Page 8 of Icing on Top

Chapter 4

Jeremiah

Just call me Super-Dad.

I’d spent the morning at the rink in meetings and still managed to vacuum the entire house before Hurricane Charlie came barreling through the front door, my mother-in-law following in her wake.

“Daddy! You’re never going to believe it!” Charlie cried.

From the looks of it, she was definitely on a sugar high; pupils blown wide, crumbs clinging to her plump cheeks, and tiny body literally vibrating. I gave Terri a small look, but she just smiled amiably and shrugged.

I directed my attention back to my daughter.

“What’s that, Tot?”

“Nana and I went to the bakery for lunch and Coach Zo works there!”

My eyebrows rose higher. “Bakery for lunch?”

“Yeah. But, Daddy, did you hear me? Coach Zo works at the bakery.”

I chuckled. Clearly, I wasn’t paying attention to the correct part of her story.

“I heard ya, Tot. What a surprise running into her. I’m sure she was happy to see you.”

“I think so.” She held up a container of mini cupcakes, two still left in the six-pack. “She told me to save some for you and Mom.”

Her voice was soft, eyes now locked on the small swirls of light blue icing. I glanced at Terri before kneeling down in front of Charlie, encouraging her to look at me.

“That was very sweet of you to save them for us. How about I eat the one and then you and I can split the other? Mom would want us to share.”

“Even though I already had two?”

I closed my eyes for a moment before opening them and giving a slow nod as I took the container from her hands. I kept her sugar intake at a healthy level, and Charlie was always good about brushing and flossing. No cavities in sight. A few mini cupcakes weren’t going to hurt.

“Why don’t you go check on Delilah first? I vacuumed, so she’s been hiding out in your room.”

Charlie’s eyes widened again, this time in concern for her beloved bunny, and her bottom lip pouted out. “My poor baby.”

“Give Nana a hug before you go,” Terri said, bending down and opening her arms. “I’ve got to get home.”

Charlie bounded into her embrace and hugged her tight. “Bye, Nana. Thank you for the cupcakes.”

“Thank you for having a girls’ day with me.”

Terri placed a kiss to the crown of her head, and then Charlie was off, hurrying down the hall, but not so fast that she would startle Delilah. I braced my hands on my thighs as I pushed myself into a standing position and then joined Terri in the foyer.

“I didn’t tell her coach about Sadie,” I apologized.

Terri shook her head. “It’s not something you have to disclose every time you two meet someone new. Charlie handled it well enough.”

I didn’t bring up how it might have affected her. Charlie and I weren’t the only ones who had lost Sadie.

Terri’s hand came to rest on my shoulder, and I met her dark eyes. “You do such a great job of making Sadie still a part of her life.”

A lump appeared in my throat, and I struggled to swallow around it.

“I try.” My smile was small; it never felt like I talked about her enough. “I just want her to know her mom.”