Amen.
Staring down at my plate, I tried to swallow as I felt my throat growing tighter. I’d cried more that day than in the last two years combined, and I just didn’t want to do it anymore, but Andy’s simple prayer almost opened the floodgates again.
“So . . . school starts next week. Who’s excited?” Andy asked as he spooned a pile of potatoes onto his plate.
“Not me,” Logan groaned. “Summer went too fast.”
A small tug on the left sleeve of my shirt caught my attention. I turned, and Becca’s face was so close her chin was practically resting on my forearm. “Can you get me some beans, please?” she asked quietly.
“Sure, honey.” I reached forward and scooped up a big helping of green beans, setting it on her plate.
“Sorry,” Andy apologized. “I usually sit there and help her with her plate.”
“That’s okay.” I shrugged, glancing at him quickly. “I don’t mind at all.” Before she asked for more help, I happily piled a little bit of everything on her plate. “Butter or no butter?” I asked as I took a piece of warm bread out of the basket.
“No butter,” she said, twisting her face up and sticking her tongue out.
“Okay.” I giggled.
“Dani, after dinner, do you want to watch TV?” Becca asked through a mouthful of bread. “Or we can play a game. Or we can color a picture. Or we can—”
“Whoa, whoa,” Andy interrupted with a laugh. “Slow down there, princess. Dani hasn’t even had a chance to unpack her stuff yet, plus she’s had a long day. Let’s give her some time and maybe tackle your to-do list tomorrow, okay?”
“Okay,” she said sadly, her blue eyes dropping down toward the table.
I leaned down close to her and whispered, “I could use some help unpacking.”
Her head lifted and her eyes gleamed as she bounced up and down excitedly in her chair. “I’m a really good putter-awayer.”
She made me giggle again. “Then you’re hired.” I winked at her.
She beamed, shoveling the food into her mouth quickly.
As we all ate, I grew more and more impressed with the way Andy interacted with his kids. I had no siblings, and most of my dinners as a kid were eaten on the couch next to my dad while we watched sports highlights from that day, but the way Andy made eye contact and asked them questions, really seeming interested in what they had to say, was adorable. Becca told us all about how she’d done a somersault on the beam at gymnastics class, and Logan told his dad about the screwball his friend taught him how to throw.
“Yeah, that screwball almost broke the kitchen window.” Gloria eyed Logan playfully. “Missed it by about three inches. I was standing right by the window, too. Made such a loud noise that I nearly tinkled in my pants.”
Logan’s cheeks puffed out as he tried not laugh, and Becca threw her head back, giggling wildly.
“What did I tell you about throwing balls toward the house?” Andy asked, grinning as he shook his head.
Before Logan could answer, Andy’s phone went off. He pulled it out of his pocket and looked down at it.
“Daddy, you know the rule. No screens at the table,” Becca warned.
“Screens?” I asked, crinkling my brows at her.
“No phones, iPads, Kindles . . . anything with a screen,” Logan added.
“Ah.” I nodded.
“I know, guys, but this is important,” Andy answered, sounding distracted. His thumb scrolled the screen as he frowned down at his phone. “Okay.” His gaze swept up to me. “Gavin Mercer and his security team will be here in about thirty minutes.”
The knot that had become a permanent fixture in my stomach but disappeared since we sat down at the dinner table returned instantly. I’d been so wrapped up in Andy and the kids and their silly stories that I forgot the scary life that waited for me outside of that house.
CHAPTER 27
Andy
My bed felt so good that I was willing to sell my soul to the devil not to get out of it, but the light tap on my bedroom door reminded me that responsibilities were calling my name.
“Come in,” I called out.
The door slowly slid open, and Becca’s tiny face appeared, her blonde curls a wild, crazy mess. She gave me a big grin and climbed up into my bed as I rolled onto my stomach to hide my morning friend.
“What’s going on, princess?” I tapped the pillow for her to snuggle up next to me.
“Do you have to go to work today?” she whined, sticking her bottom lip out.
“Unfortunately, yes. I have a lot of work to do,” I said as I nuzzled my nose into her neck. “But the good news is that today is Friday, and that means I’ll be home for the next two days.”