Page 37 of Manny's Surprise Baby

He went back to the stove and closed it. Then he pulled off the oven mitts. “Like I told you, Brad cooks. Hopefully he can get some more meat on your bones.”

My cheeks warmed at the thought of Pierce noticing whether I was thin or not. If I was honest with myself, I kind of liked that he’d have checked me out. But I didn’t really want to examine what that might mean about me. I shoveled some more food in, if only so I didn’t have to talk. I was almost afraid of what might come out of my mouth after all that Colin had shared with me.

When Pierce left the room, I was a mixture of relieved and disappointed. I finished my food listening to Emily and Pierce talking in the front room. I couldn’t hear what they said, but their voices were soft and even, as if they were comfortable with each other. I wondered how Emily would take to Brad. If she went back into her shell, that was gonna suck. I was just beginning to get snippets of conversation and smiles from her.

After I finished my meal, I rinsed my plate and joined them in the living room. I sat on the end of the couch away from Pierce, putting my feet up on the big ottoman. Emily kept shooting me little sneaky glances, and after about the fifth time I had to laugh.

“Do I have food on my face?” I asked, smiling and wiping at my chin.

“No.” Emily giggled.

“She has something she wants to ask you,” Pierce said, giving Emily a pointed look.

Emily looked uptight now. “Can’t you ask him for me?”

Pierce scowled. “No. You can do it. He won’t bite.”

“Yeah. I probably won’t bite.” I forced a smile.

She grimaced. “Well… um…”

“Do you need to borrow money?” I laughed.

“No.” Her mouth was tense. “Um… well…”

“Emily. Just ask.” Pierce sounded exasperated.

She sighed. “Well… one of the girls in my class, Susan, she invited me to a slumber party tomorrow night.” Her voice wobbled and she blinked at me.

“Really?” I was glad she was making friends, but sort of concerned at the idea of her going over to some stranger’s house. That awful story Colin had told me about Baxter didn’t exactly reassure me about the kindness of strangers.

“She’s really nice. She has the same color hair I do. She can even do a french braid.”

“No way!” I deadpanned.

Pierce snorted.

Emily laughed shyly. “Are you making fun of me?”

“Maybe.” I grinned.

She looked nonplussed at first, but then she gave an impish smile. “I guess I get my mean side from you.”

I slapped my hand over my heart. “That’s not nice.”

“Exactly.” She grinned.

“Nicely done.” Pierce patted her shoulder and wiped away a fake tear. “They grow up so fast.”

I laughed and held his amused gaze, an odd fluttering in my gut. Clamping my jaw, I focused on my daughter. “So, you would feel comfortable staying the night at this girl’s house?”

Emily nodded. “Yes.”

“Do you have her parents’ number?”

She looked confused. “Why?”

“I want to be sure there really is a sleepover.”