Page 39 of One Hot Daddy

I nudge him gently with my elbow.He's not helping.

"The thing is," I continue, "your dad and I have become very close while I've been helping your family."

"We know that," Amelia states matter-of-factly."You're always looking at each other funny.We might be kids, but we aren't stupid.Well, except for Henry."

"Hey!"the youngest Murgatroyd exclaims with pouted lips."I'm smarter than anybody except Jennifer."

Out of the corner of my eye, I see Patty trying to suppress a smile.

Fletcher dives right in."The strange looks are, ah, because...Jennifer and I care about each other very much."

"Like friends?"Henry asks, tilting his head.

"Not quite."Fletcher scratches his cheek, wincing again."We're more than friends.It's more like...ah, grown-ups who care for each other."

Poor Fletcher.He really sucks at delivering important news.The room goes quiet, and I can hear my pulse pounding in my ears.

Charlotte sits up straighter."You mean like boyfriend and girlfriend?"

"Um, yes, like that," I admit, my cheeks burning hotter than ever.I expect my hair to catch on fire at any moment.

Josh scrunches his nose."Are you going to get married and have smelly babies that throw up all the time?I remember when Henry was like that.It's gross."

Henry scowls at his brother."Hey!I was never gross or smelly."

Fletcher's hand goes rigid in mine, and he stammers while attempting to explain the situation."We're getting a bit far afield here.Can we stick to the issue at hand, please?"

Josh nods and shrugs."It's cool with me."

Amelia worries her lip."But you might have babies?"

I wave at the grandparents, hoping for assistance, but they're no help.Florry and Patty look like they're doing their best not to laugh.The grandfathers seem as if they'd rather be anywhere else on earth.

"Babies?"Fletcher makes a strangled sound."That's...well, something adults discuss privately."

Charlotte crosses her arms."That means yes.I'm not cleaning up baby doo-doo."

"We haven't talked about that yet," I tell her, shooting Fletcher a sideways glance.His face has gone from pale to slightly green.

Henry bounces on his cushion."I want a baby sister!Can you make one with purple hair?"

"That's not how babies work," Josh says, rolling his eyes.

"How do they work, then?"

Fletcher's grip on my hand becomes painful.I can practically hear his internal panic.

"The important thing," I nearly shout, trying to steer this runaway train back on track, "is that your father and I love each other and we want all you kids to feel comfortable having me as your father's girlfriend.You all mean so much to me."

Fletcher finally musters the courage to take control of the situation."We want to know what you think about this change."

The room falls silent as four pairs of eyes stare at us.My throat feels as dry as the Sahara Desert.

"Does this mean Jennifer will live here forever?"Charlotte asks, her expression unreadable."And you'll share Dad's room?"

Fletcher glances at me."Not right away, no.But eventually, that's something we might consider."

I hold my breath, watching their faces carefully.Josh seems indifferent, studying a loose thread on his sock.Henry beams with excitement, probably still thinking about purple-haired babies.But it's Amelia and Charlotte who worry me most.