“What?”
“I took your mother there for our eleventh anniversary. The food, especially the lobster fra diavolo, is famous around here. And quite expensive. Your mother wasn’t going to order it, but I insisted. That’s the way she was.”
“Then I’ll order it,” I said.
He continued to put away his things and went out to greet Kane when he rang our doorbell.
“Don’t scare him, Dad,” I pleaded.
“Moi? I’m a pussycat,” he said, but when he opened the door, he would have stopped an army of ants with his look. I could see Kane hesitate.
“Hi, Mr. Masterwood.”
“They’re calling for some possible cold rain tonight,” Dad said instead of hello. “Mind your driving.”
“Yes, sir. My father said the same thing just now when he heard I was going out.”
“Your precious cargo,” Dad continued, and stepped back to reveal me. I started to wrap my heavy wool black shawl over my shoulders when the two of them rushed forward to help. Dad realized Kane was intending to do the same thing and stopped.
“You look fantastic,” Kane said.
“Thank you.” I gave my father a stern look and saw his eyes begin to light his smile.
“You guys have a great time,” he told Kane.
“Thank you, Mr. Masterwood.”
We started out. Dad remained in the doorway watching Kane rush around to open the door for me. He waved to Dad, who nodded, and then he got into his car.
“Does your dad do that to all your dates who come to the house to pick you up?”
“Do what?”
“Intimidate them?”
“He’s just being a dad,” I said. “What do you think you’ll be like when you’re one?”
“The truth is, I can’t imagine it.”
“It’s not that hard to imagine,” I said, and he smiled and backed us out of the driveway very slowly, practically crawling away from the house.
“It wouldn’t surprise me to see him follow us,” he said, gazing into his rearview mirror.
I looked back. Would he? “I don’t think so,” I said. “He’s probably alerted the police department instead.”
“What?”
“Just kidding, Kane,” I said.
He shook his head. “I think I’ve finally met my match in you,” he said.
The smile on my face threatened to be permanent or at least last the rest of this evening.
“I hope you’re hungry,” he said.
“I starved myself all day just so you could spend a lot of money on me.”
He laughed. “There are girls who would, but somehow, Kristin, I don’t think you’re one of them.”