Page 40 of Havoc's Fox

Maverik chuckled, shared a high-five with Hellen and went to join Valerie where she too waited for the first of their clan to serve themselves so they could take their time and sample things as they chose their dinner as they liked to do.

“What are you laughing about?” Valerie asked.

“Things,” Maverik said, draping an arm around her shoulders, “just things.”

“Oh, Lord. What are you meddling in now?” Valerie asked him.

“Nothing. Seems my Hellen might have inherited the gift of fixing things, though.”

“What’s she fixing?” Valerie asked, looking around for her daughter.

“I don’t know. Let’s just see what happens.”

Not five minutes later Havoc walked out of the kitchen balancing two plates on one arm, and one in his opposite hand. He walked over to the table where Harley and Analise still sat and set his plate down, then chose things from the dishes set out on the table that he knew his daughter and Analise would both love and added them to the plates he carried.

Analise watched with a growing irritation as Havoc made plates of food for Addie, himself and Harley. But she said nothing. She just sat quietly, waiting for Havoc to finish so he could call Harley to come eat dinner, and she could make her escape. She needed to get out of there.

A few moments later, Havoc looked up at Analise and smiled at her as he held out a plate of food to her. “Here you go.”

“What’s this?” she asked, surprised.

“I made you a plate while I was making Harley’s.”

Analise reached out hesitantly for the plate. “What about Addie?” Analise asked.

“I don’t know. Christian will take care of her if she needs help. Pretty sure she can figure out where the food is, though. Here,” he said, moving the plate he still held closer to her outstretched hand, “I made sure I didn’t miss any of your favorites.”

Analise looked at the plate for a second before she slowly grasped the edge of it and accepted it from him. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

“Baby, you want something other than sherbet punch to drink?” he asked.

“I want what Analise is drinking,” Harley said.

Analise and Havoc both shook their heads. “No, you can’t have that. That’s an adult drink,” Analise said.

“Yeah, you shouldn’t drink that. It’s not good for you and it’ll just cloud your judgment,” Havoc said.

Analise looked up at Havoc, not sure if he was talking to Harley or herself.

“Tell you what, I’m going to have a glass of iced tea, you want one?” he asked.

“Okay.”

“Analise?” Havoc asked.

“I’m fine, thank you, though.”

He gave her a nod of acknowledgment and put Harley’s plate on the table next to Analise’s place, and set his own down a few places down. “Why don’t you get off Analise’s lap so she can eat, and I’ll be right back with your drink.”

“Yes, sir,” Harley said, sliding off Analise’s lap eagerly so she could start on her meal. She watched as Analise picked up her fork and started eating, tasting a little of everything as she went, and mimicked her, doing the same.

Seemed like just a few minutes and Havoc was back. He’d brought Harley and himself an iced tea, a glass of iced water for Analise, and another glass of bourbon. “Wasn’t sure which you’d want,” Havoc said, putting both glasses down in front of her.

“Uh, thank you,” Analise said, not sure what Havoc was up to, but wary of it anyway.

He moved his plate to a spot directly across from his daughter and Analise so that he could look at them as they all ate.

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