Kitchen Boss

So Simon heard about her, too, huh?

Strange. Trisha seems to be coming up a lot lately.

I nod. “Thanks. And I hope your marriage still works out.”

He snorts. “No hope for me, I’m afraid. For you, however, it’s a different issue. Trust me, don’t ever let a woman think she has a hold of you or she’ll never let you forget it. They’re more twisted and selfish than they let on.”

I simply give another nod as Simon walks away. I don’t agree, though. Evelyn was wonderful, the most selfless woman I’ve ever known. And Cathy? She has a heart of gold. I know she’s still hurting, but even after all she’s been through, she’s still trying to be strong, trying to move on in her own way. She may have erected thick walls around herself, but she still cares about others.

I let out a deep breath as I tap my empty cup. Maybe I should apologize and make up with her later.

~

I find Cathy and Maisie lying on the grass in the garden.

“What’s this?” I ask as I stand above them. “Are you making grass angels on the lawn?”

“No, Daddy,” Maisie answers. “We’re looking at clouds.”

“I see.” I look up at the sky.

“And now, we’re playing tag.” Maisie jumps to her feet and touches Cathy’s arm. “Tag. You’re it.”

Then she runs off.

Cathy lets out a sigh as she sits up. As she does, I notice a pair of leaves embedded in her hair. They’re sticking out on either side of her head. I’m about to take them out, but she turns her head.

“What?” she snaps.

“Nothing.” I take a step back and quickly hide my arm behind me.

I don’t want her to think I’m trying to do anything else suspicious to her.

She stands up and shakes the dirt from her jeans. “Your daughter is sneaky. I wonder where she gets that from.”

I frown. “I take it you’re still mad at me?”

“Yes,” she admits.

At least she’s talking to me.

“I’m sorry,” I tell her. “What I did was childish and inconsiderate and…”

I pause as a breeze blows, making the leaves on her head stand up. They look like ears, and I struggle to keep a straight face.

“…and disrespectful.”

“You think?”

“I shouldn’t have made… fun of you.”

Shit. She looks so cute and silly at the same time that I don’t know how much longer I can keep my laughter at bay.

Cathy seems to have noticed my problem. Her gaze narrows as she crosses her arms over her chest.

“Wow. And I’m supposed to believe you’re sorry when you’re making fun of me right now?”

“I’m not.”

“Yeah, right. You’re not serious at all. You’re just – ”

Suddenly, Maisie bursts out laughing from a few feet away. Her hands grip her stomach.

Cathy’s eyebrows crease. “What? What’s funny?”

Maisie keeps laughing. “Cathy has… bunny ears.”

I can’t hold it any longer. My shoulders shake as I explode into laughter as well.

Cathy frowns as she places her hands on her head. Within seconds, she finds the leaves and takes them off.

“I see.” She looks at me. “You couldn’t have just told me they were there?”

“I tried to,” I tell her as I try to stop laughing. “But I just thought it was more important that I apologize.”

She places her hands on her hips. “Right.”

Uh-oh. Have I made her angrier?

“Besides,” I add. “You looked cute.”

“Cute,” Maisie repeats.

“Cute, huh?” She turns to Maisie. “You know what? I think I just thought of a new game. Let’s call it ‘Tickle Daddy’.”

What?

“Yay!” Maisie cheers as she runs towards me. “Tickle Daddy!”

I run off. No way.

We run in circles around the garden. After a minute, though, I stop so she can catch me before she starts crying in frustration. I sit on the grass and laugh as she tickles my ribs. She laughs louder as I tickle her neck.

As I glance at Cathy, I see her laughing as well.

“Oh, you think it’s funny, do you?” I get up and run towards her.

“No!” She lets out a girlish squeal as she runs off.

“Go, Daddy!” Maisie cheers.

Eventually, I catch Cathy. I grip her waist and tickle her sides. She laughs out loud as she tries to swat my hands away.

“Stop!” she shouts between squeals and giggles.

She falls down on the ground. I keep going, not just because I’m intent on having my little revenge, but because I’m loving the sound of her laughter. I stop, though, when she grips my arms. I don’t want her crying in frustration either.

Only then do I realize that I’m kneeling on top of her. Cathy realizes it, too, and her cheeks turn red beneath my gaze. Her eyes grow wide.

She lets my arms go and opens her mouth, but before she can say anything, I hear another voice.

“Well, well, well. What do we have here?”

A voice I didn’t expect or want to hear right now. Betty’s.