“Need any of this wrapped?” the salesclerk asked as she scanned the tickets.
“That would be so fun. Not the sheets and stuff. They can go in a bag. But the toys—yes, that would be great.”
“A little girl?”
“Five years old.”
“Oh gosh. I remember when mine was just five.” For a minute, Merry Anna thought the lady was going to drag out her phone and show her pictures. “Five is such a sweet age. They still love being read to and snuggling in your lap. I’m going to warn you, that whole mama crying when the baby goes to school is not a myth. I cried like a baby.”
Merry Anna didn’t bother to tell the woman that the little girl wasn’t hers.
With a bag of wrapped packages and the other with the linens, Merry Anna had run out of time to go home and change, so she went straight over to Adam’s house.
“Yoo-hoo.” Merry Anna knocked on the front door and pushed it open. “It’s me. Merry Anna.”
“Come on in.” Adam popped his head out of the kitchen. “We have some gourmet stuff going down in here.”
“Well, don’t let me interrupt.” She followed Adam into the kitchen, and what she saw caught her by the heartstrings. She knew immediately that the paternity test would come back positive, and it wasn’t just because they were in matching aprons. There was a remarkable likeness, especially the set of their mouths and the chin. “Hey there. I’m Merry Anna.”
“I’m Zan. We’ve been making dinner for you.” She lifted a dramatic hand to her head to sweep the bangs from her face.
“Oh, you have! Well, aren’t you awfully young to be such a fine chef?”
“Yes, but I have a good teacher.” Her lips pursed as shesprinkled grated cheese over a long french loaf. “It’s been kind of like school.”
“Do you go to school?”
“No ma’am, but next year I can.”
“How exciting.” Merry Anna took one of the stools. “You are very pretty.”
“Thank you. I love your dress.” She reached for the fabric, touching it tentatively. “You look like a fairy princess.”
Merry Anna looked down at the simple A-line sundress. Compared to how most people dressed these days, she probably did look a tad overdressed. But rather than make an excuse, she owned it, making a curtsy. “Why, thank you.”
Zan lifted her hand to her mouth and whispered to Adam, “I think sheisa fairy princess. Did you see her curtsy?”
“I hope fairy princesses eat spaghetti!” Adam called out.
“I heard that,” Merry Anna said. “And I adore spaghetti.”
Zan gave Adam a relieved look. “We have salad and bread too. I’m not having salad. I’m just having cucumbers.”
“I think that’s fine. Is there anything I can do? Set the table, maybe?”
Adam piped in, “We already set the table in the dining room.”
“We’re eating like grown-ups.” Zan’s lips made a tight bow.
“Wonderful,” Merry Anna said.
They ate dinner, and it was hard to believe that Adam and Zan had met only a few days ago. Zan was quick to explain that her mother had left Saturday and didn’t say when she’d be back. That broke Merry Anna’s heart. She wondered what kind of life this little girl had been living.
They ate dinner, which was delicious. By the time they cleared dishes, Zan was yawning.
“It’s getting close to somebody’s bedtime,” Adam said.
“I brought a few presents for Zan.”
