Page 92 of Love, Maybe (baby?) (The Lucky Girls 2)

“Homemade pizza,” I say.

“Oh, you’ll like this,” she says, turning to Noah. “It’s way better than the pizza you order.”

“Really?” Noah asks, frowning. “That doesn’t sound right.”

Ava giggles. “Really! You’ll just have to taste and see. Mommy’s the best cook ever.”

Noah laughs. “I can agree with that.”

The past three weeks, Noah has been over for supper almost every night. After two weeks, he spent the weekend with us. Ava loves having him around, and the two of them are thick as thieves.

I put the pizza in the oven and while I work in the kitchen, Noah and Ava are busy in the living room. I hear her telling him something about Fairy Marla and throwing in French words here and there, telling him what they mean. She’s trying to teach him, and Noah is a willing student.

“I don’t see why Fairy Marla couldn’t have stolen it herself,” Noah says after Ava tells him how her friend did something awful for her sake.

“What! Fairy Marla would never do something like that! Mommy says it’s calledmorals.I think it’s just wrong.”

I laugh to myself as I listen to them chatter on. It’s so great to have him here. Noah slid into place in our lives as if he’s always been here, and I can’t believe I was so against telling him. I was worried it would upset Ava’s life; it would make everything harder for her when she’s lived without a father. Jean-Pierre doesn’t count—although he’s been the only father figure she knew, he wasn’t ever there for her and worked such long hours sometimes, she barely got to see him. In the short three weeks, Noah has been in her life, he’s been more of a father to Ava than Jean-Pierre could ever be in a lifetime.

When I pull the pizza out of the oven, the smell of melted cheese and pepperoni filles the kitchen, drawing Noah and Ava from the living room.

“Wash your hands,” I order. “And then I have a surprise for you.”

Ava and Noah march to the bathroom and wash their hands before coming to the kitchen. We all sit down around the kitchen table, and I dish slices for everyone.

“This reallyisbetter than takeout,” Noah says.

“Told you,” Ava says with a giggle and takes a huge bite.

“Smaller bites,Cherie,” I say to her.

“What’s the surprise?” she asks around her pizza and swallows.

“Well…” I glance at Noah. “We’re going on a trip.” We discussed it last night but he doesn’t know I already bought the tickets.

“New York,” I say.

“What?” Noah and Ava cry out at the same time.

“Yeah, Auntie Michelle opened the offices there, so I want to see what’s going on. And Noah needs to get more clothes and stuff so he can be here permanently. And he wants to visit his sister Natalie and her daughter Kylie.”

“My cousin,” Ava says. “Can we meet them?”

“Of course,” I say and smile at Noah, who looks emotional.

“When we come back,” I say, “Noah is going to live here with us, permanently.

He got a job with a local rugby team. It’s not quite football, but they’re willing to give him a chance, and all he needs is a foot in the door.

“Where will he stay?” Ava asks, looking at Noah. “You’re going to live here with us, right?”

Noah blinks at her before looking at me. He swallows hard like he has a lump in his throat. “If that’s what you want.”

Ava doesn’t wait for me to answer. “He should, Mommy.”

I smile. “I can’t see why not. It will save him making the trip here every day.”

Ava turns to Noah with expectant eyes, eager for an answer. He reaches for my hand over the table and squeezes it.

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