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“Where are you going to go?” Elizabeth couldn’t help but ask.
“Maybe to Disney World. I had a friend that went there.”
Molly scooted forward in her seat. “Can I go too, Daddy, please?” Excitement beamed in both her wide gaze, and tone.
“Well, sweetie, I’m not planning a trip to Disney World right now but if ever I do, you may come along.”
“Yay!” The little girl’s smile stretched from ear to ear. “Maybe Ms. Shaw can come too.”
Joe winked at his daughter, and then at her. Her heart leaped in her chest, thudding in excitement.
When dinner was finished, he sent the kids off to get their backpacks so he could see what they brought home from school. While they scampered off to their rooms, he quickly cleared the table and rinsed and stacked the dirty dishes on the counter. As he moved about the kitchen she couldn’t help but notice a look of disappointment flash through his handsome eyes. “Elizabeth, I’m sorry to cut our evening short, but I need to help the kids with their homework.”
Her own disappointment shot through her. She wanted to spend more time with him, but what could she do? He had to take care of the kids first. She flashed a half-smile. “I understand. I need to get home and finish packing anyway.”
Though her mind was telling her to leave, her feet wouldn’t move, and she lingered in the kitchen as Joe opened up the small zippered pocket of Max’s Spiderman backpack. He retrieved, and read aloud, the homework slip which stated that Max needed to read two pages from his science book and answer the questions on the next page, and then he had to complete one page in his math workbook.
He told his son to take a seat at the table and laid the science and math book in front of him. “Why don’t you get started and I’ll help you in a minute.”
He then picked up the Disney Princess backpack that his daughter had carried into the kitchen and retrieved her homework slip. He glanced from the paper to Elizabeth. “Hmm, it says here that Molly’s class is working on the letter “R,” and she needs to bring to school tomorrow three things that begin with the letter.” He shifted his gaze to his daughter.
“Sweetie, do you think you could get started on that while I help your brother with his homework?”
Before his daughter could answer, Elizabeth excitedly piped in. “I could help Molly with her homework while you help Max with his and then...” She stopped herself midsentence and focused her embarrassed gaze on her feet as she realized how over-eager she must have sounded.
My God, I’m almost throwing myself at him for crying out loud.
“Yeah, Daddy. Can Ms. Shaw help me? Please!”
Joe’s gaze shifted from Molly to her.
She smiled, thrilled the young girl actually wanted her help.
He turned his head back toward his daughter. “Okay, sweetie.”
Molly snagged her hand and led her to her room. Elizabeth took a seat on the bed while the child rummaged around her room. Reaching up, she grabbed her little musical ballerina jewelry box from the top of her dresser and then took a seat next to Elizabeth on the bed as she opened the box to show off her treasures.
Elizabeth snatched from the box a tiny ring with a pink stone. “What’s this?”
Molly looked up at her. “It’s a ring, Ms. Shaw,” she answered in a tone as if almost to say, ‘Don’t you know?’
“Yes, I know, but what letter does the word, ring, start with?”
The girl’s eyes lit up and a big smile consumed her cute, little face. “R,” she yelled, followed by a giggle.
“All right, now we’re on a roll. We need two more things,” Elizabeth said as she scanned the room, noticing a basket of stuffed animals in the corner.
She pointed at the basket. “Do you think there is anything in the basket that starts with an “R”?”
The child dug through the bin of stuffed animals and surfaced with a fuzzy white rabbit. “Very good. Now you only need one more thing.” Elizabeth was surprised at how well the little girl was doing with the assignment.
Molly looked around and hunted through her belongings for a minute or so before placing her hands on her hips and blowing out an exaggerated breath. Progress had come to a grinding halt. Frustration radiated in her gaze.
Oops, I guess I spoke too soon.
Despite her agitated state, the child looked so dang cute standing there, hands on hips, tapping her toe, Elizabeth felt a compelling need to help her out. She walked over to the dresser and glanced at the items on the surface. Molly followed.
“Boy, these are some really pretty hair ribbons. Does your daddy put these ribbons in your hair when he gets you ready for school?”
