A Humble Heart
Page 49
He opened the door to a very stunned pizza boy. “Er……” The young man took in his wet appearance and smirked. “Dana’s order. My Dad told me to tell her he put enough pineapple in the container to keep her happy until tomorrow night.”
“Thank you.” Edward pulled out his wallet and paid him with a generous tip. The kid had saved him from a trip to the all night grocery store after all.
“Wow, thank you, sir!” the kid said. “Oh, before I forget, my mom wanted me to tell Dana that Monday night we’re having a BBQ and she’s expected and to bring and I quote ‘those two adorable babies of hers and her fiancé so she can check him out to make sure he’s good enough for her.’” He gave Edward a sheepish look. “Sorry, man, I’m just the messenger.”
Edward chuckled. “I’ll tell her.”
“Alright, see you Monday then.” The teenager took off.
Dana was already getting things ready at the table when Edward placed the food down. “Before I forget the pizza boy said Monday night we’re all invited to a BBQ at their house.”
Her eyes shot up. “Ah, I guess they want to check you out. Make sure you pass inspection.”
He cocked his head to the side and studied her for a long moment. “Yes, how did you know?”
“I’ve been friends with the family for a year now. I know how Daniel works.” Her eyes locked on the plastic container on top of the pizza. “Is that the pineapple?” She picked up the container and grabbed a large chunk and began to nibble on it.
Edward chuckled in disbelief as he set two plates. He placed a slice of pizza on her plate and prepared her salad for her before he grabbed himself any food.
The sound of small feet slapping against the wood floor caught their attention. Cole walked into the room, dragging the teddy bear Edward bought him. Without a word he pulled a chair out and sat down. He yawned as he reached into the box and pulled out a slice of pizza.
Dana and Edward watched with great amusement as the little boy devoured the entire slice. When the crust was the only thing that remained he handed it to his mother and without a word stood up, pushed his chair in, and turned to leave only to pause. He turned around and grabbed the huge brownie that was wrapped in plastic wrap and left the room.
“So much for dessert.” Edward chuckled.
“Taking junk food from a pregnant woman, that boy is brave,” Dana said in mock disgust.
“I’ll go get it,” Edward said, standing up.
She grabbed his arm to stop him. “Edward, he’s a three year old boy that has ill gotten chocolate. The brownie is already gone and most of it is on his face and in his bed. The battle is lost.”
Edward gave her a doubting look and decided to go look for himself. Sure enough Cole was already passed out. He was covered in brownie and so were his sheets and pillow. He walked back to the kitchen stunned.
“I’ll clean him up in the morning,” she said, nibbling on her pizza.
“Damn,” Edward gasped as he sat down.
********
“Baby, wake up.”
Edward slowly sat up and rubbed his eyes. He felt something placed on his lap. The aroma of eggs and bacon teased his senses. He opened his eyes to see a breakfast tray on his lap with a plate filled with sliced fruit, toast, eggs and bacon. Dana placed a large cup of orange juice on the tray for him.
She leaned in and kissed him. “I wanted to make you breakfast before I had to go.”
“What time is it?”
“A little after ten.”
“You let me sleep in?” He was touched. He knew there was a lot to do in the morning with the kids.
“Of course. Elizabeth has already come and gone. She’s at school. Deana is off for the morning until Elizabeth needs to be picked up from school, but she’s going to drop Elizabeth off with me and then she’s free for the weekend. I have the little man all day. We have a thousand and one things to do today so I’m taking my little man with me as my personal bodyguard as he likes to put it.” She grinned. “The security team is here. Tyler is assigned to me. He seems good with kids. He let Cole beat him twice this morning at Mario Kart.”
Edward nodded, taking a sip of juice. “And you, sir, have a completely free day. I checked with Amy, she said you have nothing but some regular errands to run and Cole and I have volunteered to handle those. I believe we are picking up your dry cleaning, dropping your mail at the post office, picking up a package from UPS and we’re stopping by your Mom’s to help pick berries so you my dear have a completely free day to spend as you wish.”
He was shocked. He couldn’t remember the last time he had a free day. There was always something to do. This was a great gift she was giving him. Damn she was treating him like a king.
“Oh, since it’s been a long time since you had a guy’s night out or day or whatever. I called Seth up. He decided to close the shop and hang out with you today. He’s excited about it actually. He said it’s been years since he had a guy’s day.”
“You called Seth for me?”
“Yup, he’s in the kitchen eating us out of house and home. He pouted after Cole beat him on Mario Kart, but he was easily cheered up with some extra bacon.” Her eyes were filled with humor. “You men are so easy.”
“Thank you….this is…wow, I don’t know what to say, baby, this was really nice of you.” He leaned over and kissed her.
