Page 102 of Loving Kai

On Saturday morning, he took Kai to his mother early and drove to Maggie’s house.

She opened the door and took a step back. “Abe? What are you doing here?”

“What kind of a greeting is that?”

She smiled. “A shocked one.” She opened the door wider. “Come on in.”

He stepped through the door, the bouquet of flowers he’d brought behind his back. “I didn’t want to wait until Monday for our second date, and the restaurant is going to be crazy busy this weekend, so I thought we could start it off with breakfast together.”

“Am I cooking this breakfast?”

“No. I thought we’d go into town.”

She raised her eyebrows. “A real official date in front of people and stuff?”

“Yeah. It’s about time, right?”

She cocked her head. “What are you hiding behind your back?”

“Hmm.” He pulled out the flowers. “How the hell did those get there?”

“You brought me flowers?” She took them from him. “I didn’t think you were the flower bringing kind of guy.”

“I’m not. This is a first. I did buy flowers for my mom once when I was like ten, but—”

Maggie threw her arms around his neck and kissed him. “Once again, you’re talking when you should be kissing.”

He pulled her tight and kissed her. “I should’ve brought you flowers a long time ago.”

She stepped back and looked at them. “They are beautiful. Come help me put them in some water.”

“You need help with that?”

She took his hand and headed for the kitchen. Donovan came running down the hallway barking, and Abe laughed. “That dog has a serious delayed reaction problem.”

“I think he’s hard of hearing.”

“Or just not very smart.”

Maggie nudged him. “Don’t say that about my baby.”

“The truth hurts, babe.”

Maggie took a vase from a cupboard and handed it to him. “Fill this, please.”

“Yes, ma’am.” He filled the vase with water, then set it on the counter as Maggie removed the decorative wrapping from the flowers. She set the flowers in the vase and fussed with them for a moment.

“Thank you.” He came up behind her and put his arms around her. She turned to him with tears in her eyes. “Am I really the first woman you’ve bought flowers for?”

He kissed her. “Yes. You’re also the first woman who I think that no matter what I’m doing, it would be better if you were there.”

She touched his cheek. “My sweet Abe.”

He pulled her close again and whispered in her ear. “Just how hungry are you?”

She kissed his neck. “Suddenly, food is the last thing on my mind.”

“Are we about to ditch the let’s take it slow plan?”