My words are teasing, but they do the trick. Nyla drops her bag and turns to me with her mouth hanging open.
“You have a date? Who is he? When is the date? Where are you going?”
“Whoa, killer. Hold your horses. He’s sort of a fan of the channel. He’s also a chef Dante and Gio just hired.”
My sister turns her face away from me, but not before I spot the glow in her cheeks. For the millionth time, I can’t help but wonder what I’m missing. I was sort of surprised by Gio’s behavior the other day at the restaurant.
“Well, I’d like to hear more about him. How about you guys come hang out with me in the kitchen while I cook us something for dinner. I’d love to catch up on what’s been going on with my girls,” Dad says.
“Sounds good to me,” I say happily.
“Sure, I just need a bath or shower and maybe a nap. You guys get started without me.”
Dad nods, but disappointment shines in his eyes. Elijah has only ever shown he wants the best for us. When Nyla gets in her moods it can be hard to break through to her. Sometimes she can make you feel like the enemy when all you want is to love her.
“Take your time. I’ll have beer and stew waiting for you when you’re ready,” Dad says.
“Thanks, Dad. As soon as I settle in, I’ll be there.” I give my sister a smile for reading the room and smoothing things over. She winks at me before she grabs her bag and heads into the house.
I can’t help but smile. My family is home. This is going to be a great holiday season.
****
“Thanks.” I look up from the book I’m reading on my phone as Dad places a beer in front of me.
“What’s got your attention these days? Vampires, dukes and duchesses, or some detectives reluctant to fall in love?” Dad asks, nodding to my phone.
“He’s a scientist and a werewolf. He’s trying to figure out why his people aren’t mating and creating offspring anymore. He’s the first in a century to display signs of the mating call after a trip to the city and a run-in with a beautiful doctor at a convention.”
“You know, I love when your face lights up like that as you talk about books. Your father used to get the same look when he figured out some great puzzle of his. You girls picked up his genius.”
I smile. I love to read, if my father was as passionate about engineering, I totally get him. It makes me feel closer to him to know this tiny fact.
“Thanks, Dad. I know it couldn’t have been easy to raise us on your own, but I appreciate that you try to give us pieces of Mom and Dad.”
He swallows as his eyes tear up, he takes off his glasses to wipe at his eyes. Replacing them, he smiles. “I never forced you girls to start calling me dad, but when Nyla said it the first time, it broke my heart and made me proud all at the same time. Over the years, I’ve come to be grateful for the opportunity to stand in the gap for such amazing people. I hope I’ve done as they would have wished.”
“I’m sure you have and more. I, for one, could never repay you. Although, I think I owe you thousands from the first year you started to buy me books,” I tease.
Dad’s laugh booms through the kitchen and I’m so happy to hear it. It’s a far cry from the somber mood I found him in earlier and his melancholy mood that deepened after Nyla arrived.
I take a sip of the beer he gave me and return to my book as he moves around the kitchen to cook. The aromas filling the space have my mouth watering and he only has butter and shallots in the pan.
“So, a date?” I pause and look up. I knew this was coming eventually. “Tell me about him.”
I bite my lip and screw up my face. I don’t know what to say about Jacob. He’s nice enough. I was surprised when he followed through on dropping me a DM.
I’m still a bit shocked he noticed me and made such a big deal during lunch. I know my channel has been growing but I’m still getting used to the emails and fandom.
“He’s a nice guy,” I murmur.
“He better be. You say he’s a chef?”
“Yes, he’s very good. Gio took me to lunch at his former restaurant. That’s how we met.”
“Gio, uh…has anything changed at work? Are you still working as Dante’s assistant?”
I shrug and wrinkle my nose. “Yeah. Why do you ask?”
He shakes his head. “Nothing.”
“Dad.”
“Really, it’s nothing. Gio came to Denise wanting a certain set of skills. I find it odd he’s been using you as nothing more than an assistant for the last five years. His contract requested I not ask questions, so I’ll leave it be for now.”