“Of course I will.” We always had this type of sendoff whenever the two were to part. It was sweet and thoughtful, but I memorized it perfectly well. Perhaps every parent should be as overprotective as Hunter was.
He watched as the two of us left, driving to Bailey’s house for the whole afternoon. Hunter was smiling as he waved, Vince doing the same to his father.
*
We arrived at Bailey’s house faster than I expected. The drive was quick and hassle free. Vince grabbed his backpack after I turned the car’s engine off, staring
at me to wait for my signal. I smiled at him and unlocked the doors, nodding at him that he could now get out of the car.
“Let’s go, buddy!”
“Yes. I’m so excited!” he squeaked as he got out of the car, eager to see the cute little girl. I got out and took his medicine kit, pocketing the keys to my car. I rang the doorbell and waited for a few seconds before Bailey opened the door.
“Oh my God, I’ve missed you!” She wrapped her hands around me, hugging me as if she hadn’t seen me in the past few years of her life. I spotted Cat crawling on the floor, looking at who came to visit her and her mother.
“Oh, there you are, little Cat.” I untangled from Bailey’s tight embrace and went straight to Cat. I carried her in my arms and kissed her cheek, missing the cute little angel for weeks.
Vince came closer, holding baby Cat’s hand as he stared at her. The little girl smiled at him, revealing her tiny teeth in a cute grin.
“She’s so cute,” Vince said to me, looking at the baby girl before him. “I want a sister. Do you think Dad will ever have more kids? Like brothers and sisters for me?”
“I’m sure he will.” I smiled down at him before putting Cat down and urging Vince to go into the living room with her. I turned to Bailey and caught her smiling, mesmerized by the thought that her little girl finally had someone to play with.
“Come on; I baked some chocolate cupcakes for you two,” she claimed, taking me to the kitchen. I gave her a disappointed look.
“What?” She gave me a baffled stare.
“Vince is diabetic. I told you a million times already.” I crossed my arms, dismay on my face as I stared back at her.
Bailey slapped her forehead. “Oh, shoot. Yeah, I totally forgot. I guess I’ll just be treating him out with pizza. You okay with that?” She looked at me with an apologetic gaze.
“He can have a piece or two, but I’ll have to give him a shot. Bread turns into sugar in the body too.” Vince would love it, and I’d just count his carbs and keep him safe. Besides, I hadn’t had pizza for quite some time, anyway.
We left the kitchen and headed to the living room, finding the kids playing great together. Cat was holding a puppet in her hand while Vince was speaking on behalf of one of her stuffed toys. We watched as the two had a blast together, finding it cute to see them enjoy each other’s company.
“How old is Cat again?” I asked Bailey, teasing her about Cat liking Vince. She rolled her eyes in reply but answered anyway.
“She’s going to be three on Saturday of next week.” She changed the cartoon channel to the Lifestyle channel as the kids were completely engaged in the game they were playing.
“Oh, Vince is five. They could be matched together,” I whispered. “Looks like Cat has a new boyfriend.”
She gave me a shove then laughed out loud. I could not help but laugh as well, getting used to the jokes we always played on each other. The two kids watched as we shared the happiness, clueless as to why we were laughing.
“Don’t mind us, Vince. It’s okay; we’re just catching up.”
Vince nodded and smiled, turning his attention back to Cat’s toys. The little girl played with him, thrilled to meet a new playmate.
“You are so silly. If there’s someone who’s getting a new boyfriend here, that would be none other than you.” She pointed an accusing finger at me. I blushed upon hearing her words as if trapped in the interrogation room and caught in the act I had been hiding. “So, how are things really going right now between you and Mr. Yummy Pants?”
“I don’t know how to explain it, but I’m really happy with what we have right now. It feels like we’re a family. I know he has feelings for me too, but we have not talked about it yet.” Talking about it caused my heart to race. I could not erase the smile on my face.
“You are glowing more than ever. I guess you’re the happiest woman on Earth now, right?” She looked at me with a grateful expression. Just before, she was cautioning me to slow things down and distance myself from Hunter. Maybe she realized that he was a great man. The type who did not take the women who helped them for granted.
“For sure, and you don’t know the half of it,” I answered her with a naughty look. She pushed me once more, knowing what I meant.
We laughed again, having more fun than we should have.
*