Page 13 of Designs on You

“I’ll have an iced tea.” He didn’t want to drink alcohol around the kids. Besides, he wanted to be clearheaded when he worked with them on games.

While she fixed him a drink, he took a look around the open area. It was perfectly styled, and yet didn’t feel like he had to watch everywhere he stepped or sat. It felt comfortable, like you could take your shoes off and relax.

“I can tell an interior designer lives here.”

She stiffened as she handed him the tea. “You think it’s stuffy.”

“No, I think it’s perfectly designed for a family. It’s thoughtful. Oversize island with appropriate stools for both adults and kids. I’ll bet the kids love sitting there.”

Visibly relaxing, she smiled at him. “They do. They help me whenever I bake. It’s a huge mess, but we always have so much fun.”

He could envision her standing at the island, laughing with her kids while they made cookies together. “That sounds awesome.”

“It really is.”

“The huge sofa is made for cuddling up with your kids, too. I imagine you do that on movie nights.”

She tilted her head to observe him. “Actually we read there together every night before bed. But, yes, there are plenty of movie and popcorn nights.”

He nodded. “My family always did Friday night movie nights when we were kids. With pizza, of course.”

“Of course.”

The sounds of pounding footsteps let him know the kids were coming back. “Mommy, look,” Cammie said, holding her palms out for inspection. “Clean hands.”

“Me, too,” Christopher said, mimicking his sister.

“That’s a very good job. Let’s set the table so we can eat.”

He also liked that Natalie let the kids help set the table, something he’d been taught to do at an early age. It had always made him feel important, like his mom trusted him not to break the dishes or stab himself with a fork.

And if the fork was on the wrong side of the plate, no one cared. Apparently Natalie didn’t, either. Eugene sure as hell didn’t. Getting kids involved was the important thing. Appropriate table settings could come at a later time.

“I hope you like salad and casserole,” Natalie said, placing something that smelled really amazing in the center of the dining room table.

After she brought over the salad and some freshly sliced bread,Natalie scooped the food onto the kids’ plates. Then Eugene cut a slice and offered it up to Natalie before putting some on his own plate. He filled up the salad bowls and grabbed two pieces of bread, helping Christopher butter his.

“It’s lazana,” Christopher said.

It took Eugene a few thoughtful seconds to realize he’d said “lasagna.”

Cammie nodded. “Filled with cheesy goodness.”

“You made lasagna?” Eugene asked after Natalie sat.

“Yes. Why? You don’t like lasagna?”

“I love lasagna. Thank you again for inviting me to dinner.”

She gave him a curious look, as if she couldn’t believe he was grateful to be invited over for a meal. “You’re welcome. Dig in, everyone.”

After that, there was eating and talking and laughing. Cammie told him about all her friends and her gymnastics class, and Christopher’s topics varied from his favorite soccer ball to something about a big bug he saw out in the backyard. Eugene promised they’d go out after dinner to see if they could find it.

Natalie engaged the kids with questions about what they’d done earlier today. Apparently she’d taken them to a nature preserve, so the kids talked about their favorite parts.

“I liked the butterfly garden the best,” Cammie said. “Did you know that there are over seven hundred and fifty types of butterflies in the United States? And that they start out as caterpillars, then spin themselves into a cocoon?”

Eugene was impressed. “I did not know that. How many butterflies do you think you saw today?”

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