by Jerry Cole
“But Grant,” Morgan whined, leaning closer. “It’s so tasty.”
“Well,” Grant said. “Maybe I’ll just have to make it again, how about that?”
“Yes,” Morgan hissed, pumping her arm.
Robert was smothering his laugh behind his hand, and Grant couldn’t resist leaning over, tickling her side.
“Honestly, nobody’s spaghetti is safe,” Robert said.
“It’s a travesty,” Grant agreed.
“What’s a trafsty?” Morgan asked.
“It means it’s terrible,” Grant said, drawing out the word. “Very terrible that nobody’s spaghetti is safe.”
Robert grinned. “Well maybe stop making it so tasty.”
“No!” Morgan sounded scandalized. “He has to make it tasty otherwise it’s not tasty!”
Grant tried not to laugh but couldn’t help it, and Robert reacted the same way, Morgan looking equally pleased with herself and confused.
“What?”
“Nothing, sweetheart,” Robert assured her, kissing the top of her head. “Just don’t change, okay?”
Morgan looked even more confused. “Why would I do that?”
Robert had no answer for that, but Morgan didn’t seem as if she required an answer. When Grant and Robert had both finished their meals, Robert slid his knife and fork together and gave Morgan a long look. “How about a bath tonight?”
“Yes!” Morgan grinned. “I need to wash my cheeks.”
“Yes, you do,” Robert said, amused. “Go and get ready for the bath. I’ll just wash up and then come find you.”
“You don’t have to,” Grant put in. “I can wash up.”
“Don’t be silly,” Morgan said before Robert could say anything. “The cook doesn’t wash up, Grant.”
Grant held up his hands in mock surrender, gathering up the plates once Morgan was sure he wasn’t going to wash up. She dashed off for the stairs, and Robert batted Grant’s hands away, clearing up the plates instead.
“She wasn’t lying. You’re not washing up.”
“I wasn’t going to,” Grant protested, and at Robert’s unimpressed look, laughed. “All right, I was, but I promise it’s just because it’s a courtesy.”
Robert gave him a narrowed look. “Fine. You can dry, but only because I’m generous.”
“Very,” Grant said dryly. “I appreciate it.”
The two of them moved into the kitchen, and Grant gathered up the cooking implements ready for washing up, and then grabbed the towel from the rack.
“So, where in Canada are you from?” Robert’s question came after a long pause, but he looked genuinely interested.
“You couldn’t narrow it down from my accent?”
Robert snorted. “Being able to say Canadian is one thing, but I wouldn’t dare try and pick a territory and go with it.”
“Provinces,” Grant said. At Robert’s confused look, he made a face. “There are only three territories, but ten provinces. I’m from a province.”
“So?” Robert prodded. He was smiling. “What province are you from?”
“Manitoba,” Grant said. “Specifically, Winnipeg.”
Robert stared at him. “Seriously?”
“What?” Grant was defensive. “Seriously what?”
“Doesn’t Winnipeg have like five people.”
Grant resisted the urge to thump Robert on the shoulder. That was the kind of thing reserved for friends. Still, he made his displeasure known by a glare and a nudge of his arm. “Almost a million, actually.” He paused. “Well, two thirds of a million.”
Robert laughed. “Sorry, sorry. Two thirds of a million? Just say seven hundred thousand, Grant, it’s easier.”
“Seven hundred thousand,” Grant said obediently, and Robert’s smile widened. He shrugged. “Where did you think I was from?”
“I thought all French-Canadians were from Quebec,” Robert admitted. It was light, and Grant had heard it before. “But clearly you’re a,” he paused. “Winnipegian?”
“Winnipeggers,” Grant said with a laugh. “Just getting it all wrong on the Canadian front today.”
“You’re the first Canadian I’ve ever spoken to for this long,” Robert protested. He flicked a bit of water at Grant, who stepped back. He laughed, turning back to the dishes.
“I hope I’m making a good impression.”
“Eh,” Robert said, waving a hand in the air back and forth. Grant flipped him off, and the two of them shared another laugh.
