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  “C’mere, Cherub,” he said softly. She walked up to him and stood there, not knowing what he planned to do. Her heart was thinking he’s going to kiss me and her mind was thinking is it too soon? He reached up with one hand and his fingers stroked her cheek as he looked down at her. “I want to kiss you, Cherub, but don’t want to rush anything where you’re concerned. Is it okay?”

  Looking up at him, she nodded unable to say anything. He could see her pulse rate pick up and knew she was nervous and determined that he would go slow. Pulling her close, he threaded his fingers through her hair and leaned down to gently touch his lips to hers.

  The zing she felt had her feeling as if she had come home and she sighed as she looped her arms around his shoulders and leaned closer, allowing him to take over. She didn’t know how long he kissed her, she just knew she didn’t want him to stop when he pulled back slightly and kissed the tip of her nose as he leaned his forehead against hers. “Been wanting to do that all week, Cherub.”

  “I…I’m glad you did, Zeke,” she said, almost breathlessly, the emotions almost overwhelming.

  “Gonna get my boy and head home now, Cherub, but before I do, can I have another?”

  In response, she leaned up and captured his lips with hers. She ran the tip of her tongue across his lower lip, eliciting a groan from him before the kiss turned into something almost incendiary. As he pulled her closer, enveloping her in his strong arms, she could tell how she was affecting him which caused her to moan. A noise from somewhere behind them had her pulling away to see Thad standing in the doorway, rubbing his eyes as he tried not to gawk at the two of them. She buried her face in his chest as embarrassment at getting caught flooded her face in a becoming blush. He tipped her face up and leaned in close to whisper, “He needs to see adults showing affection, Cherub, and it’s not as if we’re standing here naked in your kitchen, yeah?”

  Sparkling green eyes met his before she burst into giggles. “As if! I mean, not that I don’t want…I mean, uh…well, hell,” she stammered, unable to complete her thought.

  “I understand, Cherub. But just to say, it’s too soon, yeah? We’ll know when it’s right and believe me, we’ll be sure that there are no interruptions by any children.”

  “Uh, dad? Did I interrupt something?” Thad asked.

  “It’s all good, Son. Just saying goodnight to Angelina.”

  “Yeah, I see that.”

  “Don’t be a smartass, Thad. Especially not in front of a lady, y’hear?”

  “Yeah, Dad. Sorry, Angelina.”

  She took pity on the teen and said, “It’s okay, Thad. Oh! Wait until you see the pictures your dad took of you and the girls!”

  “What? When?” he asked.

  “A little while ago. You ended up in the family room sleeping on the couch and they curled up next to you and fell asleep as well. Did they wear you out this afternoon?”

  “Naw, Coach ran us to death. They’re really cute kids, Angelina.”

  “Thank you. And thanks for helping your dad with them while I was sleeping.”

  “He said you had a bad headache like what Aunt Eva gets and I’ve seen how sick she gets with those so I was glad to help.”

  Zeke watched how easily his son and Angelina talked and smiled inside. While he had dated very sporadically over the years, most of his relationships had been discreet because they were for one purpose only. He didn’t bring them around Thad, but he had long ago decided that he would never get involved with someone who didn’t accept his son. Seeing the two of them getting along? Priceless in his book and something else he filed away.

  “You got anything you need to grab Thad? We need to head out. And before I forget, what are your plans tomorrow?”

  “Nothing much Dad. I have some reading to do and an essay to work on, but it’s not due until next Wednesday so I’ve got some time. What do you need me to do?”

  “Well, Angelina’s grass needs cutting, you mind taking care of it for her?”

  Angelina started to protest but stopped when she saw the look on Zeke’s face-for some reason, this was important to him so she was going to let him handle it as he saw fit.

  “Yeah, I can do that, can I drive the truck over with the mower?”

  “Nice try. No. I’ll drop you and the mower off. Cherub, you need to do anything in the morning?”

  “I already cleaned and did the laundry, so the only thing I have left on my list was the grocery store.”

