Page 23 of Unexpected

She shook her head, covering her mouth with her hands as she giggled. “It’s a sweet potato crust.”

I glanced down at the pizza, which looked rather ordinary. “Really? Sweet potato?”

She nodded. I took another bite just as my phone rang. Sophia groaned as I walked over to pick it up, expecting that it was another work call. I had a house closing soon, and there were a lot of balls in the air with the lenders, the client, and a few remaining issues that had come back on the inspection.

“It’s your dad,” I said, holding up the phone so she could see his name. I connected the call and set the phone in front of her.

“Daddy!”

“Hey, sweetheart.” Cal’s voice rumbled through the phone.

“Can you FaceTime?”

“Um, sure. Give me just a second.” A moment later, Cal’s raven hair and blue eyes filled the screen. “Hey.” He smiled. “What are you up to?”

“Eating dinner with Mom.” She turned the screen so the camera was focused on me, and I gave a little wave.

“Hey, Cal.”

“Hey, Lex,” he said, but he didn’t see my eye roll because Sophia had already turned the camera back on her. He knew I didn’t like it when he called me Lex.

“I don’t have long to talk, but I wanted to call and say hi. I miss my girls.”

I ground my teeth. I was poised with a retort, but this was Sophia’s time with her dad. I knew how precious it was to her, and I didn’t know when he’d call again. It had been over a week since the last time he’d checked in.

“Where are you, Daddy?” Sophia asked, squinting at the screen.

“Dallas, Texas,” he said. “It’s hot here.”

“It’s been nice here. The pool is perfect. Will you come for my birthday party?” she asked.

Sophia had thrown herself into planning it, and Juliana had readily agreed to help. I had a feeling the mermaid-themed pool party was going to be completely over the top. But it was what was expected, and it had given Sophia something to look forward to after Cal had bailed for the summer.

“Of course I will.”

Her whole face lit up.

“Can I talk to your dad for a minute?” I held my hand out for the phone.

“Here’s Mom,” she said. “Bye, Daddy. I love you.”

“Love you too.”

I turned my back to Sophia and walked down the hall. “Take me off FaceTime please.” I lowered my voice, holding the phone to my ear. “Why did you tell her you’d be at her birthday party?”

I could already see it all play out, probably because this was his pattern. This was what he did. He’d promise to come. She’d get her hopes up. And then, like always, something would come up at the last minute, and he wouldn’t be able to make it.

“Because I will. Lex—Alexis,” he huffed. “I’ll be there. Promise.”

I clenched my jaw. “Don’t make promises you can’t keep.”

“Mom!” Sophia called, darting past me for the front door. “I heard a car. Maybe it’s Preston.”

“Preston?” Cal asked. “Who’s Preston?”

It was on the tip of my tongue to tell him that Preston was Sophia’s nanny. But “our new neighbor” came out of my mouth instead.

“Oh. That’s nice,” Cal said, not questioning it further. “I’m so glad Sophia has someone else to play with this summer.”