“Enjoy your day and don’t rush home. Go and relax. I’ll be fine and so will the kids. I’m taking them to a water park tonight so don’t worry about anything and have some fun.”
She stood up and pulled four tickets out of her back pocket. “I almost forgot. I guess one of the Dodgers is a fan of mine. He had four tickets couriered over this morning. They’re for tonights inter league game against the Yankees. I’m not really sure why that’s a big deal, but the courier, your security guy and Seth were all drooling out there. Do you want them?”
Edward stared at the tickets shocked beyond words. Did he want them? Hell yeah he wanted them. He tried to get tickets weeks ago while he was in England only to discover they were completely sold out.
Dana watched Edward’s frozen expression. She moved the tickets from side to side. Edward’s eyes were fixed on them. “Okay, if you don’t want them I’ll guess I’ll take the kids. They might like it.” She shrugged and slowly went to put the tickets in her pocket. Edward reached out and snagged them.
“No, don’t worry I guess I’ll go.” He tried to sound cool about it. He wasn’t fooling anyone.
“Uh huh, do me a favor, when you find out which player sent them, tell him I couldn’t use the tickets, but I’m sending him tickets to the premiere of Rogue if he would like them.”
He nodded, not really listening. His eyes were taking in the tickets. Damn they were good tickets. Any man would sell his left nut for these tickets and this woman was tossing them at him like they were confetti.
Edward was barely aware of Dana’s kiss on his forehead or her soft chuckle. He was pretty sure he heard her said goodbye. He didn’t snap out of it until Seth snagged the tickets out of his hand.
“Edward, we’ve been best friends since kindergarten, right?” Seth asked.
“Yeah,” Edward said, while he shoveled food in his mouth his eyes remained fixed on those four glorious tickets.
“Okay good. Then as a friend I thought I would give you fair warning. I realize she’s carrying your babies and we have been friends for a long time and I respect that, but I have to be honest. I’m planning on stealing her from you. It doesn’t bother me that she’s carrying your babies. Any woman who can cook the way she does, baby a man, looks that fine and can score sweet tickets as good as these is worth tossing aside a twenty-two year friendship. I just thought I should let you know.”
“No, I totally understand, man. I appreciate the warning,” he said in a daze. His thoughts weren’t on the game anymore, well that’s not true, the pure guy part of his brain was already contemplating how many beers he was going to have tonight, but the other part of him was thinking about Dana. She was the best thing that ever happened to him. He loved her so much and she clearly loved him.
“Thank you.” Edward pulled out his wallet and paid him with a generous tip. The kid had saved him from a trip to the all night grocery store after all.
“Wow, thank you, sir!” the kid said. “Oh, before I forget, my mom wanted me to tell Dana that Monday night we’re having a BBQ and she’s expected and to bring and I quote ‘those two adorable babies of hers and her fiancé so she can check him out to make sure he’s good enough for her.’” He gave Edward a sheepish look. “Sorry, man, I’m just the messenger.”
Edward chuckled. “I’ll tell her.”
“Alright, see you Monday then.” The teenager took off.
Dana was already getting things ready at the table when Edward placed the food down. “Before I forget the pizza boy said Monday night we’re all invited to a BBQ at their house.”
Her eyes shot up. “Ah, I guess they want to check you out. Make sure you pass inspection.”
He cocked his head to the side and studied her for a long moment. “Yes, how did you know?”
“I’ve been friends with the family for a year now. I know how Daniel works.” Her eyes locked on the plastic container on top of the pizza. “Is that the pineapple?” She picked up the container and grabbed a large chunk and began to nibble on it.
Edward chuckled in disbelief as he set two plates. He placed a slice of pizza on her plate and prepared her salad for her before he grabbed himself any food.
The sound of small feet slapping against the wood floor caught their attention. Cole walked into the room, dragging the teddy bear Edward bought him. Without a word he pulled a chair out and sat down. He yawned as he reached into the box and pulled out a slice of pizza.
Dana and Edward watched with great amusement as the little boy devoured the entire slice. When the crust was the only thing that remained he handed it to his mother and without a word stood up, pushed his chair in, and turned to leave only to pause. He turned around and grabbed the huge brownie that was wrapped in plastic wrap and left the room.
“So much for dessert.” Edward chuckled.
“Taking junk food from a pregnant woman, that boy is brave,” Dana said in mock disgust.
“I’ll go get it,” Edward said, standing up.
She grabbed his arm to stop him. “Edward, he’s a three year old boy that has ill gotten chocolate. The brownie is already gone and most of it is on his face and in his bed. The battle is lost.”
Edward gave her a doubting look and decided to go look for himself. Sure enough Cole was already passed out. He was covered in brownie and so were his sheets and pillow. He walked back to the kitchen stunned.