  “Then how about I take you and the girls to do your shopping while Thad cuts the grass? We can be here around ten so it’s not too warm out and likely back in time for lunch so he doesn’t starve to death.”

  Angelina glanced at Thad and saw the slight grin on his face. “I think that will work and just so you know, Thad, if you do get hungry before we get back, feel free to help yourself, okay?”

  Zeke rolled his eyes, which made her burst into laughter. “Cherub, you better double whatever you had on your list after that last statement! You have no clue how much a teenage boy can eat.”

  “This is true but I’m sure I’ll figure it out. Like I said, he can help himself.”

  “Then it’s settled. We’ll see you ladies in the morning. Be sure you lock up,” he told her, leaning in for a brief kiss.

  “I always do,” she replied softly.

  Locking the door behind them, she waited until they had pulled out of the driveway before she shut the outside lights off, then went around and straightened things up and shut down the house. Heading into her room with a bottle of water, she couldn’t stop smiling. He had kissed her! And man, had she liked it. A lot. She couldn’t wait to see what the future held and went to sleep dreaming of him.

  Chapter Eleven

  Saturday morning dawned bright and clear and as Angelina got ready for the day, she found herself replaying the past week, especially last night. While she knew it wasn’t fair to compare the two men, she thought about the way Zeke treated her every time he saw her. He held doors for her, helped her into the truck, wouldn’t let her pay for any of their meals citing the fact that they were business meetings, and how even today, he had his son coming over to cut her grass while he took her grocery shopping! Laser hadn’t been unkind, but he had never shown by his actions in his day-to-day treatment of her that she mattered. Then, of course, there was the way he kissed! Holy smokes she thought. That second kiss last night nearly had her forgetting that there were children in the house! Sighing happily, she realized that even though she had lived with Laser for six years, this was her first date.

  Picking up her phone, she quickly texted Eva to find out what the dress code for the adult Saturday nights were because she didn’t want to embarrass him. When Eva texted back to ask why, she took a deep breath before responding that she wanted to know because Zeke had asked to bring her as his date. Seconds later, her phone was ringing and Eva’s name popped up.

  “Oh my God, Angel, you have no idea what this means!”

  “Well, good morning to you, too, my friend. Wait, what do you mean?”

  “He has never brought a ‘date’ to a Saturday party. Ever. I knew it, I just knew it!”

  “What did you ‘just know’ young lady?”

  “I got the sense that first meeting the three of us had that he was interested in you.”

  “Oh really? I didn’t find out until he told me last night.”

  “He told you?”

  “Uh, yeah. Right before he kissed me.”

  Shit that woman had a set of lungs she thought as she pulled her phone away from her ear. “You calm yet?”

  “Girl, you truly have no idea. I’ve been praying for him for a long time now, wanting him to find his forever. I think you may be the answer to those prayers.”

  “Just to say-it’s our first date. Surrounded by family, remember?”

  “Yeah, but again, you have no idea how massive that is!”

  “Whatever. So, you going to clue me in on what to wear so I don’t embarrass our c
hapter President?”

  “Angel, we’re not fancy. The old ladies usually wear jeans and heeled boots, a nice shirt, and our property cuts. Maybe a little more make-up, a little more hair fluffing, but honestly? Just be you because I think that’s what he likes best.”

  “Okay, and he said it’s catered?”

  “Yeah. The guys usually drink beer, but I don’t much care for it so we usually make frozen strawberry margaritas.”

  “Oh yum, my favorite!”

  “Well, be prepared to drink and dance, my friend.”

  Hearing the girls, she told Eva she needed to run, then she went and got the girls up and into the bathroom to start their day, happy to have another accident-free night. Once in the kitchen, she looked at the clock and saw she had enough time to make pancakes and have them ready by the time Zeke and Thad arrived. If he was going to cut her grass, the least she could do was feed him. She set the girls up with some cartoons and juice, grateful that the doorway into the family room was wide enough that she could put their highchairs so they could see the television and not worry about the furniture.

  Music on, bacon in the oven cooking, she had the batter made and the griddle heating when she heard the knock on the door. Because of his constant admonitions, she had not unlocked it before he arrived and was rewarded with a smile when she clicked the deadbolt and lock and opened the door. “Good morning, Cherub. Did you sleep well?”

