We spent the next fifteen minutes creating what Megan declared was “the most amazing volcano in the history of volcanoes,” which was generous considering it looked more like a sparkly tumor than a geological formation.
But she was happy.
Beaming, actually, as she carefully arranged it on the table for maximum impact.
“Dad’s going to be so surprised!” she said.
That’s one word for it.
I heard the front door open.
Oh God.
He’s home.
He’s home and the dining room looks like a stripper exploded and I’m covered in glitter and...
“Megan? Cate?”
His voice carried from the entryway, and I felt that familiar flutter in my stomach. The one that happened every time I heard him now. Every time I saw him.
Every time I remembered what it felt like when he...
Focus, Cate. Focus on the glitter crisis.
“We’re in here!” Megan called, bouncing toward the doorway. “Come see what we made!”
I braced myself.
Gabriel appeared in the doorway, still in his scrubs, his hair slightly mussed from the surgical cap, his eyes finding mine immediately.
And there it was.
That look.
The one that made my knees weak and my brain short-circuit, and my entire body remember exactly what those hands felt like on my skin.
Then his gaze shifted to the dining room. To the glitter.
So much glitter.
His expression didn’t change. Not exactly. But I saw his jaw tighten slightly. Saw the way his eyes tracked across the sparkling devastation.
“We made a volcano!” Megan announced proudly. “Cate helped!”
Cate enabled this disaster, you mean.
Gabriel’s eyes came back to me.
I tried to smile. I probably looked deranged.
“It’s... impressive,” he said finally.
“Do you love it?” Megan asked.
“I love that you worked hard on it,” he said diplomatically, which was very Gabriel. Never lying, but also never crushing his daughter’s enthusiasm.
It was one of the things I—Don’t finish that thought. Don’t even think about finishing that thought.
