I wish I could say my day became increasingly better after my attempted lunch with Holly, but it didn’t. Eileen and Dominic took it upon themselves, probably with great pleasure, to decorate my locker with pictures of Delaney and left comments all over them, making it seem as if Delaney were asking for leniency with her speeding ticket. She didn’t receive a ticket, so their joke is not very funny. Although, when I saw my locker, I looked past the ridiculous words and focused on her beauty. She was a stunner back in high school, and now she’s even more gorgeous. Now that I’ve seen her in the flesh, I can’t shake her from my mind.

As for the rest of my day, I’m currently parked outside of Shelby’s house, contemplating what I’m going to say to her when I knock on the door to retrieve Holly. I rehearse the words repeatedly, thanking her for taking her afterschool. In my mind, I reach for Holly’s hand and we beat feet to the truck before Shelby can say anything.

Every so often, I look toward her house and see her standing in her large picture window. I hope that she knows it’s me, lurking in the darkness, and isn’t about to call the police on me, not least because if she did, it’d likely be one of my colleagues who answered the call and I’ve had enough teasing from them today. It’s hard though, to get out of the truck and walk toward the door. I don’t know if it’s because when I look at her house, I envision what Heather and I had thought our living room would look like at Christmas time, with a large tree lit and decorated for our neighbors to see. Knowing that reality is so far from happening really twists the knife in my chest, yet I’m determined to make it happen for Holly.

Shelby opens the door before I have a chance to ring the doorbell. Instantly, I’m swaddled in warmth. “Come in,” she says, holding the screen door open. I do, and stand on the doormat, waiting for Holly to come rushing at me. Shelby brushes against me as she closes the door. I want to think it’s innocent, but I’m not so sure. My sister has been trying to push us together for months now. “You can come in. The girls are in the kitchen.” Shelby motions toward her kitchen, at least I’m assuming it’s where her kitchen is located.

“Do I need to take off my shoes?”

“Nah, don’t worry about them.” She motions again, and this time I follow her into her large kitchen where her daughter, Shawna, and Holly are setting the table.

“Hey, Daddy, you’re just in time for dinner.”

“Dinner?” I ask, looking from my daughter to Shelby and back again.

“The girls were hungry and I didn’t want to spoil their dinner with cookies so I made a batch of spaghetti. You’re welcomed to stay.”

By the looks of the table, they were expecting me to stay. I don’t want to be rude, but I also want to get home. Holly and I need to have a long talk about manners and respect, especially when we’re in public. However, by the look I’m getting from my daughter, leaving now isn’t an option. Yet another point I’m going to have to talk to her about.

“Thanks.” I nod at Shelby, who returns my gesture with a smile. “So where am I sitting?” I ask the girls as I make my way to the table. There are four places set, two on each side. Both girls point, opposite of where they’re standing. I have a feeling this is a set-up though, especially as they both sit across from me.

Shelby brings everything to the table and refuses to let me help her. I feel like a clod, sitting here, as if she’s supposed to serve me. I should be doing something since she slaved over the stove to prepare a meal for my daughter and me, and even though it’s only pasta, there’s still an effort needed.

After Shelby places the food on the table, I stand and dish up the plates for the girls. It’s the least I can do. Much to Holly’s displeasure, I make her a bowl of salad, knowing it’s not her favorite. She eyes me, but doesn’t say anything, which is probably for the best.

“How was work?” Shelby asks after she sits down. I pause, mid-bite and let her question sink in. I don’t know her, at least not well. We see each other at school, our girls play together, and my sister talks about her non-stop, but that’s the extent of our relationship. I suppose, sitting at her table and eating her food has moved us to a different status.

“He pulled over Delaney Du Luca,” Holly says for me, shaking her head. I do believe there’s a slight eye roll going on as well.

“I heard that, but it took me awhile to piece together why everyone was up in arms.”

I clear my throat after swallowing. “Laney’s from here,” I tell Shelby. “She’s Ramona Falls’ sweetheart. Plus, her dad is the mayor.”

Shelby nods and returns her attention to her food. I do the same and try to keep my head down.

“But other than embarrassing the actress, work went well?”

“Yeah, I mean there isn’t much happening in Ramona Falls.”

“I once had my dolly stolen from my front yard. My mama called you, but you never came,” Shawna says as she sits back in her chair and crosses her arms.

I glance at Shelby, who looks mortified. I have a feeling she never called, but told Shawna she did. “I’m sure if I were working that day, I would’ve come right over and investigated.”

Shelby’s leg touches mine under the table. I’m going to take that as her silent thank you and let it go so I can enjoy the dinner she’s prepared for us. Throughout the course of the meal and dessert, the girls tell us about their day, talking about art class and how they’re having to create their own snowmen for the winter festival coming up. They tell us their artwork will be on display for everyone to see.