“My mom would love it here,” Grant said, shaking off one of the plates. “I took some pictures earlier to send them to her but now I’m reconsidering.”
“How come?”
“The last thing the guys out there need is my mom questioning them on their fishing habits,” Grant said. “She used to be a fisherman.”
“On a boat?” Robert asked, looking impressed. “I know what it takes to work on a boat like that, and she has to be one strong and determined lady.”
Grant pictured the photos back home in his mind’s eye, the ones with the fish and the ropes and her in the middle of working a shift. “She’s definitely that. She stopped working a few years ago, but she loved it right up to the end. I think she’d still be doing it if it wasn’t for my sister.”
Robert looked genuinely interested, which was doing wonders for Grant. He was always worried that his life was boring, but apparently, he’d found someone who appreciated a good tale about a fisherman. “You have a sister?”
“Yeah.”
Robert was done with the dishes and let out the water, grabbing another towel to dry his hands on. Grant finished with the last of the drying and started to put them away.
“Do you have any siblings?”
“A brother,” Robert said, though he didn’t offer anything else. It was another subject that was apparently off limits, so Grant let it drop. “Thanks for the help.”
“No problem,” Grant said. “I’m glad you enjoyed it.”
Robert grinned. “I think it’s the first time Morgan’s actually eaten spaghetti someone’s cooked her and liked it. My friends try but apparently the sauce is never right.”
“Then I’m even more honored that it was good,” Grant said. “I hope she enjoys her bath – and that you both have a good night.”
“Thanks.” Robert gave him a light thump on his arm as he passed, and it was all Grant could do not to cheer out loud. What the fuck, he was a grown man! He shouldn’t have been cheering and behaving like a teenager. Still, as soon as heard the door close, he grinned up at the ceiling, unable to resist the hope that maybe, somehow, he and Robert were making some progress.
Chapter Five
“Are you sure you can’t make it in?”
Grant entered the dining room, frowning at Robert’s voice coming from the kitchen.
“No, I’m sure I can find someone to watch her. Thanks for letting me know.” There was a brief pause and then a loud bang followed by a curse.
“Robert?” Grant approached the kitchen slowly, not sure of his reception. “Everything all right?”
Robert appeared in the doorway, and though he still looked angry, he managed a smile for Grant. “Yeah, sorry.”
“No problem,” Grant said easily, making it clear that Robert didn’t have to tell him if he didn’t want to. “You had breakfast yet?”
“Yeah,” Robert said, waving a hand toward the kitchen. “Feel free to do whatever you want in there. I have to go make some calls, see if someone can watch Morgan for me.”
“Oh? Her babysitter cancelled?”
“Not exactly,” Robert said slowly. He sighed, apparently deciding that talking to Grant about it wasn’t a bad thing. “I have a meeting today in the office and usually Darcy takes her for me when I have a meeting here, but she can’t do it today, apparently there’s a stock truck at the convenience store.”
“Sval a stickler for attendance?”
“Oh, you’ve met Thor?” Robert snorted. “Yeah, he can be when
it comes to his stock. Anyway, she can’t come and the only other people I trust are out on the boat today.”
Grant didn’t know what made him offer but he said, “If it’s here, why doesn’t she hang out here and I’ll watch her? She can be wherever’s easier for you.”
Robert gave him a funny look. “Are you serious?”
Holding up his hands, Grant said, “I don’t mean anything by it. I just thought if she was around here, it would be better for you, right? I’m not trying. I know I’m a stranger and that it’s weird to be asking, but it’s just a last resort. If you can call a local babysitter or something, I retract the offer.”
The look Robert gave him was assessing, but he didn’t reject Grant out right. “Let me think about it, all right? Like you said, we’re strangers.”
“Yeah, I know,” Grant said, trying not to sound hurt. “Sorry, I know this must be weird for you.”
“Actually,” Robert said as he passed, “Not so much.”
Grant watched him leave, not sure what to make of his statement. With a shrug, he moved into the kitchen, ready to grab some food. He had enough for dinner, especially with the left-over spaghetti sauce, and he was sure he could pack up a lunch and explore some more of the bay.
