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“I think we’ve both had enough for today.”
“Awww … I wanna play more!”
Jillian patted Casey’s hand from across the table. “Settle down and eat your dinner, sweetie.”
“I’m not a baby anymore! Don’t call me that baby name, Aunt Jelly!” Casey flung out his hand, knocking over his glass of milk and flipping his plate into the air. The plate landed upside down in Zane’s lap.
Stunned silence descended as milk dripped off the table’s edge, puddling in the mess on Zane’s jeans.
Zane’s nostrils flared. “Casey!” he roared.
“Oops,” Casey whispered. “Sorry.”
Irritation flashed in Zane’s eyes. His jaw clenched.
“It wasn’t on purpose. Don’t be mad at me, Zane.”
Zane’s throat worked. He took a deep breath. Then two more. He grabbed another napkin and began to wipe off his jeans. “I can’t say I’m real happy with you right now,” he said in a strained voice. “I know it wasn’t on purpose. But if you can’t sit still at the table with us, maybe you need to eat on the deck steps by yourself.”
Casey nodded vigorously. “I can. I can sit still now, I promise.”
Zane stood, shaking out his pants. “We’ll see. Now go get the roll of paper towels off the kitchen counter and clean up this mess while I change.”
As Zane turned to walk into the house, Jillian gave him a beaming smile. He shot her a puzzled glance, the bewildered look in his eyes saying he didn’t know why she was grinning at him. But she was so proud of him. He was learning how to be a great dad.
If only she could convince him of that fact.
Aragorn snuck outside as Zane went in and took the opportunity to scarf down Casey’s fallen hamburger patty. After she scooped up the cat and marched him back inside, she supervised Casey while he dealt with the spill. She’d have to do a more thorough job later, but he cleaned with all the ability and gusto he possessed.
She fixed another plate for the little boy.
A subdued Zane returned wearing clean clothes, and resumed his seat. “Good thing I went shopping today.”
Casey stared up at him apprehensively. “Do you still like me, Zane?”
He ruffled the child’s hair. “Of course. Everybody makes mistakes.”
“Even you?”
“Yeah.” Zane gave his son a grim look. “I do.”
Casey sat and obediently finished his meal. And although Zane was cordial, he remained withdrawn despite Jillian’s attempts to draw him out.
Stars popped out, winking like brilliant diamonds in the deep blue velvet August sky. Zane pointed upward. “There’s the big dipper.”
Casey craned his head back. “A big zipper? Where?”
Zane chuckled quietly. “The big dipper. It’s a constellation.” He traced the outline with his finger. “It looks like a spoon.”
“Ooh,” Casey breathed, entranced. “Awesome.”
Zane’s smile at the little boy was tender. “Would you like to see more?”
Jillian rose. “That will be a perfect pre-bed activity, after Casey’s bath.”
“Aww.” Casey groaned, loud and long. “Do I gotta?”
Zane stood and began stacking the dishes. “You go take your bath, and I’ll clean up here. If we both hurry, we should be finished at the same time.”