“I’ll clean him up in the morning,” she said, nibbling on her pizza.
“Damn,” Edward gasped as he sat down.
********
“Baby, wake up.”
Edward slowly sat up and rubbed his eyes. He felt something placed on his lap. The aroma of eggs and bacon teased his senses. He opened his eyes to see a breakfast tray on his lap with a plate filled with sliced fruit, toast, eggs and bacon. Dana placed a large cup of orange juice on the tray for him.
She leaned in and kissed him. “I wanted to make you breakfast before I had to go.”
“What time is it?”
“A little after ten.”
“You let me sleep in?” He was touched. He knew there was a lot to do in the morning with the kids.
“Of course. Elizabeth has already come and gone. She’s at school. Deana is off for the morning until Elizabeth needs to be picked up from school, but she’s going to drop Elizabeth off with me and then she’s free for the weekend. I have the little man all day. We have a thousand and one things to do today so I’m taking my little man with me as my personal bodyguard as he likes to put it.” She grinned. “The security team is here. Tyler is assigned to me. He seems good with kids. He let Cole beat him twice this morning at Mario Kart.”
Edward nodded, taking a sip of juice. “And you, sir, have a completely free day. I checked with Amy, she said you have nothing but some regular errands to run and Cole and I have volunteered to handle those. I believe we are picking up your dry cleaning, dropping your mail at the post office, picking up a package from UPS and we’re stopping by your Mom’s to help pick berries so you my dear have a completely free day to spend as you wish.”
He was shocked. He couldn’t remember the last time he had a free day. There was always something to do. This was a great gift she was giving him. Damn she was treating him like a king.
“Oh, since it’s been a long time since you had a guy’s night out or day or whatever. I called Seth up. He decided to close the shop and hang out with you today. He’s excited about it actually. He said it’s been years since he had a guy’s day.”
“You called Seth for me?”
“Yup, he’s in the kitchen eating us out of house and home. He pouted after Cole beat him on Mario Kart, but he was easily cheered up with some extra bacon.” Her eyes were filled with humor. “You men are so easy.”
“Thank you….this is…wow, I don’t know what to say, baby, this was really nice of you.” He leaned over and kissed her.
“Enjoy your day and don’t rush home. Go and relax. I’ll be fine and so will the kids. I’m taking them to a water park tonight so don’t worry about anything and have some fun.”
She stood up and pulled four tickets out of her back pocket. “I almost forgot. I guess one of the Dodgers is a fan of mine. He had four tickets couriered over this morning. They’re for tonights inter league game against the Yankees. I’m not really sure why that’s a big deal, but the courier, your security guy and Seth were all drooling out there. Do you want them?”
Edward stared at the tickets shocked beyond words. Did he want them? Hell yeah he wanted them. He tried to get tickets weeks ago while he was in England only to discover they were completely sold out.
Dana watched Edward’s frozen expression. She moved the tickets from side to side. Edward’s eyes were fixed on them. “Okay, if you don’t want them I’ll guess I’ll take the kids. They might like it.” She shrugged and slowly went to put the tickets in her pocket. Edward reached out and snagged them.
“No, don’t worry I guess I’ll go.” He tried to sound cool about it. He wasn’t fooling anyone.
“Uh huh, do me a favor, when you find out which player sent them, tell him I couldn’t use the tickets, but I’m sending him tickets to the premiere of Rogue if he would like them.”
He nodded, not really listening. His eyes were taking in the tickets. Damn they were good tickets. Any man would sell his left nut for these tickets and this woman was tossing them at him like they were confetti.
Edward was barely aware of Dana’s kiss on his forehead or her soft chuckle. He was pretty sure he heard her said goodbye. He didn’t snap out of it until Seth snagged the tickets out of his hand.
“Edward, we’ve been best friends since kindergarten, right?” Seth asked.
“Yeah,” Edward said, while he shoveled food in his mouth his eyes remained fixed on those four glorious tickets.
“Okay good. Then as a friend I thought I would give you fair warning. I realize she’s carrying your babies and we have been friends for a long time and I respect that, but I have to be honest. I’m planning on stealing her from you. It doesn’t bother me that she’s carrying your babies. Any woman who can cook the way she does, baby a man, looks that fine and can score sweet tickets as good as these is worth tossing aside a twenty-two year friendship. I just thought I should let you know.”
“No, I totally understand, man. I appreciate the warning,” he said in a daze. His thoughts weren’t on the game anymore, well that’s not true, the pure guy part of his brain was already contemplating how many beers he was going to have tonight, but the other part of him was thinking about Dana. She was the best thing that ever happened to him. He loved her so much and she clearly loved him.
