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She nodded.
During dinner, the kids talked about their day at school. When Max was finished eating, he set his fork down and looked over at Elizabeth. “Guess what?”
“What?”
“Tomorrow is my birthday, and we’re going to Chuck E. Cheese’s. Do you want to come along?” he eagerly asked.
She glanced from Max to Joe and then back to Max. Guilt washed over her. How did she not know, after all the time she’d spent with him lately that his birthday was tomorrow? Had she been so wrapped up in her own little world that she nearly missed this important event?
“Tomorrow is your birthday? I didn’t know. I’d love to join you, but what is Chuck E. Cheese’s?”
The young boy rolled his eyes. “You’ve never been to Chuck E. Cheese’s?”
“No, I haven’t.”
“Well, it’s a pizza place, and they have a whole bunch of games to play. We’re going to have so much fun.” He beamed excitedly. “Uncle Nick and my cousins are all going to be there.”
She smiled and glanced at Joe. It made her happy to know that Max wanted her at his party.
“We’d love for you to join us.”
After dinner, the kids scampered off to play, and she helped Joe clean up the kitchen. He loaded the dishwasher as she washed the crock pot. When he was finished he leaned against the kitchen counter and watched her as she wiped down the table and countertops.
“Do you want a glass of wine?” he asked.
“No, I’m good,” she replied as she kept pace. He walked over to the refrigerator, took out a beer, and twisted the top off before he resumed leaning against the counter. The buzzer for the clothes dryer sounded so he set his beer on the table and disappeared into the utility room.
She finished in the kitchen and then joined him in the utility room to find him folding and stacking the clothes on top of the dryer. For some reason, she took pleasure in watching him fold little pink socks and underwear. She loved how his big, strong hands handled those petite little clothes.
He caught her stare. “What?”
“Nothing. Just watching.” Unable to help herself she continued to watch him.
“What?” he asked again.
She smiled. “Do you think Max and Molly have a clue how good they have it?”
He turned to face her more directly. “What do you mean?”
“Do you think they have a clue how lucky they are to have you for a dad?”
His cheeks turned a little pink as he stepped toward her, and took her hands in his. “I think that’s the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me.”
He began lowering his head toward her. She used her seductive gaze to draw him closer to her. It was working.
Finally, he’s finally going to kiss me like I want him to.
A blood curdling scream caused her to flinch, and Joe instantaneously dropped her hands and ran in the direction of the scream. Max had his finger pinched tightly between the tire and rim of one of his new Transformers.
Elizabeth’s heart beat a mile a minute as Joe inspected his son’s finger. “Is he okay?” she asked as Molly clung to her leg.
Joe quickly separated the tire from the rim and released Max’s finger which had already developed a small blood blister.
The child wiped the tears from his cheek. “I’m fine. It’s okay,” he said, sucking it up like a big boy.
She felt so proud of him.
Molly released her death-grip from Elizabeth’s leg and walked over to her brother. He held his finger out for her to see the blood blister.