“We should take the girls,” Shelby suggests. I find myself tongue-tied at the suggestion, so I do the only conceivable thing I can think of, and nod.

After dinner, I help clear the table while Holly gets her stuff together. “Thank you for dinner, Shelby. You really didn’t have to do this.” I set the plates down in the sink full of water and turn to face her. Her hand rests on my bicep as she looks into my eyes.

“I wanted to, Aiden. The girls get along so well, and I just hate to think of you and Holly alone all the time.”

We’re not alone if we’re together, right? Although, there are times when I feel utterly shut off from life because of my situation. “Thanks, but we’re good. We make it work.” Shelby steps closer, closing the gap between us. I know if I step back that’ll drive the message home that I’m not interested. But maybe I am. Maybe it’s time for me to move on and start a relationship with someone. Shelby’s a good person. She’s involved with the Parent-Teacher Association, is Holly’s Girl Scout leader, and volunteers at the school when needed. She moved here about a year ago, wanting a quiet life after her divorce. “I should probably get Holly home and in bed,” I tell her. She smiles softly and follows me to the door.

“You know, Holly is welcome here whenever. I don’t mind.”

“Thanks, Shelby.” I nod and clear my throat to get Holly’s attention. “Are you ready?”

Holly begrudgingly drags herself to the door, stopping every few seconds to give Shawna a hug goodbye. Don’t they realize they’ll see each other tomorrow? As soon as the thought rushes through my head, I know tomorrows are never guaranteed. Holly and I know that better than anyone does.

“Bye, Aiden,” Shelby says after I step by her. Short of thanking her again, for dinner, I feel like I’m supposed to say or do something. Is a kiss on the cheek required here? I don’t want to send her the wrong message, but I want her to know I’m appreciative of the effort she’s put in. I muster up a smile and wave, and head to my truck with Holly dragging behind me.

“Hop in.” I give Holly a little boost into the cab of the truck and make sure she’s buckled into her booster seat before I shut the door.

“Did you have fun? I forgot to make sure you picked up the toys you played with.”

“I did,” she tells me, although I’m not sure which she’s referring to. Holly looks out the window, focused on the houses that have been decorated extensively as we drive home. “Can we put lights up?”

“Sure.” I make a mental note to ask my dad for a box of outside lights. It’s an expense I can’t justify right now. But if you had a partner, expenses would be split. I don’t know where that thought has come from, but I’m not sure I like it. Or maybe I do and it’s my subconscious telling me I need to find someone suitable for Holly and I. Young girls need a mother. “I want to talk to you about your outburst at school today.”

“I was angry.”

“I get that, Holly, but it was inappropriate and rude. You’re seven and you don’t have the right to speak to me like that, especially in front of others. If you’re angry with me over something, we can sit down and discuss it. However, when it comes to my job, you don’t have a voice in how I do my work. It doesn’t matter if I pulled over Delaney Du Luca or the President of the United States. The fact is, she was speeding, which means she’s breaking the law.”

“It’s embarrassing. All the kids were laughing at me.”

“Well, imagine how Delaney felt when she was pulled over for breaking the law. Don’t you think she was embarrassed?”

“I guess.” She sighs.

As soon as we pull into the garage, Holly hops out of the truck. She’s kind enough to turn the light on for me so I’m not blindly walking around while I close up. “I’ll start your bath as soon as I get inside.”

“Okay. Can we get a cat?” she asks from the doorway. I turn and look at her, puzzled by her question.

“Um… no.”

“Why not?”

Because I can barely afford to feed us, let alone a pet. “I’m not a fan of cats, Holly.”

“How about a puppy?”

I close the garage door and flip off the light, motioning for her to go inside. “No pets, at least not right now. Maybe over the summer we can talk about it.” Inside, the house is cold. Nothing screams I need to make a change like walking into a house and still seeing your breath.

“It’s cold,” Holly says as she uses her hands to warm up her arms.

“I’ll turn on the heat. Go start your bath, I’ll be there in a minute.” I watch as Holly makes her way to the bathroom. She closes the door and the sound of the pipes coming to life tells me she’s turned on the water. I stand there, in the dark, listening to the furnace come on and the baseboards creak. My hands clench as tears threaten to make an appearance. I don’t know what I’m supposed to do, but I feel like I can’t provide for my daughter. It’s this house, the medical bills, and the fact that I don’t make enough to cover everything.

Someday. That’s my mantra. Someday everything is going to work out. Someday the bills will be gone and I’ll be able to do what I need to do to fix this house and give Holly the home Heather and I wanted to give her.