This one's quite a bit longerāover twice as long as the shortest one I've written so farābut that's because it's composed of more elements; there are some different things going on this time.
Isabella's name is on the story because it's her introduction, but she's only one of the threads.
*****
When I realized I'd rewritten the same sentence six times, I flung up my hands in surrender and abandoned my laptop.
Time to get some lunch
. I opened the refrigerator to evaluate the options and found a meal neatly assembled for me with a note resting on top:
Mr. Andrews, I cooked for you last night so you would have something different for lunch.
I let Hope and Joy help some before I put them to bed; I asked them to be very careful not to spoil my surprise, and I hope they managed it.
It's nothing fancy, just a taco bowlāyou'll need to microwave the meat and add it in, but everything else is there for you.
The rest of the meat is in a separate container, and should give you all another meal or two.
I hope you like it . . . it's my grandma's recipe.
Thank you for letting me come tonight.
Nia
Below that, in a different pen and a wobblier hand, was this:
Nice trick this morning, stud.
I loved it, but don't think it will work twice.
You'll have to work harder next time.
ā„
*****
I'll have to remember to thank Nia for making me lunch
, I thought as I climbed into the car. I had actually managed to get some work done before it was time to pick up the girls. I drove down to the bus stop as I usually did; once Hope was safely ensconced in the car, we continued on to pick up Joy. "You're going to have another new babysitter tonight, girls," I told them. "Do you remember Mr. Ray Curtis?"
"Yes, Daddy!" Hope said delightedly. "He gave us badges!" Which he had; they were stick-on plastic things, but the girls had loved them while they lasted.
"Is he going to be our babysitter?" Joy wanted to know.
I managed to swallow a laugh. "No, bright heart," I told her. "I'm going with him to a dinner. Your babysitter will be Miss Kylie."
"Is she pretty?" Joy asked.
"She loves to smile and laugh," I said, hoping to dodge the question.
"Oh, good," Joy responded with deep satisfaction.
*****
Kylie showed up a little early carrying a couple bags. One was a canvas bag that I recognized immediatelyāwe had a couple of its littermates floating around from the previous year's summer reading program at the public library. It was full of books. The other was a paper bag with handles of the sort you would get from an upscale store. "Did you go shopping on your way?" I asked, momentarily diverted.
"Whatā?" Kylie asked. "Oh, right, the bag. Yeah, when I grabbed the other one, I got this one too. No biggie. Did you pick up the spices?"
"I did," I told her, turning toward the kitchen as she divested herself of her load. "Girls, Miss Kylie is going to make dinner for you, and if you're really good, she said you could help."
"Oh, goody!" Hope exulted. "Just like we helped Miss Nia cook last night!" Then she looked up at me anxiously. "Did I keep the surprise long enough, Daddy?"
"Yes, sweetheart, you did," I told her, pulling her close. "I've eaten my lunch already."
"Oh, good," Hope repeated happily. Over her head, Kylie gave me a curious look.
"Another candidate," I told her. "She babysat last night after I finished her interview; while I was out, she cooked up something for me for lunch."
"I see I have something to live up to," Kylie responded confidently. She gathered Hope and Joy with her hands and ushered them into the kitchen. I could hear her explaining her plans to them as I turned to get ready for my own dinner. Suddenly, I heard her call my name. I looked over my shoulder to see her doing the same at me. With a small smirk, she said, "I'll be sure to make enough for leftovers."
*****
"Ray, this is a
political
fundraiser?" I asked in disbelief. "Since when does your foundation get into that game? I thought you were all about supporting the arts!"
"Not exactly," Ray answered, fighting hard to hold back his deep, booming laugh. "I mean, sort of, but . . . not exactly. Justāyou'll see."