Vanessa rose from the table with a sigh.She was used to Emily asking for meal alternatives.While she heated another tortilla, Paul leaned back in his chair and watched her.She wasn’t sure what to expect from him.
“I thought you weren’t speaking to your father,” he said.
“I wasn’t.”
“And now?”
Vanessa shrugged, and flipped the quesadilla over.When it was finished, she slid the quesadilla onto a plate and brought it to the table.Emily moved on to chat about her plans for the lemonade stand.
“How much will you charge?”Paul asked.
Emily took a bite of quesadilla, considering.“What does lemonade cost, Mommy?”
“Depends on where you buy it.”
“Can we make it free?”
“How about fifty cents?”
“Fifty cents,” Emily repeated.“Mommy says we need a sign.”
“I have plywood,” Paul said.“You could paint it.”
Vanessa nodded and started clearing the table.While she cleaned up, he went next door for the materials he’d offered.He propped the plywood against the porch railing, and helped Emily paint the sign white.
“I want a lemon on it,” Emily exclaimed.
“I don’t have yellow paint,” Paul said.
“We’ll let it dry,” Vanessa said, hugging Emily’s shoulders.“And add a lemon tomorrow.”
Emily surrendered her paintbrush with reluctance.
Vanessa kissed her daughter’s sweet head.“Let’s go inside and finish the movie you started earlier.”
“Can Mr.Paul watch with us?”
Vanessa expected him to decline.To her surprise, he didn’t.Vanessa scrubbed the paint from Emily’s hands while Paul rinsed the brushes in a bucket of water.Then they settled on the couch to watch Emily’s movie.
By the time the credits rolled, the little girl was fast asleep.Vanessa carried her into the bedroom, tucked her in, and turned off the lights.Then she returned to the living room, where Paul waited like a lion tracking a gazelle.
“Do you want a beer?”she asked.
He wiped his palms on the legs of his shorts.“Sure.”
She grabbed two bottles, popped off the caps and settled in next to him on the couch.“Cheers.”
“Cheers.”
He took a swig of beer.“You were crying earlier.”
“Yes.”
“What about?”
“Why do you care?”
His gaze traveled the length of her bare legs.A shivery sensation coursed through her.“I’m wondering if your ex is going to show up and cause trouble.”
