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“Avast!”
They clashed the utensils against each other, dancing around the small kitchen. When the oven went off with the pre-heated alarm, he let Jace stab him right in the gut.
“Argh, a fatal blow, to be sure. Ye are the new captain, ’twould seem.”
Jace dropped his spoon with a shake of his head. “No thanks. Too much responsibility.”
Clark ruffled his hair. “Smart kid. All right, I’ll put the bacon on while you crack three eggs into a mixing bowl.”
The two of them worked with a rhythm born of many homecooked meals together. Jace had been helping his dad out in the kitchen since he was three, as they’d cooked instead of getting take-out to save money. Clark preferred living simply and buying everything with cash. No loans. Teaching Jace that want and need were two different things.
But his son never lacked for the one thing Clark missed growing up: love and affection. He was a damn good father and they were doing fine on their own.
Which was just one of the many reasons he didn’t date. Even if he found someone he was interested in for more than a few hours, the idea of bringing someone else into their lives who could potentially screw with their well-oiled machine sounded like more trouble than it was worth. Since the day Jace was born, he’d always put what was best for Jace first and foremost. Maybe that was extreme, but growing up with parents who used him and his brother like props, he swore he’d do better with his own child.
After dinner, they followed the same routine as every night. Bath, pajamas, setting out their clothes for the next day. So far, Clark had been working only weekdays, until today. From now until Christmas, it would be six, sometimes seven days a week. Luckily, Chris said Jace tagging along on Clark’s rounds wouldn’t be an issue and Jace loved exploring the farm with Clark.
They watched a half-hour show together every night before bed and tonight, Jace picked A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving. They watched it every year, but Jace seemed a bit disenchanted with the cartoon this time.
“I don’t understand why they always have Charlie kick the football and hurt himself.”
“The writers thought it would be funny, I guess,” Clark said.
Jace scowled at the flat screen. “I think it’s mean.”
“Yeah, it is.”
“Lucy is the worst.”
Clark chuckled. “It’s a cartoon, buddy. It’s not real life.”
“Girls at school chase me. I don’t like it.”
“Tell them to stop. Or don’t run.”
“But when they catch me, they try to kiss me.” Jace wrinkled his nose and covered the lower half of his face, muffling his voice. “I put my hands over my face like this and tell them to stop, but they keep coming.”
“You should tell the duty aide, then. She’ll make them stop.”
“I don’t want to be a tattletale.”
“Well, looks like you’re stuck then, buddy. I’m out of options.”
Jace released a sigh. “Girls are so gross.”
“Someday you’ll change your mind about girls.”
“You don’t like them.”
“What? I like girls!”
“You do?” Jace cocked his head, studying him. “Do they like you?”
“Sometimes. Why would you think I don’t like girls?”
“’Cause I never see girls chasing you.”
Solid logic for a seven-year-old.
