“Knock, knock,” she said, turning back to Henry.
His eyes got wide, and she gave him just an extra beat in case he wanted to answer himself this time.
“Der?”he demanded triumphantly after a moment.
Her heart wanted to beat out of her chest, but she kept going and tried not to show her surprise.
“Doris,” she told him.
“Oo?”he asked.
“Doris locked,” she said. “That’s why I’m knocking.”
He laughed and laughed even though she was pretty sure he had no idea what she was talking about. It was the rhythm of the joke and the grownups being silly that Henry liked.
Jensen was chuckling too, and his eyes were a little moist.
“Nah, nah,”Henry said.
“Who’s there?” Willow asked.
But Henry just cracked up. Unfortunately, his laughter turned into more coughing this time. Sherubbed his back, and was relieved when he stopped almost immediately.
Jensen set a few books and the sippy cup on the table, then headed to the stove.
“Let’s watch your daddy cook now,” she told him, grabbing the sippy cup and offering it to Henry. “I wonder what he’s making.”
Henry settled back against her chest with his cup, seemingly content to watch Jensen gathering ingredients from the cupboards.
Jensen leaned over to flick on the radio that was on the counter. “Silver Bells” sung by the local children’s choir was finishing up, and Willow enjoyed the pretty song while she and Henry watched Jensen start their breakfast.
For all that he’d said they would have cereal, it sure looked like he was about to make bacon, eggs, and either biscuits or pancakes. Her mouth watered at the idea.
She and Henry watched as Jensen put a few cups of flour into the big bowl and started adding other things.
When “Silver Bells” ended, Chuck Berry’s “Run, Run, Rudolph” came on. Jensen smiled and started dancing a little while he worked.
Henry held out the sippy cup for Willow to take it from him.
She put it on the table and watched the boy watching his daddy.
Jensen had clearly noticed that Henry was watching, so instead of just swaying a little, he began to actually dance and play his mixing fork like a guitar.
Henry squeaked with delight, and wiggled like he wanted to get down.
Willow wanted to let him, but she was worried about him coughing again if he exerted himself, or getting in the way while cooking was going on.
“Should we go dance too?” she asked him instead.
He nodded up and down and she got up with him, sliding him onto her hip.
Jensen came toward them, holding a hand out to Willow. She took it, and he pulled her in, rocking the three of them side to side.
Henry was smiling ear-to-ear, tipping his head in time to the music, clearly happy and excited to be dancing with his daddy.
Jensen pushed Willow out and spun her gently back in and she couldn’t help laughing.
“You’re a pretty good dancer, Jensen Webb,” she said.
