He scratched his head. “Peanut butter and syrup? That seems a little weird to me.”
“Don’t knock weird until you’ve tried it.”
“Yeah, Daddy,” Mia quipped. “You always tell me I have to try it before I decide I don’t like it. I think it sounds nummy.”
He threw up his hands. “Fine. We’ll try it.”
I grinned. “Good answer.”
“Sure, sure. Whatever makes my girls happy.”
That made me smile. And as I walked into the kitchen, I had a feeling today was the start of my future.
Simon, Mia, and me.
First day of school, I was up early and in my classroom, making sure everything was ready. The past while had flown by. I’d spent more time with Simon and Mia than anywhere else. More time at their house than my apartment. In fact, I hated leaving them, my little space now feeling empty when I was there. Lonely.
At Simon’s place, I was now part of the nighttime routine. Reading to Mia, both Simon and me on her bed, her cuddled between us. I helped her with her bath, brushed out her long hair. Showed her a fancy braid I liked to do. I loved her good-night kisses, morning snuggles, and how she just accepted me as me. Simon tried not to laugh the day she came downstairs wearing a bandanna in her hair like mine and boots on her feet with her skirt. He told her she was adorable and kissed her. Then he did the same to me. I was Chippy to Simon; she was Sweet Pea. I loved how she called him Daddy.
He loved it when I did the same thing, but for an entirely different reason.
Last night when I insisted I had to come home, both Simon and Mia were disappointed. But I needed to get some rest and be prepared for today. I hated driving away from them, even if it was only across town. I missed them right away.
I thought about Simon’s mutterings from last night while I straightened already perfectly lined-up chairs and triple-checked the snacks I had ready.
“You should just give up your place.”
“I have a lease,” I responded.
“Break it. Sublet it. I’ll cover it. I want you here. So does Mia. The place is just a house when you’re gone.”
“And what it is when I’m here? A submarine?” I laughed.
“A home,” he said simply, his words honest and steady.
It took all I had not to tell him yes.
“Slow,” was all I said, even though my heart rejoiced at his sweet words.
We hadn’t even been out in public much. Not in the town, really. A few dates at out-of-the-way places, spending time with Holly and Evan. But mostly, it was the three of us. We explained to Mia what private meant and promised her that soon she could tell people, but right now, it was something to be kept between us.
Her eyes had widened. “Like a family secret? Like Uncle E and Auntie Holly expecting another baby?”
Simon and I had glanced at each other in shock. We didn’t know that.
“How do you know that?” Simon had asked.
“Angela told me. Because I’m family,” she explained.
“Yes. Like a family secret,” Simon said. “When we say it’s okay, you can tell people.”
“Okay,” she agreed happily. “I like having a family secret of my own.”
I shook my head, hearing the sounds of the halls beginning to fill. I needed to concentrate on some other children today. I hurried to the door and began to welcome my little charges.
SIMON
Impatiently, I waited outside for Mia. I had walked her into her classroom today, but parents were to wait outside at the end of the day. I hoped her first day had been a good one.
Holly appeared beside me, smiling. “Hey.”
“Hey, you,” I replied and wrapped my arm around her waist for a hug. “How are you?”
“Good,” she replied.
“I hear more than good,” I said with a wink.
She laughed. “Family secrets being spilled, are they?”
“Yep.”
“We were going to tell you this weekend. Angela knows because Evan gets excited about babies.”
“Can’t say I blame him.”
She hip checked me. “Think you’ll have one of those in your future?”
“I think I’ll have a lot of things I didn’t expect.”
“Good,” she replied. “You deserve it.”
The doors opened, and Mia came out, looking for me. I bent and caught her as she raced toward me, filled with news of her day. Holly and I listened, Angela arriving as well, happy and excited to see us.
I glanced up and met Amy’s eyes across the sidewalk. She was with the few children left to be picked up, cheery and talking to them. She smiled in my direction, then returned her attention to her small group. I watched her, the tug in my chest growing stronger the longer I stood there.
It hit me that she didn’t expect me to cross the cement and acknowledge her. She expected me to keep our relationship hidden still. Except, there was no need to. She wasn’t Mia’s teacher. We were free to date.
I recalled the way her ex had shunned her. Was embarrassed by her. Wanted to tamp down her free spirit and beautiful, open soul. Make her a carbon copy of some of the women standing around waiting to pick up their kids, with their perfectly coiffed hair, bored expressions, and discontentment written in their eyes.
The last child Amy was waiting with ran over to his father, laughing as he was swooped into a big hug. The dad waved at Amy, who smiled and waved back. She paused as if unsure what to do next, lifting a hand to her hair and smoothing it into place. For a moment, I caught a flash of her vulnerability. She looked so alone and unsure. Then her face became pleasant and smooth.
I turned to Holly. “Excuse me.”
She grinned. “Go claim her, tiger.”
I took Mia’s hand, and we headed in Amy’s direction. She saw us coming, and her eyes grew wider as we approached. I swung Mia into my arms as I stood in front of Amy. I bent and kissed her cheek.
“Hey, Chippy,” I said loudly. “How was your first day back, love?”
She blinked.
I kissed her again, this time pressing my mouth to hers.
“I missed you. You and Mia.”
“Oh,” she breathed out. “Simon, what—”
I interrupted her.
“Mia and I want to hear all about it. And she can hardly wait to tell you about hers. I thought I’d take my girls out to supper. You up for that?”
“Supper?”
“Yeah. Out. Unless you want to get takeout and head home? I could rub your feet.”
“Home?” she repeated quietly.
“With us. Where you belong,” I said just as quietly.
“I’d love some pizza.”
“Out it is, then.”
“But after…” She let the words trail off, her meaning clear.
“Home,” I stated.
She nodded. “I need to get my purse.”
“I’ll wait.”
She leaned closer. “People are looking.”
I shrugged. “Let them look. I have nothing to hide. I’m here to pick up my daughter and my girlfriend.”
Her eyes were like saucers. “Okay, then. I’ll, ah, I’ll go get my purse and be right back.”