  “I did, thank you. How about you?”

  “Took a little bit of time before I fell asleep, but I spent the time seeking some wisdom.”

  “I see,” she said, not fully understanding what he meant.

  He leaned in close and dropped a kiss near her ear and whispered, “Was thinking about you, Cherub, and that made it hard to fall asleep.” He saw when realization dawned on her because her face turned a pretty shade of pink.

  “Are you two hungry? I’m making pancakes and bacon for the girls.”

  Thad looked at his dad and then said, “I can eat.”

  “You were actually one of the reasons I started cooking.”

  “Me? Why?” Thad asked, confusion crossing his face.

  “I figure that you’ll need the energy since you’re cutting the grass and it’s never a good idea to go to the grocery store hungry,” she replied, turning and heading back into the kitchen, where she poured the first batch of pancakes on her griddle before she checked the bacon.

  “What can I do to help, Cherub?” Zeke asked as he went to the sink and washed his hands.

  “Um, well, I have juice in the fridge, the girls are watching cartoons as you can see, so all that’s left is to finish the bacon and make the pancakes.”

  “Let me get the syrup and butter out. Thad, can you set the table?”

  “Sure, Dad. Where are the plates?”

  “They’re over the dishwasher and the silverware is in the drawer at the end of the counter,” Angelina said.

  Working together as if they had done it for years, within a few minutes, the first batch of pancakes was off the griddle and the bacon was cooling. Angelina took the two small plates and got them ready for the girls and before she had a chance to do it, Zeke and Thad had carried the highchairs back over to the table.

  “Okay, Mellie and Caycoo, are you ready for some pancakes?” she asked them.

  “Yes, Momma.”

  “Pancakes! Thank you, momma. Hi, Mr. Zeke,” Melora said.

  “Melora? Cailyn? Can you say good morning to Thad?”

  Both girls looked at the teenager before they said good morning in soft voices. Zeke held in his laugh at how they pronounced Thad’s name while Thad grinned at how cute the two of them were.

  Before long, they were all seated at the table and Zeke blessed the meal, impressed at how even the girls bowed their little heads. Giggles abounded once they started to eat, and he realized it would probably be a little longer before they headed out to the store.

  Angelina looked at him and said, “I’m sorry. I forgot how messy they get even with a little bit of syrup. I promise I can get them cleaned up pretty quickly.”

  “No worries, Cherub. I’ll give you a hand and it’ll go that much faster if you want.”

  “Thank you. At least my list isn’t too long!”

  “That wouldn’t matter either, Cherub. Wouldn’t have offered if I didn’t want to do it, yeah?”

  Since there wasn’t much she could say to that, she merely smiled and nodded before she started clearing the kitchen table. She had found, through trial and error, that leaving the girls until last was the best plan of action. Zeke went to the sink and found a clean dishcloth and got it wet and wiped the worst of the syrupy mess off their faces and hands, while Thad rinsed dishes and stacked them in the dishwasher. She was amazed at how well they worked together and filed it away in her heart of hearts to look at later.

  “Dad? If you two are good, I’m going to head out and get started, okay?”

  “That’s fine. Remember to stay hydrated out there. It’s not too hot, but it’ll take you some time to get it done and that will likely change if the weatherman can be believed.”

  “Oh, here, Thad, take one of these out,” Angelina said, grabbing a cold Gatorade from the fridge.

  “Hey, thanks! It’s my favorite flavor, how did you know?” he asked as he opened the top and took a drink.

  “I kind of took a guess.”

  “Good guess.”

  “Well, there’s more in the fridge, as well as bottled waters. Please, help yourself, okay?”

  “Thanks, Angelina. Appreciate it,” Thad said as he walked out the back door.

  “Are we ready to get these two monkeys into a bath?” Zeke asked.

  She looked at the girls and saw that they had syrup on their pajamas too, so she went over and stripped them down to their pull-ups before she said, “Now we are.”

