“The only way,” Hayes agreed.
“And fresh from the oven cookies, too.”Rylee patted her stomach.“Gingerbread, sugar cookies, snickerdoodles—you name it.Mom—your gramma—loves to bake cookies.”
Norma nodded.“You can help with the baking, if you like?”
Delilah was smiling again.“Yes, pwease.”
“We’ll find you a real pretty coat, gloves and hat so you stay toasty warm.”His father sat back and crossed his arms across his broad chest.“Order something online.”
“Online?”Rylee echoed.
“You’re going to order online?”Miles glanced at Braden, his eyes widening.“You?”
Their father didn’t like the internet.He didn’t like computers or smartphones or tablets.He thought technology was a way for people to “rob you blind.”
“Knock it off.”Their father’s scowl deepened.“One of you will do the ordering for me.”
That got them all laughing.
Tonight was going better than Braden had expected.Delilah loved the fried chicken for dinner.His mother had delighted his little girl with her homemade vanilla cakewith strawberry icing.With any luck, things would only get better from here.After all, they had things like the Pumpkin Spice Festival, the Tenacity Holiday Hoedown and their first Christmas together to look forward to—and build memories.
“How was school today?”their mother asked.“Was it nice having your daddy there with you?”
“Yeah.I’m not sad anymore.”She smiled at him.“Daddy can remember what kind of cupcakes I wike next year.”
That was a gut punch.He felt it—and it hit hard.If he needed further confirmation that he was failing at this whole fatherhood thing, there it was.Delilah was too young to play games or try to manipulate him—she only spoke the truth.Which made her words hurt that much more.
“Did you do anything special?”His mother tried again, her smile more pinched now.
“I got a birthday sticker and hat.”Delilah squished up her face.This was her “thinking hard” face.“And I made a new friend.It was his birthday, too.His name is Cody.Oh, Cody’s pretty mommy.”
Delilah paused before saying, “Daddy’s gonna call Cody’s mommy for a pway date.”
“I’ll see what I can do.”Thoughts of Maggie Cooper had cropped up several times over the course of the day.He wouldn’t mind seeing Maggie again.For a playdate or, maybe possibly, a date-date.
Wait a minute.No.He was in absolutely no position to think about dating or relationships right now—or to spend too much time thinking about the woman when his family was sitting here, watching his every move and expression.
“Cody?And Cody’s pretty mom?”Miles’s grin was full of mischief.
Braden rolled his eyes.This whole line of conversation needed to stop.
“Yep.Cody’s mama and my daddy talkedbunches,and she was nice and she had wots of cur-l hair.”
Well, damn.Delilah hadn’t exactly misrepresented things; she’d just been…honest.Too honest.And, yep, a glance at Miles, then Hayes, confirmed his fears.His brothers were going to interrogate him about this and have some fun while doing it—he could see it on their faces.
“Bunches, huh?”Miles asked.
“That’s what I heard.”Hayes nodded, rubbing his hands together.“Lots and lots.”
“What did you talk bunches about?”Now even his brother-in-law, Shep, was razzing him.
“And does Cody’s mom have a husband?”Rylee asked.“What?Don’t look at me like that, Mom.We are all wondering.”
Braden shot his sister a warning look.Now was not the time for this.
“Nope.”Delilah shook her head.“Cody said she don’t have a husband.”
“Cody said that?”Miles chuckled.“Interesting how that came up in your conversation.”
