Page 35 of But For You

“Wait,” Noah recanted, turning to Michael. “I’m so—I didn’t mean any⁠—”

“Let’s just go,” Sam’s brother sighed, turning as I stepped into the room. “Jory.”

All eyes on me. Silence.

It only took Sam a moment.

“What’s going on?” he asked.

Hannah was held now against his chest, one little arm around his neck and her other hand fiddling with the collar of his dress shirt. “That man thinks because I have two daddies, that’s why I dance good.”

Before I’d had kids, I’d had no idea that children had selective supersonic hearing. I always assumed that they heard based on the regular laws of physics. But it wasn’t true. If you said something stupid—as Michael’s guest just had—if you mentioned dessert but didn’t mean to, or if you swore as you stubbed your toe, all these things would carry instantly to their small ears. However, requests to pick up their rooms, directions to brush their teeth, and inquiries as to who had thrown the ball that knocked over the vase in the living room … normally, these questions had to be shouted before being heard. So, I was not surprised in the least that my daughter had heard every word that was uttered under Michael’s friend’s breath, even over the pop classic.

Noah, however, was stunned. I was guessing he was not a parent, or he might have known better.

Sam’s eyes went cold and hard the instant Hannah uttered the words.

“But it’s not true.” She beamed at him. “ ’Cause Kola can’t dance, and he has you and Pa too. So, that’s not right, is it, Daddy?”

“No, B, that’s not right.”

You could hear the antique mantel clock ticking.

“Pa!” she shrieked when she realized I was there.

“Hi, B.” I waved at her.

She gave a violent dolphin twist, and Sam put her down. In an instant, she was across the room to me. I bent and grabbed her, and when I lifted her up, her head went down on my shoulder, her little arms around my neck as she snuggled. I rubbed her back and heard her sigh.

“I’m really so sorry,” the friend said to me, stepping close. “I didn’t mean anything.”

“Sure.” I smiled at him before turning to Thomas. “We could just let it go, couldn’t we?”

Sam’s father studied my face. We both knew I was asking permission for Noah to stay. If Thomas Kage gave an order, everybody had to listen.

“I’m okay. Are you okay?”

He grunted and gave me a quick nod, and I looked to Regina.

“I’m starving, and that pot roast smells amazing. Did you make the red potatoes?”

“I did.” She hesitated for a minute before moving fast, hands on my face when she reached me. Then she kissed my cheek. “And I made the monkey bread you like, along with the rolls.”

“Heaven.”

Her brows furrowed as she studied me. “Were you in a fight?”

I shrugged. “It’s nothing. It doesn’t even hurt.”

From the look on her face, I could tell she was not convinced.

“Sam,” I called over to him, needing the backup.

“He’s okay, Mom,” he vouched for me. “I promise.”

She lit up with relief; it was easy to see that she loved me. “I have your itinerary.”

“Which is why Sam and I came for dinner.”