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“Hello.” The tension in my voice irritated me. Why couldn’t I just act normal around him?
“Papa, what are you doing here? I thought you had to work.”
“One of our managers showed up, so I was able to leave early. I got the crib set up if you want to come see it.”
Lia clapped her hands. “Really?” She strode into the bedroom where she showered Salvador with even more praise. “It’s perfect! Thank you so much.”
She gave him a huge hug, and he gently kissed the top of her head. As he did, our eyes met. Suddenly I felt incredibly embarrassed for my behavior the last time we talked on the phone.
Wanting to atone for my misbehavior, I forced a smile. “I was going to order Chinese food, would you like to join us? My treat.”
“Thank you, but no. I already ate at the restaurant.”
“Did you bring me anything?” Lia asked.
Salvador grinned. “Like what? Steak tampiqueña?”
“Papa. You’re the best.” She hugged him again before waddling into the kitchen and opening the refrigerator. “Yum. I’m going to eat the whole thing right now.”
Our plans for ordering Chinese food forgotten, she popped the takeout container into the microwave. As an afterthought, she glanced at me. “You can have some too, Mom. I didn’t mean to be rude. I just sometimes get so hungry and hyperfocused, but there’s enough for both of us.”
I nodded, knowing in Lia’s eyes nothing compared to her father’s cooking. And truthfully, he was a master chef. All of my best recipes came from him, although they never tasted as good when prepared by me.
Salvador shoved a hand through his salt-and-pepper hair, which was just as thick and healthy as ever. “Well, I better get going. I need to shower and—”
“Don’t rush out on my account,” I said.
He gave me an odd look. “I’m not.”
Of course not, I thought. He was over me and all the baggage I lugged around. Rushing out on my account would never occur to him.