  He picked up Melora, who seemed to gravitate toward him for some reason, and headed down to their bathroom. Putting her down, he started the bath water and asked, “Do they get bubbles?”

  “What’s a bath without bubbles?” Angelina asked in return.

  He poured some bubble bath in as she made short work of putting them on their respective potties. Business taken care of, she plopped them both in the tub and said, “Now, we’re not playing this morning, my sweet girls, because we have shopping to do, okay?”

  “Kay, Momma,” Cailyn said, reaching for the sponge.

  Meanwhile, Melora was fascinated with the bubbles and was completely oblivious to the fact that Zeke was bathing her, being sure to keep her hair dry since it had escaped the syrup.

  Within minutes, they had both girls bathed and Zeke went to find them clothes while Angelina got them dried off. He came back in with matching sundresses and sandals and she bit back a smile. He may have raised a son, but he knew how to make her little girls beam, because he said, “I thought you two would like to dress up when we go shopping.”

  Giggles rang through the bathroom as they got the girls dressed and Angelina helped them brush their teeth before she combed their hair and put braids in, adding ribbons once she was done.

  “Hmm, I’m going out with three beautiful ladies today,” Zeke said, smiling at the picture in front of him. Leaning in, he kissed Angelina and whispered, “I can’t wait until tonight, Cherub.”

  She smiled shyly at him before responding, “Neither can I. It’ll be my first date.”

  Stunned. That was the word that crossed his mind-how had this beautiful woman never been out on a date. “Not even in high school?”

  “Nope. Told you, the family I lived with was religious and they didn’t believe in dancing and all that nonsense. Claimed it was all from the devil or some shit.”

  “Momma, you said a bad word,” Cailyn said as she looked up at her mother.

  “Sorry sweet girl. Momma will do better, okay? That’s not a word for little girls to say, though, so don’t say it.”

  Back in the bedroom, the girls grabbed their new �
�babies” and said “Can we go now in Mr. Zeke’s truck?”

  “Absolutely, as long as your Momma is ready,” he responded.

  “I’m ready, just need to grab my purse and phone,” she said.

  ***

  As they meandered through the grocery store and he watched her turn her nose up at the selection of fruits and vegetables, he remembered that there was a farmer’s market on the square in town. “Cherub? Why don’t you get what you need besides the fruits and vegetables and we’ll run to the farmer’s market.”

  “There’s a farmer’s market here?”

  “Yeah, they have one every Saturday on the square, weather permitting.”

  She looked at her list and circled a few things and then said, “Okay, I think the other items I have should be okay while we’re at the farmer’s market.”

  “Brought my cooler, Cherub. Get what you need, yeah?”

  “You…you brought a cooler?”

  “Figured you would want to get stuff that needs to be kept frozen or cold,” he replied.

  “Popsicles! Momma said we were getting popsicles!”

  “We can keep them cold, girls.”

  She smiled gratefully at him. As they got the rest of the items on her list, she felt something settle within. She almost felt like a family.

  ***

  He stood and watched as she negotiated with the vendor and smiled with pride at how she had managed to get what she wanted at the price she was willing to pay and leave the man smiling. She had a knack for putting others at ease. He also enjoyed seeing her with her daughters. She was gentle but firm and he noticed, not for the first time, that they were very well-behaved without being robotic. Her love for them was evident in every word, glance and touch. As they meandered from booth to booth, he finally reached out and took her hand in his and saw her glance of surprise. The girls were riding in a wagon that they had available at the farmer’s market and he was pulling it with his one hand, so he reasoned he had another hand that needed holding-hers.

  As he intertwined their fingers, he gave hers a squeeze and once again felt that zing of something. He sent up a prayer asking for patience with whatever was happening, and got the sense that things might be happening a lot faster than he anticipated. Regardless, after a lot of quiet time and reflection, he knew he had to talk with Dex at some point this afternoon and let him know the lay of the land. Preacher had already reached out to him when he realized how much time they were spending together. He didn’t care. At forty and with one bad marriage behind him, he felt that so long as he continued to seek His will over the situation, all would be well.