Page 32 of The Hang Up
“Nope. The state seizes part of his paychecks for child support, but beyond that, he wants nothing to do with his son or with Ellie.”
“That’s so sad.”
He nodded, and Miriam caught a glint of something dark in his eyes. “It is, but we’re better off without him. For as long as I’m around, Ellie will never be alone as a parent, and Henry will always have a man in his life who adores him and enjoys spending time with him.”
The passion in his words surprised her a little. Her own feelings about kids tended to be a bit ambivalent, though she’d wondered what it might be like to feel that sort of love for a tiny human. Watching Jason now, she kind of got it.
Something in his love of his nephew touched a soft, dormant part of her heart.
“They’re lucky to have you,” she said.
“Nuh-uh. I’m lucky to have them.”
Miriam was about to ask another question when something bumped her shin. She glanced down to see Phuzeei ramming his head against her leg.
“There’s the little pervert who gave you a glimpse of my junk,” Jason said as he bent down to scratch the cat behind the ears. “Hey, big guy.”
“Mrwow,” her cat said and nudged Jason’s hand with his head.
“Phuzeei,” Jason said, shaking his head as he stood back up. “I can’t say I ever imagined myself stroking a froofy white Persian named ‘Fuzzy.’”
“He may look froofy, but he’s kind of a badass.”
Jason quirked an eyebrow. “You mean beyond his skills at opening bathroom doors like some sort of furry ninja spy?”
“I taught him more skills than that one. Watch this.”
Miriam set her plate down and reached for a notepad she’d been using to doodle sketches for an ad campaign. She tore off a sheet and crumpled it into a ball. Phuzeei whirled around and pricked his ears at attention.
“You ready, boy?” Miriam asked, grinning. “Fetch!”
She hurled the paper wad down the hall. In a blur of fur and paws, Phuzeei went tearing after it, his plumy tail streaking behind him. The cat skidded to a halt at the end of the hall, furry feet sliding across the polished wood floor. He picked up the paper in his teeth, turned around, and trotted back with his prize.
“I’ll be damned,” Jason said as he bent down to take the paper Phuzeei deposited at his feet. “You taught your cat to fetch?”
“I told you he’s got mad skills.”
“Color me impressed.”
“Color me starving,” she said. “You ready to move on to dinner?”
“Anytime you are.”
“I’ll take that,” she said, plucking the paper from his hand. “Feel free to wash up in the guest bath. I’ll put the finishing touches on dinner.”
“Need any help?”
“Nope, I’ve got it. I prepped most of it ahead of time, so we’re just about ready.”
She turned and hurried into the kitchen where she lost herself in the last-minute bustle of sautéing and garnishing and sneaking little tastes of everything to make sure the meal had turned out okay.
She’d almost forgotten about Jason until she heard his voice behind her.
“Holy cow!” he said. “Are you some kind of gourmet cook?”
She grinned and dusted a sprinkling of fresh chives over a side of roasted potatoes she’d just plated. “Sort of,” she said. “I love good food, and cooking’s a hobby of mine.”
“This looks amazing. You weren’t kidding about replicating the restaurant experience. This looks better than any restaurant meal I’ve had.”
