Fiona really liked it when Bella touched Sally’s hair for, she suspected, Sally really liked it too.
Then Bella’s eyes drifted to Prentice as he got close and the soft look vanished.
She opened her mouth to speak but his hand shot out, fingers curling around the back of her head, he leaned into her over Sally, pulling her to him at the same time.
He kissed her, hard but fast.
Fiona could have done without seeing that.
Luckily, it was short.
With his hand still in her hair, faces close, he murmured, “Can you pick Jason up from school?”
Mutely, eyes glazed, lips parted, Bella nodded.
His hand slid to her jaw, his thumb stroking her cheekbone, his gaze roving her face, Fiona registered that he was pleased with what he saw.
Then he finished, “I’ll see you tonight.”
Then he let her go and he was gone.
Bella stared at the door.
Sally stared up from her place in front of Bella, her little arms still wrapped around Bella’s legs.
“Daddy just kissed you,” Sally breathed.
Bella’s head jerked down.
It was clear she had no idea how to deal with this. None whatsoever.
Clueless.
Fiona giggled again.
“Yes,” Bella croaked, her voice scratchy then she coughed to clear her throat.
“I think he likes you,” Sally whispered.
“I… uh… erm…” Bella stammered.
Suddenly, Sally let her go and skipped away, happy as a clam and onto a new topic, asking, “Can we have pancakes for lunch?”
Fiona watched Bella’s shoulders droop, why, Fiona didn’t know. Relief that she’d been saved from the Sally situation by Sally’s short attention span. Admitting defeat about the Prentice situation.
Whatever.
Thankfully, Bella didn’t make Sally pancakes. She made her grilled cheese with carrot sticks on the side.
It looked delicious.
Later, Bella picked up Jason and got the kids sorted. She was making dinner when Prentice called.
Fiona was floating with her arse over the stool next to the one her son was sitting on when the phone rang. She dematerialized and materialized close to Bella and listened in.
“Hello?” Bella greeted.
“Elle,” Prentice said, then didn’t wait for a response, “I’ll no’ be home for dinner.”