“Grant!” Morgan’s voice and footsteps echoed from above and she sounded a little like an elephant coming down the stairs. Grant shoved the last of the lunch into his backpack and headed for the door.
“In here, Morgan,” he said, and she appeared in the dining room a little while later. “What’s the matter?”
“Daddy just said Darcy couldn’t babysit me and that you said you wanted to!”
“He did?” Grant frowned. He had been sure Robert was going to make calls first.
“Yes,” Morgan said quickly. “He asked me because he always ask me if I want to stay with someone.” She stopped talking, staring down at her hands, and then back at Grant. “Are you sure it’s okay?”
Grant smiled gently. “I wouldn’t offer if I didn’t think it was okay. I thought you’d want to be close to your toys.”
Morgan nodded and tugged on Grant’s hand. He abandoned his backpack in the kitchen and allowed himself to be pulled in the direction of the stairs. “Let me show you my room.”
Grant wasn’t sure that was a great idea, not without Robert, but before he could say as much, he could see Robert waiting at the top of the stairs, cellphone in hand, and leaning against the wall. “You changed your mind?”
“I didn’t actually say no,” Robert pointed out. “I wanted to check with Morgan first. And you’ll stay at the B&B?”
“Of course,” Grant said immediately. “I wouldn’t take her outside without your permission.”
“Thanks,” Robert muttered. He followed Morgan and Grant into Morgan’s room.
Grant wasn’t surprised to see toys scattered across the floor and throwing a look at Robert, he received a wry nod in return. “You like having toys everywhere, huh?”
Morgan looked a little shamefaced, shrugging. “I always pick them up when Daddy tells me too.”
Again, another wry nod from Robert, and Grant sat on the edge of the bed in the room. It was a double, so Grant assumed it was Robert’s. There wasn’t a bed for Morgan, however, so he wasn’t entirely sure. Figuring it wasn’t his place to speculate, he gestured at the toys on the floor. “So, what are we gonna have to play with, then?”
“I’m not sure,” Morgan said, drawing out the word. She walked amongst the toys.
Robert came to sit next to Grant on the bed. “Are you sure you don’t mind?”
“I don’t,” Grant assured him. “If it’s going to make you uncomfortable, I don’t have to help.”
“I’m not worried,” Robert said quickly, apparently surprising them both from the look on his own face – and the shock no doubt on Grant’s face. “I mean.” He paused. “I’m not worried.”
Grant ducked his face, feeling his cheeks heat up. He didn’t much care if Robert saw; perhaps they were working toward something after all. “Good. I wouldn’t want you to be unsure.”
“This one,” Morgan said, shoving a toy abruptly at Grant. It was a doll, female, with a harness and a pickaxe. “She’s a venture and I wanna be just like her.”
“An adventurer?” At Morgan’s nod, Grant held up the doll in front of her. “I think you’d make an awesome adventurer. I bet one day you’ll be climbing mountains and following rivers and trails.”
Morgan’s eyes widened. “Do you think so?”
“You wanna know a secret?” Grant asked her.
Stepping closer, leaning against Grant, Morgan nodded.
“Everyone told my mom she couldn’t be a fisherman, but she was. She caught fish and helped with the ropes.”
Morgan looked surprised, but also pleased. “She was? Ropes are hard.” Her voice dropped to a whisper. “She caught huge fish?”
“She did,” Grant said. “This big.”
Holding out his arms ridiculously far, making Morgan giggle and Robert jerk back so that he wasn’t hit in the face, Grant made a fish face, which set Morgan off into more giggles.
“So,” he said, once he’d stopped acting like an idiot, ears hot, and aware that Robert was staring at him, but not wanting to know what expression he was wearing. “You can be an adventurer if you want to be.”
“Your mom sounds cool.” Morgan took the doll back and dropped to the floor, surrounded by other dolls in various states of dress and size.
“Careful,” Robert said, when Morgan was once again preoccupied with the dolls. “She’ll wanna speak to your mom before too long.”
