Page 39 of With All My Heart, Joy

Paisley pumped her arm until Joy winced.

“That’s enough, Paise,” Isaac murmured, and Paisley clapped both hands to her mouth in embarrassment. “She’s star-struck.” Isaac led Joy into the kitchen. “She’s obsessed with your Glow with Joy channel.”

Joy stopped in her tracks. Isaac had told her he looked up her channels. He hadnotsaid he showed them to his daughter. “When did she start watching it?”

She felt his body tense even though they were several feet apart. “Uh…since the day after Thanksgiving. She watches every new video you post.”

Interesting. “Do you watch with her?”

Now his ears turned red. “I’m not into female fashion, but…” But he watched it anyway. Against her will, Joy’s lips curved into a smile, a wondrous floaty feeling shivering through her being. “I see.”

He darted a look her way. “I watch your devotional every day. And your Joy Lives Life vlogs.” She sensed an “and.” He took a deep breath, looking away. “And I follow you on Instagram and subscribed to your blog.” He met her eyes. “Happy now? Full confession.”

No wonder he’d made the decision that he shouldn’t be counseling her. Joy didn’t know what to think or feel. About any of it. All she knew was she had creepy men aplenty who followed her every online move, but Isaac didn’t make her uncomfortable like they did. He didn’t make her feel uncomfortable at all.

“What do I need to do tonight?” she asked, choosing not to acknowledge his last statement. “Has Paisley eaten?”

“Kind of. I’m not much of a cook.” That explained the charred smell clinging to the air. “Feel free to give her a snack.”

“Is sugar okay? Any dietary restrictions?” Once Joy had her fill of instructions, including Isaac’s phone number in case of emergency, he lingered in the kitchen, looking uncertain.

“We’ll be fine.” Joy offered a cheery, confident smile. “You can go.”

“Are you sure?” He reached for a coat that hung from the back of a kitchen chair. “I can get away with skipping this meeting.”

Joy rolled her eyes. “I may be young, but I know how to babysit. Just go, Isaac!”

His head shot up, and Joy froze. She’d never called him Isaac to his face before. His Adam’s apple swelled with a swallow before he bent over to tie his shoes. “I should be back by eight o’clock. Paisley can wait up for me. Any questions, send me a text. I’ll be checking my phone.”

“I said we’ll be fine.” Joy stood her ground until Isaac left by a side door to the garage. As soon as he was gone, she turned to Paisley. “What did you have for dinner?”

“Tacos,” she chirped.

“What kind of tacos?”

Her eyes were innocent. “Burnt tacos. Dad threw out.”

Joy investigated the trash, discovering the source of the acrid smell. “Ugh.” She drew back, curling her lips. “Did you actually eat this stuff?” Another glimpse into the trash can alarmed Joy. The leftover ground beef did not look fit for human consumption.

Paisley shrugged, her hands turned up like cups. “Dad can’t cook.”

The understatement of the year. “Are you still hungry?”

Eagerness lit up the girl’s face. “Starving.”

Joy quirked an eyebrow. “Want to cook?”

“Yes!”

After surveying the contents of Isaac’s fridge and pantry, Joy had limited options. Did the man ever go grocery shopping? “I think we can make a hashbrown casserole with this cubed chicken, and a marinated cucumber side salad. Does that sound good?”

Paisley hopped from one foot to the other. “Yes! Yes!”

Her enthusiasm was infectious, and Joy grinned, trotting to her bulging bag Isaac had left in the living room. “First, the ambiance. Do you know what ambiance means, Paisley?”

She shook her head so fast her brown locks formed a curtain around her face.

“It’s the sound setting. Do you like Christmas music?”

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