caught the canary, I know I’ve caught the little minx from keeping secrets from me. “Know him? Because he seemed to think he knew you, very well ... actually. Biblically even.” I tap my lip. “He said you guys had a date last night. Funny, since you never told me you were going out on a date on Monday night.”
“I wouldn’t call it a date,” she grumbles like she didn’t mean to actually answer my question.
“Oh, yeah? What would you call it?” The look she gives me suggests that she’d like to wrap her fingers around my neck and squeeze. That thought alone makes me smile, knowing she really doesn’t want to be having this conversation with me.
Zoey looks at the girls, and it’s like I’d forgotten they were at the table. Coby’s head is in her spaghetti, and Ryan is still shoveling her food into her mouth while stashing a mountain of garlic bread around her plate.
Zoey’s eyes light up with some kind of unspoken excitement before she glances away, probably to avoid the question. “We’ll talk once the girls are in bed.”
“NOOOOO,” Ryan yells at the top of her voice just as Zoey gets up from the table.
“Yes, baby. It’s really late, and you need to get into the bath and go to bed. It’s been a really long day.”
“No, Momma. I needs to call Daddy and tell him my fireman saved my heads,” she says pointing to the head in question. Dread fills me as I try navigating this situation. I didn’t even think about calling and telling Bryce. I’ve had enough trouble keeping my mind off Bull. “It’s pretty late, baby. Do you think maybe we should call him tomorrow?” I question, knowing she would have completely forgotten about calling her father by then.
“No Momma. I want to tell him I got a new friend today and he cames in the big red twruck.”
Zoey gets up from the table, cringing for me because she knows exactly the feels running through my body. “Alright, Ryan.” I stand up picking up the plates as I go. “Let’s just quickly tidy up, and then we’ll give Daddy a call.”
Quietly we clear the table, Ryan gathering her and her sister’s bowls and cups, thankfully not picking up on my sense of dread from the upcoming phone call. Just the thought of calling Bryce makes me feel like I could be sick. This is not going to end well, and I know Ryan doesn’t even realize what this is going to do to me, but it’s not about that. If it makes her happy calling her dad, then that’s exactly what we'll do.
I get busy cleaning up the kitchen, and Zoey walks in a few moments later after putting Coby down to sleep. I look up. “Is she okay?”
“She’s out like a light. We didn’t exactly make it to bath time.”
“Good,” I smile, trying to act like nothing is bothering me, but she knows me too well. “Thank you for that. One down,” I say looking at Ryan. “One to go.”
Zoey understands the double meaning of my words. “Yeah, it will be okay.”
I don’t even have a response to that. We both know it won’t be. I let out a deep sigh. “Let’s get this done then, shall we?”
Automatically, Zoey grabs my hand in a show of support. Calling out to Ryan, she says, “Come on, Ry. Let’s ring your dad.”
“Yay,” Ryan cheers as she bounces her way ahead of us. I drag myself into action, feeling as though my feet are dead weights.
They head toward the living room while I hurry to my bedroom, popping my head in to check on Coby, who’s snoring like a sailor with her teddy shoved under her arm. Getting to my room, I quickly grab my phone. I notice a missed call from an unknown number but dismiss it as I head back out to Ryan.
I get to the living room and hear the tail end of Ryan explaining the events of her day to Zoey. I can tell by the look on her face that she’s already connected the dots to the mystery man who was here today. I can see the questions written all over her face and that she’s dying to ask me once we get this phone call done and Ryan to bed.
I turn around while they’re still talking and hurry back to the kitchen, ignoring the sink full of dishes as I go. I cooked, she cleans. That’s the