah, sure,” Delilah said. She removed her apron and folded it neatly before putting it on the counter. She looked around once more at everything in the kitchen. Queen rolled her eyes. Delilah rubbed her hands together and then returned to the table. “Sorry. I was looking for another serving spoon.”
“Eat-eat!” Noah said and patted his tummy.
Delilah smiled. “Let’s say grace first.”
“Are you a Christian, Maverick?” Queen asked.
Delilah looked startled by the direct question. As if no one was supposed to speak to him. Maverick wasn’t surprised. Queen was there to observe him and protect her friend. It was common for officers, mostly detectives, to be direct in table conversation.
“Born and raised Irish Catholic,” Maverick answered.
“Irish?” Noah said and touched his chest with his little hand. They all smiled.
“That’s right, baby. You’re Irish too.” Queen said and touched Noah’s cheek.
“I’ll say, Grace,” Maverick volunteered. He extended his hand to the ladies. Delilah took him and then let go of it. She looked over at Queen. She then relaxed and retook it. Queen stared at Delilah the entire time Maverick said the grace. She never closed her eyes. When they were done, Queen continued to stare. Maverick ignored the women and the tension. He fixed a plate for him and Noah. Before he could feed the tyke, Noah picked up the French toast and started to eat it with both hands.
“So, what do you think of Falcon Cove?” Queen asked.
“Haven’t seen much of it,” Maverick answered.
“You went into town yesterday. Saw the locals. Spoke with Karen Keffler?” Queen forked some food into her mouth. “That had to be fun.”
“I told Queen about Karen yesterday,” Delilah quickly added. “She asked about us going into town. I told him about the paper, Queen. You know the article? Well, actually, Karen told him about the paper. She told me about the paper, and he heard me and her talk about the paper. Oh, yea, he didn’t see the paper. I didn’t buy one. I picked up one, though, in the grocery store and read it. In the aisle, remember Maverick? Wait? I think I might have brought it home. Did I?” Delilah looked back toward the kitchen.
Queen frowned.
Delilah's gaze returned to Queen and then to Maverick. They both stared at her. She lowered her gaze and drank her juice. Maverick shook his head, smiling.
“Karen didn’t speak to me, other than to say hi,” Maverick replied.