5
Miles looked up from the steak he was cooking to find Jessa standing at the kitchen entrance with an apologetic look. His eyes flicked down to Emma, where she stood beside her.
“Is everything okay?” Miles asked.
Jessa sighed. “I’m sorry to do this, but I just got called away for a business meeting. I have to be at the airport in an hour and still need to pack.”
Emma’s lower lip jutted out. “Our girl time was cut short.”
Jessa squatted down to be at eye level with Emma. “I’m sorry, sweetie. I’ll hang out with you again when I get back.”
“Okay.” Emma sighed and walked toward the back of the kitchen to the table.
“I’m so sorry,” Jessa said.
Miles shook his head. “Nothing to be sorry about. I understand. Thank you for watching her as long as you did.”
Jessa said “bye” to Emma and left. Miles finished cooking the meal he was working on and then went over to Emma.
“Do you have enough to do?” Miles asked.
Emma nodded. “Yes. But I want to help you.”
“I appreciate that, Peanut, but I can’t have you around the stoves.”
She heaved a heavy sigh. “I know.”
Savannah stepped through the kitchen doors and spotted Emma. “Hey, Emma! Are you hanging out with us today?”
Emma nodded with a frown. “Yeah.”
Savannah looked over at Miles before looking back at Emma. “Would you like to take orders with me?”
Miles smiled at the smile that lit Emma’s face. “Dad, can I?”
“Of course you can.”
Emma bounded happily toward Savannah. When Miles met Savannah’s eye, he mouthed “thank you.” She tipped her head in response before taking Emma’s hand and heading out the kitchen door.
It was only lunchtime, and Miles was already looking forward to the break that night. The Blake family had a standing Sunday dinner tradition. Even when they were busy, they all found time to go.
Miles got so lost in preparing meals, that after a while, he noticed a pair of small hands snag a plate and walk off. His eyes widened, and he quickly pulled off his gloves and tossed them in the trash before leaving the kitchen. Just as Emma reached a table and set the plate down, he approached.
“Here’s one lunch. I’ll get the other real quick,” she said.
Miles smiled at the ladies at the table, immediately recognizing them as the two from the parking lot the day before. The one who had thrown her items at his car looked up at him and blushed. She was beautiful. Both of the women were, but there was something about Kelly that warmed him.
“Peanut, where’s Savannah?”
Emma pointed at a table across the restaurant. “She was busy, so I helped.”
Miles looked at the two women. “I’m sorry. She isn’t supposed to be serving food.”
Kelly smiled. “It’s okay. She did a great job.”
“I’m Emma. I’ve been working here since I was a baby,” she said.
Ava’s eyes widened. “You have? That’s so impressive. I didn’t know babies could serve food.”
