I watched him go, my mind racing. What the hell was that all about? There was more to the story between Ken and this Alex guy, that was certain. The way they had looked at each other, the subtle tension in the air—it was unmistakable.
Friends, huh?
I wondered if there was more to it than that. Wouldn’t be surprising, given how Alex had watched Ken—it all suggested there might still be some unresolved feelings there.
I opened my mouth to ask another question, but Mia’s excited chatter cut me off. “Daddy, look! I made a dinosaur!” She held up her menu, proudly displaying her crayon masterpiece.
I smiled, grateful for the distraction. “That’s amazing. You draw the best pictures.” I ruffled her hair affectionately, my gaze flicking back to Ken.
Alex returned with our drinks. But instead of continuing his conversation with Alex, Ken’s attention was on Mia, watching her with a soft, wistful expression. What was going through his mind, I wondered. Was he thinking about his own family? His own dreams of being a dad one day?
I wanted to know everything about him.
Fuck. It was already too late.
I was smitten with my daughter’s teacher, and I was pretty sure he was smitten with me.
Ken seemed oblivious to what was happening in my head as he took a sip of his iced tea, his eyes warm with curiosity. “So, how long have you and Mia been in Blanco Springs? I don’t think I’ve seen you around before this school year.”
I fiddled with my napkin, a deep sigh escaping as I thought about the shitshow that had been last year. “We moved here right after Christmas. Needed a fresh start after my divorce.” I shrugged, trying to keep my tone light. “Mia’s my top priority now, and my old job wasn’t cutting it financially.”
Ken nodded sympathetically, his brow furrowing. “I can only imagine how tough that must be, being a single parent and juggling work on top of everything else.”
“Yeah, it’s been a challenge for sure.” I glanced over at Mia, who was happily coloring away, oblivious to our conversation. “But we’re making it work. My brother Alonso offered me a job at his garage while I figure out my next move. It’s been a godsend, honestly.”
“That’s great that you have family nearby to help out,” Ken said. “And it seems like Mia’s adjusting well to the new school and everything. She’s just a great girl.”
Hearing good things about my kid always felt amazing. “Mia, go wash your hands, okay? The bathroom is right there.” I laughed as she scooted sideways out of the booth and madeher way to the restroom. “She’s a resilient kid, that’s for sure. Tougher than her old man in a lot of ways.”
Ken chuckled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “I don’t know about that. From where I’m sitting, you seem like a pretty tough cookie yourself.”
I ducked my head, my cheeks heating at the compliment. “Just trying my best. Mia deserves the world, and I’ll do whatever it takes to give it to her.”
“She’s lucky to have you,” Ken said softly, his gaze holding mine. “And for what it’s worth, I think you’re doing an amazing job.”
I swallowed hard against the sudden tightness in my throat. “Thanks. That…that means a lot.” I trailed off, unsure of how much to reveal. But something about Ken’s kind eyes and gentle demeanor made me want to open up, to share the burdens I’d been carrying for so long. “It’s been hard, since Mia’s other dad left.” The words came out strained, memories dredged that I’d tried hard to bury. My fingers played with the condensation on my glass of water.
Memories of late-night arguments and my ex’s exit flooded my mind. “We adopted her from my ex-husband’s teenaged cousin when she was just a baby. The family was going to put her up for adoption, and Jacob and I jumped at the chance to raise her. At first things were great.” I paused, the lump in my throat growing.Why am I even telling him this? He probably doesn’t want to hear my life’s sob story.“But then my ex got an important promotion, and then Mia started having health problems, and the stress … it tore us apart.”
“I can’t even imagine how difficult that must have been,” Ken said, his voice filled with empathy. “But you’ve done an amazing job with Mia.”
“Thank you. That means a lot.” I took a sip of my water, gathering my thoughts. “Mia’s epilepsy diagnosis was a realblow. It’s been a steep learning curve, figuring out her triggers. But we’re getting there, day by day.”
Ken’s fingers nervously tapped on the table. “Just know that living in a small town, you’re not alone in this anymore, Marc. If there’s anything I can do to help, or anyone else at the school,” he quickly added, “anything at all—just say the word.”
Life in a small town, indeed. “I appreciate that, Ken. More than you realize,” I said, as my daughter returned, shaking her still-damp hands. “All clean?”
She held up her hands, then displayed her handiwork for our inspection. “Daddy, look! Mr. Parker, what do you think?”
“That’s beautiful, sweetie,” I said with a grin. “You’re quite the artist.”
“It’s amazing, Mia,” Ken added.
As Mia launched into a detailed explanation of her drawing, I caught Ken’s eye. He smiled softly, his gaze filled with understanding and something else, something warm and tender that made my heart skip a beat.
The arrival of our food provided a welcome distraction, and we dug in with gusto. Mia chattered between bites of chicken nuggets, regaling us with stories of her latest adventures on the playground.
It had been a long time since I’d enjoyed a conversation this much. Ken was so easy to talk to, so genuinely interested in everything Mia and I had to say. It was like we’d known each other for years, not just a few weeks.
