“Mom! We’re here!”
Vic chuckled and still pressed the button. A few moment’s later, the door swung open, and there she was.
Those oversized bear slippers were on her feet, her hair perfectly angled to brush her shoulders, but she didn’t have makeup on. She was a natural beauty, and it was no wonder where Kian got his good looks from. She wore black yoga pants and an oversized off-the-shoulder t-shirt with Prince on it. That outfit should not have caused his brain to short-circuit, but it did.
“Hey, baby!” she said, her smile large. She ruffled Kian’s light-brown curls as he slammed into her for a hug. She gave him a big squeeze then turned her attention to him. “Hey, Vic. Come in.”
The house smelled amazing. He didn’t know what she was cooking, but it had his stomach growling. It smelled of spices, tomato, then there was a hint of sweetness that accompanied it.
“I hope you are hungry. I put chili on in the crockpot this morning before I left for work.”
He stepped into the house and shut the door. He hung up Kian’s bag on the hook by the door. Kian bolted past her and headed toward the kitchen.
“Yay!” Kian pumped his little hand in the air.
“Go wash your hands first!” she said.
“Okay.” Kian skidded to a halt halfway down the hall and darted toward the bathroom.
Vic followed her toward the kitchen. A stupid warmth gathered in his chest. The one he’d been feeling more lately around her. He wasn’t sure why.
But it scared him a little.
She stood over by the crockpot and stirred the chili. She nodded to the sink.
“You can wash up there,” she said.
“Thanks.” He moved over to the sink and washed his hands.
She fixed his plate like she used to do on nights when he’d stop by to check in when Kian was a baby. Déjà vu hit him hard as he dried his hands. She handed him his bowl with a small smile. He had to admit this felt…right. It almost seemed like a normal life. Something he hadn’t realized he wanted.
“What do you want me to do?”
“Grab some glasses and the lemonade out the fridge,” she said.
He did as she’d asked and again, he was hit with a feeling he wasn’t used to. He helped set the table, taking a seat just as Kian reappeared.
“Dad, you’re staying?” Kian climbed into his chair at the table. The look of happiness was blaring on his face at the aspect of Vic staying.
“Yeah, bud. Mom and I needed to talk about a few things.” His gaze went over to Tachina.
She moved around the kitchen getting her and Kian’s food prepared. She brought over their bowls and set them down.
“Hold on. Almost forgot,” she murmured. She came back to the table with a warming pad and popped it on the table, placing a cast-iron skillet on top of it.
The sweetness of the cornbread greeted Vic.
She sat at the table, grinning wide. She turned to Kian. “Can you say grace, big man?”
“Yup.” Kian pressed his hands together and bowed his head. “Dear God. Thank you for my mommy and thank you for my daddy and for my toys and Mr. Blankie. Amen.”
Vic should have closed his eyes and lowered his head, but he couldn’t take his eyes off the two ofthem. Tachina was a fabulous mother, and she was raising their son to be one hell of a man. She was instilling values in Kian that would be with him the rest of his life.
“Amen. Good job, baby.” Tachina reached over squeezed Kian’s plump cheeks.
“Mom, this isn’t that dry cornbread?” Kian paused before digging into his food.
Tachina barked a laugh and shook her head. “No, it is not. Now eat.”