“Hey, Jake. How are you?” It was my brother, Andrew.
“I’m all right. How you been?”
“Good. Good. I was thinking of taking Haylie out for dinner tonight, and I was wondering if you’d like to join me.”
“I’d love to. Where were you thinking of going?”
“Somewhere with booster seats and coloring book placemats. You don’t mind, do you?”
“No, I haven’t seen her in months. How is she?”
“Terrifying as ever,” he said. “I’m gonna start getting her ready. You wanna meet up at Frank’s down on Fifth?”
“Yeah, I’ll see you there.”
When I walked into the lobby at Frank’s, the smell of burnt grease and old hamburger assaulted me. I loved it. I’d eaten at some of the most exclusive, exotic restaurants in the world, and nothing compared to small, family-owned restaurants. The greasier, the better.
Haylie jumped up onto the seat of a booth to my right when I walked in. “Down.” She pointed at the floor. Andrew picked her up and set her down on the floor. The second her feet hit the floor, she ran straight at me and latched onto my leg. “Uncle Jake!” She reached up to me and jumped up and down.
I picked her up. “Oh, you’re getting heavy.”
“I love you.” She kissed me on the cheek.
“I love you too, sweetie.” I pinched her nose, and she giggled. I couldn’t help but adore her. She had the sweetest smile and the most innocent, round blue eyes. What really got me was her short blonde hair. It naturally curled in at the chin.
“I don’t think I’ll ever get enough of her.” I put Haylie back in her booster seat, and she whimpered.
“You can have her,” Andrew said. “I’ll even throw in a year’s worth of diapers, just to say thank you.”
“You’re terrible.” I laughed.
“I try.” Andrew was my polar opposite. He was a cold, intellectual type with an artistic flair and a complete lack of style. He was wearing a red and black plaid shirt with a pair of geek glasses and a mangy brown beard that caught a drop of moisture when he took a drink of his water.
“How’s wifey?” I asked.
“She’s working hard. She took on this ridiculously intricate lawsuit, and it’s keeping her up day and night.”
“Anything interesting?”
“Some accountant decided to run off with the life savings of 600 clients. Most of them want in on the lawsuit, and she’s having to skip trace the rest.”
“I couldn’t do it. Every time I visit my legal department they look like they’re all about to fall asleep.”
“It’s no wonder. Have you seen those ridiculous documents they have to write? They’re intentionally difficult to understand.”
“Daddy! Daddy!” Haylie pounded on the table and pointed at a young woman wearing a uniform walking up to us.
“Yes, I see her.” Andrew glanced at me to gauge my reaction.
I smiled at the waitress briefly, then picked up my menu. I already knew what I was ordering, but I wasn’t going to let my brother get the satisfaction of catching me looking at a woman.
“Hi, I’m Kelsie. I’ll be your waitress this evening.” She waved at Haylie, who was beaming. “Can I get you guys anything to start?”
“I think we’re ready to order.” I looked up from my menu to address the waitress. Andrew shifted around uncomfortably.
“Great.” The waitress ducked down to Haylie’s level. “What will you be having?”
“Chocolate.” She stamped her fist down.