“I guess that means we’ll take it.” Nathan rubbed Isabella’s hair.
“We can look at furniture now.”
He shook his head. “No used furniture.”
Wouldn’t that be a nice attitude to have? Cheryl checked through the second-hand clothes instead. “Do you want clothes? This is nice.” It was a pretty pink cotton sundress.
“Sure.” His lost expression was back.
She grabbed a few outfits and then called to Josh, wanting to pull him away from the art supplies before he could ask for something she couldn’t afford. “Can you help us find a stool for Isabella?”
“Over there.” Josh pointed to the side of the store, not moving toward her.
“Come test them out.”
He rolled his eyes. “I’m too big for this.”
“That’s because you’re taller. Isabella, can you try it out?” The little girl stepped on the stool.
“That looks good. Right?” Nathan asked.
“Yup.” Cheryl checked through the rest of the store, but didn’t see anything else on the list. “I think that’s it. Josh, take Isabella’s hand and we’ll check out.” By helping, maybe her son wouldn’t be upset he hadn’t gotten anything.
“Hang on.” Nathan headed to the back of the store.
Cheryl didn’t have a chance to wonder what he’d spotted. She pulled the clothes out of the stroller and set them on top of the booster chairs on the counter.
“Your daughter will look precious in that dress.” The cashier smiled as she rang up the charges.
“Thanks, but she’s not my daughter. That’s my son.”
The clerk blinked. “Wow. The kids look alike.”
Cheryl looked between Josh and Isabella. They both had blond hair and brown eyes. “I never noticed.”
Nathan joined them at the counter.
“Are they cousins?” The clerk’s smile changed, a little more flirtatious.
“They aren’t related.” Nathan carried the easel Josh had been admiring. “This, too.”
Josh’s face turned into a thundercloud.
Nathan set his hand on Josh’s shoulder. “Thanks for helping out tonight.”
Josh’s frown deepened. “Is that for Isabella?”
“It’s for you.” Nathan grinned.
Cheryl saw the price. “It’s too much.”
“Mom,” Josh pleaded.
“He had to share his bedroom last night. I think it’s okay.” Nathan stroked the easel. “I had one like this when I was a kid.”
Cheryl twisted her hands together. She wasn’t comfortable with Nathan buying her son a gift, especially such an expensive one.
Josh stared at her. “Please.”
She swallowed. “Okay.”
He grinned. “I’ll carry it.”
“What do you say?” she reminded him.
“Thanks.”
She looked at him.
Josh took a deep breath. “Thank you, Mr. Nathan.”
“You’re welcome.” Nathan nudged her shoulder. “That’s a cool trick,” he said under his breath.
“What?”
“Getting him to talk with just a glare.” Nathan touched his daughter’s hair. “Can you do the same with Isabella?”
Cheryl’s heart lurched. “Maybe she just needs more time.”
“Maybe.” He handed his credit card to the cashier. “Where to next?”
She checked her watch. “We need to eat.”
“Okay.” He grabbed the booster seats and stroller.
The clerk handed her the shopping bag. Josh carried the easel like it was nitroglycerine. Too bad he wasn’t always that careful. He’d broken a plate just last week.
While Nathan installed the car seat, she and Josh put the rest of the purchases in the trunk, but kept out the stroller.
“There’s a café around the corner that’s fast,” Cheryl said. “We can walk over.”
“I’ll follow your lead.”
“Get Isabella in her stroller, unless you want to carry her.”
He grimaced. “I was hoping you’d do the honors.”
“You need to learn.” No matter how helpless he looked, she refused to enable him.
“Let’s give this a try.” He took his daughter’s hand and strapped her in the chair. “That wasn’t hard.”
Four women piled out of a car, laughing as they headed to the bar. Nathan watched as they passed.
“What a cutie.” A woman leaned over the stroller, flashing poor Isabella her abundant cleavage.
“Thanks.” Nathan grinned.
The woman looked at Nathan and sighed. “All the good ones are taken.” She looked at Cheryl. “Lucky you.”
The blonde joined her friends and they entered the bar. The sound of laughter and loud voices drifted out through the open door.
Cheryl shook her head. “I can’t believe that.”
“Yeah.” Nathan looked longingly at the bar. “She didn’t even check to see if we were wearing rings.”
That’s what he’d noticed? Not the woman’s flirty tone or too-tight shirt?
“I’m hungry,” Josh complained.
“Okay.” She took his hand, leaving Nathan behind them to push the stroller.
“The bar has pretty good food,” Nathan said.
She turned. “No.”
He sighed. “It was just a thought.”
At the café, Cheryl asked for a table. “We’ll need a booster seat.”
Nathan’s gaze dropped as the waitress seated them. Cheryl frowned. Had he just checked out the woman’s ass?
Once settled at the table, she glanced at the menu. “What do you want?” she asked Josh.
“What do they have?”
She pointed to the kids’ menu selections on the placemat and helped him sound out the words.
“Pancakes,” he said.
“Sure.” At least it came with applesauce.
Nathan hadn’t opened the menu. Cheryl nodded at Isabella, prompting him.
Nathan winced. “What do you want?”
The little girl chewed her lip. Nathan pointed at the pictures on the placemat she was coloring. “Chicken fingers. French toast. Hot dog. Grilled cheese. Pancakes.” He waited until she stabbed a finger at the French toast.
The waitress came over and Nathan gave her a smile. “I think we’re ready to order. The half-pint will have French toast.”
“And to drink?” the waitress asked.
Nathan looked at Cheryl.
She sighed. “Milk.