Grant laughed. “I’m sure my mom wouldn’t mind.” He realized what he’d said a beat later. “Not that she would have a reason to–”
“Grant,” Robert said patiently. “You don’t have to second guess everything you say to me. I’m sorry I yelled that first day, like I said, I was mad. I understand why you might be wary, but I don’t think you’re a weirdo for saying stuff like that.”
“Thanks,” Grant said. “It’s been a long time since I’ve been around a kid. I don’t know what’s okay to do and what’s not.”
“That’s normal, in my experience,” Robert assured him. “Not many people know how to handle any kid, let alone Morgan.”
All parents talked about their kids as if they were special, but Grant knew Robert was on to something when it came to his daughter. There was something about Morgan that had Grant smitten. It wasn’t as if he was going to be sticking around for longer than a few weeks at most.
Still it made sense to make the most of it while he was around.
“She’s a credit to you,” Grant said eventually. “Has so many of your mannerisms.”
There was an uncomfortable expression on Robert’s face, but it shifted quickly into a smile and a nudge to Grant’s arm. “Thanks. That’s only because you don’t know the other father.”
It was stilted and hesitant, as if Robert wasn’t sure he wanted to be saying it, but it made something catch in Grant’s throat. “Oh?”
Robert’s cheeks were red, but when he turned to look at Grant, his expression as open and serious. “That a problem?”
“Nope,” Grant said, popping the P because he was an idiot sometimes. “I called you attractive,” he pointed out. “I thought that would be obvious from me.”
“Most people call me attractive,” Robert said. It could have been conceited but it did not come across like that. Robert looked contrite and shy, which was understandable in the circumstances, but he shouldn’t have been.
Grant sat up straighter, making sure that Morgan was still preoccupied. “I was being serious, by the way.”
“Yeah,” Robert said, voice so low Grant almost had to strain to hear. “I think I get that now.”
“Well good,” Grant said decisively. “What time is your meeting?”
Robert double-checked his phone. “In about a half hour. Is that okay?”
“Sure,” Grant said. �
�I already said it was. Besides,” he said, raising his voice a little, “Morgan and I have some dolls to play with, don’t we?”
Morgan nodded. “We do. Don’t worry, Daddy, we’ll save some of the play for you.”
“Very gracious,” Robert said with a laugh. “If you’re sure, I should go get ready for it.”
Grant nodded, already distracted by Morgan, who was passing out the dolls, making sure they both had an equal amount. Grant couldn’t remember the last time he had spent so much time with a child. Morgan was easy to get to know, and Grant found himself being directed in the way to properly play with dolls.
He got engrossed in the behavior of the very adventurous Penny, as named by Morgan, and the irresponsible behavior of her companions, Lulu and Gary, both of whom got into so many scrapes, Penny had a full-time job getting them out of it. Somehow, Grant ended up behind the bathroom door, holding Gary in his hand, pretending that he was falling from a cliff.
“No, Grant,” Morgan said, looking up from where Penny was trying to free Lulu from a cliff. Gary can fly so he’d never fall like that!”
Grant was pretty sure that Gary hadn’t been able to fly just now when he was falling out of an airplane, but it was not for him to question the all-knowing Morgan and so he just nodded, pretending to swoop toward Penny.
“Oh no!” Morgan said, “Gary’s about to be attacked by dinosaurs!”
“Dinosaurs?” Grant asked, not sure whether he’s supposed to find some dinosaurs in the room or just pretend.
“Yes, Grant, over there and – Daddy!”
Robert had opened the door and was stood motionless in the doorway, looking torn between irritation and surprise. Grant wasn’t sure what he was supposed to do and just grinned.
“Good meeting?”
“No,” Robert said abruptly. Grant didn’t take it to heart; apparently, the irritation was all for whoever was on the phone. Predictably, Robert’s face morphed when he looked at his daughter, expression soft and happy. “How’s Penny doing?”
“Saving Lulu,” Morgan said immediately, and waved a hand in Grant’s direction. “Gary’s being attacked by dinosaurs.”
