Chapter 37

After sharing a pleasant evening with the Roberts, AJ headed home, flicking open his cell phone to call and talk to Lillian. He just wanted to hear her voice, and maybe talk to Annie for a minute before her bedtime.

"Hello?"

"Hi, Princess! How is my favorite girl tonight?" AJ asked, with a smile when Annie answered the phone.

"AJ, I miss you," she replied.

"Annie, who is it on the phone?" called Lili from the bedroom.

"AJ," she said.

Coming out of the bedroom to talk to AJ, she found he was talking to her daughter.

"It's only two more days till I see you again, Princess. Which movies do you want me to rent for you to see?"

"Cinderella and The Beauty and The Beast, please," she said. "Are you coming to see me and mommie tonight?"

"It's too late tonight, Princess, that is why I am calling. I wanted to hear your voice and talk to your mommie for a few minutes. Do you like pumpkin or apple pie for dessert? I need to know which one to make for Thursday."

"Both. You could come over," she said.

"Annie, what are you doing, is he coming over or are you twisting his arm?" asked Lili reaching for the phone. Annie did a quick duck and was still talking to AJ.

"Sweetie, you are supposed to be in bed in a few minutes and I know it. I will see you in two days," he laughed. "Now, how about you let me talk to your mommie?"

Frowning, she handed the phone to her mommie and went into her bedroom. "Hello, AJ, what a nice surprise."

"Well, I was missing my favorite girl!" he laughed. It was so nice to hear her voice, he was almost as anxious as Annie for Thursday to arrive.

"If you have time you're more than welcome to come by for a cup of coffee," she offered.

"Are you sure? It is getting late and I know you have work and the princess has school tomorrow," he wanted to be sure he was not disturbing them, even though he badly wanted to see both of them.

"If I wasn't sure, I wouldn't have asked. We've both missed you terribly today. So, will you come?" she asked.

"With an invitation like that, how can I refuse? I am about eight minutes from your place, is that quick enough?"

"Great, I'll put on the coffee now, AJ," she said.

"I will see you soon," he replied and hung up.

Lili went into Annie's bedroom to tell her AJ was coming and found her in bed asleep. She turned off the light and closed the door. Annie would be so disappointed, but it couldn't be helped. Then she went into the kitchen and make coffee, looking forward to AJ's arrival. This would be the first time they had been alone since they had met and she was just a little nervous. She wanted more than the brief kisses he had given her in the past, but didn't know how to tell him.

Minutes later there was a knock at the door and when she opened it, she found a smiling AJ there. "Come on in the coffee's ready, but Sleeping Beauty didn't make it until I hung up the phone," she said, on her way to the kitchen.

"Oh, dear! Then I won't get my kiss from my princess?" he shook his head pretending sadness.

"You may go in and kiss her good night if you wish," replied Lili.

"Thank you, I would like that," he told her with a grin and headed to Annie's room. Going over to her, he bent down and placed a tender kiss on her tiny cheek. "Night, Princess," he said softly.

Annie woke up and saw AJ and said, "Night, Dada."

"Oh, Princess!" he whispered as he looked down at her.

Standing in the doorway Lili said, "She really loves you, AJ."

He looked up at Lili and smiled, "Well, the feeling is mutual. Don't tell the little minx, but she has me wrapped around her little finger! Does it bother you to hear her call me Dada? I tried to get her to stop it one day and she did for a bit, but it seems she is back to it again."

To be continued…