“Well, thank you,” Cal said. “I’m sure Owen will love them.”
April arched an eyebrow. “They’re for you, too, you know.”
Cal opened the lid of the container and examined its contents. There were a variety of cookies. She’d clearly made several batches. Chocolate chip and snickerdoodle cookies. Some thumbprint cookies and others with frosting. She’d really gone all out. He had no excuse not to have a taste. With all the variety, he was bound to like at least one of them. “Did you make these yourself?” he asked, though he already suspected she had. The cookies were not nearly uniform enough to be anything other than handmade.
April confirmed it for him. “Yeah, I made them last night. I should probably pretend to be humble and tell you they’re not that good, but it would be a lie. I’m the best baker I know, and my cookies are top-notch.”
Owen started bouncing again. “Can I have one right now, Dad? Can I? Pleeeease!”
“After lunch, chief.” Cal went to the kitchen to make their lunch.
“Can I help?” April asked.
The question surprised Cal, primarily because it came from April. Usually, Owen would be the one asking to help. “Sure,” he said. “Would you be OK with washing the lettuce?”
“Totally.” April took to Cal’s kitchen like she actually lived there. There was something comfortable about a person who wasn’t too cautious, someone who made themselves at home wherever they went. It was a personality trait Cal had always found immensely attractive.
They ate lunch, and afterward, Cal let Owen choose two cookies to eat. The boy took about ten minutes just to decide which ones to try. “But if I only have two, I won’t know what the rest taste like,” he said.
April diffused the situation right away. “Don’t worry, kid. I’m leaving the rest with you. You can try all the others later if you want.”
Owen grinned and quickly chose two. Cal followed suit, and to his surprise, the cookies were more than delicious. April may have been a little proud about her baking, but she sure wasn’t lying. “These are delicious,” Cal said before considering whether he really wanted to say it.
“Thank you.” April stood and started clearing plates without anyone asking her to. She really did make herself right at home, didn’t she?
“You’re welcome,” Cal said.
When she’d finished clearing the table, April picked up her bag. “I suppose I should get going,” she said.
Cal cocked his head at her. Had she forgotten? “Didn’t you want to do the examination?”
For a moment, it seemed like April didn’t really know what he was talking about. Then, the realization hit her, and she jumped into action. “Oh!” she exclaimed. “I can’t believe I forgot. Of course I want to do the examination. So silly of me.” She laughed and her cheeks turned bright red, which only made her about a thousand times cuter.
She found Owen in his room, took his temperature, his blood pressure, all the usual things. When she was finished, she clumsily packed up her tools, fumbling and blushing even more. “I can’t believe I almost left without doing the exam,” she said.
Cal felt the need to put her at ease. “We all do that sort of thing every once in a while.”
She threw the strap of her bag over her shoulder and shrugged. “I guess I was just enjoying your company so much that I forgot. He’s looking so much better. I don’t really think it’s necessary to do these visits anymore, but I’ll miss you both a lot.”
When she opened the door, Cal saw that it was still raining. He went to his coat closet and pulled out his largest umbrella. “Let me walk you to your car.”
She nodded, and he walked with her, holding the open umbrella over her head the whole time. When she opened her car door, he kept the umbrella over her head, allowing the rain to fall on himself. “Thank you, Cal,” she said. Her sincerity was obvious, and he rather liked the sound of his name on her lips.
Once again, his fearless younger self butted in, and he couldn’t help saying, “Come visit us again in a few days. You don’t have to bring the bag. Owen likes having you visit, and as his father, I think it’s good for him to have a little more social interaction.”
As soon as he extended his invitation, April stood taller. Her smile grew and her eyes brightened. “Are you inviting me over for a social call, Cal Nolen?” she said, a touch of mischief in her tone.
He shrugged. “I suppose I am. Are you interested?”
“Am I ever!” She was bouncing in place almost as much as Owen did when he got excited about a dessert he was particularly fond of. “You guys are the best. Thank you so much. Of course I’ll come visit again.”
Cal watched her pull away and went back inside, more excited to tell his son the good news than he could have anticipated.
CHAPTER 7
APRIL
“Is this too much of a date dress?” April asked Crystal, who was sitting at the foot of her bed, to help her choose an outfit for her next visit to Cal Nolen’s cabin. She’d begged Crystal to help her choose something to wear because she had no idea what the event even was. She wasn’t going in a professional capacity, so it seemed right to dress up a little. At the same time, if she dressed up too much, would that come across wrong? She didn’t want to overdress and make Cal think she was expecting a date.
