Willow Brook Road(97)
Bobby nodded. “Won’t that be cool?”
“It will be amazing.” She brushed his hair back from his forehead, the tender gesture reminding Sam that Bobby was in need of a haircut, something else he’d forgotten about. “And you’re so sweet to have thought of it.”
Sam bit back a chuckle as Bobby made an exaggerated gagging sound.
“Not sweet?” Carrie asked innocently. “How about awesome? Incredible? Stupendous?”
Bobby’s expression faltered at the last suggestion. “I don’t know what that one means.”
“It means amazing.”
His smile came back. “Cool.”
“Let’s see what else we have here for the party,” Sam said as he started poking through the bags. “Cupcakes with chocolate frosting.”
“The very best kind,” Bobby said. “Daddy loved chocolate. That’s what he always wanted for his birthday.”
Carrie studied him. “Is chocolate okay for you, too?”
“I love chocolate,” he confirmed.
She nodded with evident satisfaction. “I had a feeling about that.”
“Candles, plates, and what’s this?” Sam drew a pair of brightly colored birthday sunglasses from the bag. “Who’s wearing these? Not me, I hope,” he said, even as he put them on.
Bobby doubled over with giggles. “You look silly.”
Carrie smiled. “I think they make you look very handsome. Not every guy is man enough to carry off that style.”
Sam felt his heart flip over just a little at the teasing. “And you, Ms. Fashion Expert, think I am?” he asked, holding her gaze.
“Definitely.”
Something warm and almost tangible shimmered in the air between them until Bobby cut in impatiently.
“I think I should get to wear the glasses,” he said.
Sam feigned reluctance as he removed them. “I suppose since this party is for your dad, you probably should get to wear the glasses, but it’s going to be really hard for me to part with them.”
Bobby looked as if he weren’t quite sure if Sam was serious. Eventually he seemed to conclude he might be. “You can have them back when the party’s over.”
“Thanks, pal,” Sam said. “Now let’s get this party started before it gets dark out. Bobby, help Carrie put the ice cream in the freezer, so we don’t wind up eating vanilla soup.”
“Yuck!” Bobby said, grabbing her hand and pulling her toward the kitchen.
As they passed close by, Sam leaned toward her and whispered, “I am really, really looking forward to dessert.”
She gave him a bland look, even though her eyes were twinkling. “I intend to savor every bite of the main course.”
Bobby gave the two of them an odd look. “I want everything,” he declared.
“Then get that ice cream put away and let’s get the grill fired up for the burgers. The buttered corn is ready to go on, too. The guy at the farm stand says it’s about the last of the Silver Queen variety for this year. Bring the salad with you when you come out. Bottles of dressing are in the door of the fridge.”
Twenty minutes later Sam and Carrie were eating cheeseburgers with thick slices of tomato, while Bobby ate a hot dog, a last-minute substitution in the menu. Sam had cut the grilled cobs of corn into manageable, sweetly delicious bite-size sections.
“Best burger I’ve had all summer,” Carrie declared.
“I thought your family had big barbecues all the time,” Sam said. “Or is that just wishful thinking on my part?”
“Oh, no. Grandpa Mick considers himself king of the grill. He’s in his glory at our annual Fourth of July celebration, the biggest family event of the year aside from Christmas and Thanksgiving. Unfortunately, he’s easily distracted, so we sometimes get very, very well-done hamburgers, and that’s being kind.” She took another bite of her cheeseburger, closed her eyes and sighed. “These, however, are perfect.”
“Amazing, considering how easily you can distract me,” Sam said.
“That’s why I stayed busy inside for so long,” Carrie claimed, grinning. “If you think about it, I did not appear until you’d put these burgers onto their buns.”
“So we owe the success of my cooking to your forethought and consideration?” he asked, laughing.
She nodded solemnly. “I think so.”
“When are we gonna have cupcakes and ice cream?” Bobby asked, his mouth full of hot dog.
“When you finish eating,” Sam told him. “Swallow, please, before you speak.”
“Oh, yeah,” Bobby said, then made a show of chewing. He put the rest of the hot dog on his plate. “I’m done.”