He was overthinking this entire situation. He and Cameron were single parents of girls who liked to spend time together. That should be enough for him. But it wasn’t. For the first time since Valentina’s death, he wanted more.
Cameron opened the door before they knocked and barely spared him a glance before acknowledging his daughter. Yep, she was avoiding him. But at least she wasn’t ignoring Mariana. He’d hate it if his daughter’s friendship was jeopardized because their parents couldn’t figure out how to be in a room together.
“Hey, sweetie. You ready to have some fun?”
Mariana held up her backpack and sleeping bag. “I’ve got everything.”
“Great. Lizzie and I just got back from Redbox. We’ve got a great night planned, so come on in.”
He hesitated on the porch. Was he supposed to follow Mariana in or just leave? He’d love to spend a few more minutes with Cameron. And they should discuss when he was picking Mariana up, right?
“So when should I come by tomorrow?”
She nibbled at her bottom lip and stared at her feet for a minute. “Come on in. We can check with Mom.”
Cameron didn’t look at all comfortable, but he wasn’t going to refuse the opening.
He followed her into the kitchen where a woman he presumed was her mother fiddled with something on the counter. When she spotted him, a huge smile broke out on her face. “You must be Alex. I’ve heard so much about you. I’m Barbara, Cameron’s mom.”
The resemblance between Cameron and her mom was striking, both having the same golden curls and bright blue eyes. “Nice to meet you. I’ve heard a lot about you, too. I know Cameron counts on you to help with Lizzie. Thanks for agreeing to have
Mariana over tonight.”
“Mariana is such a sweet girl. What about you, Alex? Where’s your family?”
“Mother,” Cameron huffed under her breath.
Barbara swatted at Cameron. “Leave an old lady alone.”
Alex chuckled. “They’re in Georgia, ma’am. They moved up to Ft. Gordon from Florida after Mariana’s mom died, but they weren’t ready to relocate north when I got stationed at Ft. Dunwoody.”
“I’m sure they miss seeing Mariana every day. I don’t know what I’d do if I didn’t get my regular Lizzie fix.” Barbara grabbed a huge basket and a blanket off the counter and thrust the items toward him. “Everything is set. Lizzie helped me pack the food and I stashed a bottle of that wine you like so much in there, so you two go off and have fun.”
Cameron’s brows furrowed. “We didn’t have any plans, Mom.”
Had they been bamboozled yet again? But this time it looked like Barbara wasn’t in on it, because she was just as confused as Cameron and Alex
“That doesn’t make any sense,” the older woman said. “Of course, you do. Lizzie asked me to babysit tonight while the two of you went on a picnic. I thought it was a grand idea.” She waved her phone in the air. “Lizzie set up one of those group text things with the me, Lizzie and Mariana on it to plan it all. I thought you knew, Cameron. You got the movie and the brownies.”
“I didn’t.” Pink crept up Cameron’s cheeks. “I mean, I did get the movie and brownies, but…” She rubbed her forehead.
Alex hid a grin. Those two girls, scheming again. He could do two things right now—ruin everything for everyone or take advantage of this chance to spend time with Cameron. He wrapped his fingers around the handle of the basket. “Sounds like a plan to me. Thanks so much for watching the girls, Barbara. We won’t be too late.”
He steered Cameron toward the front of the house before she could object.
It took until they were down the porch steps and halfway to the car before she spoke. “What just happened here?”
He opened the passenger door and stood back as she lowered herself into the seat. He settled the picnic basket at her feet and leaned into the opening. “Don’t you see what’s going on? The girls are trying to find ways to put us together. Not them. Us.”
Cameron’s brow furrowed for a minute longer and then her eyes widened. “Those two stinkers. I can’t believe they did this.”
“Nothing surprises me with those two anymore. But if you don’t want to go, you don’t have to.” Please don’t say no.
“No, I, uh. I didn’t say that. I was just caught off guard.”
He crouched down so he could look her in the eye. “I know this may have been the girls’ idea, but I would have suggested it myself if I’d thought you’d say yes. Cameron, would you like to go on a picnic with me? I have no idea what’s on the menu, but if your mom was involved, it’s probably at least edible.”
That had her laughing. “At least there’s wine.” Her smile faltered for a split second. If he hadn’t been looking, he might have missed it, but it was there. “I don’t know if this is a good idea.”