Steve took Cecilia to lunch at the beach, in the Kamekona trailer.
"Who is this beautiful little girl?" Kamekona asked Steve.
Cecilia held out her hand to Kamekona. "I'm Cecília. Thanks for the compliment."
Kamekona greeted her and praised her education.
"It's my daughter," Steve replied to Kamekona.
"Serious?" Kamekona was surprised.
"Yes. It's a long story, but I'll tell you later. Now bring our shrimp because we are hungry," Steve told Kamekona.
"You are in charge," Kamekona replied and went to arrange lunch for Steve and Cecilia.
Steve smiled at Cecilia and she smiled back. "How are you doing at the new school?" Steve asked Cecilia as they waited for lunch.
"It's okay, Dad. I already have new friends and my teachers are also nice."
"This is great, Cecilia. I'm happy with that."
"Thanks Dad."
"Tell me a little about yourself," Steve suggested and Cecilia started talking over and over.
"Calm down, daughter. Give your old dad time to take it all in."
Cecilia laughed. "You are not old, dad."
Kamekona returned with their lunch and Cecilia stopped talking for a while.
"That was delicious!" Cecília told Kamekona after she finished eating.
"Thank you. Come back often," Kamekona said to Cecilia.
"I'm going to be back. Aren't I, Dad?" Cecilia consulted Steve.
"Of course, daughter. Whenever you want."
Cecília took her backpack and withdrew some money. "Can you prepare the shrimp for me to take to my mom? She loves shrimp."
"Your mother is smart," replied Kamekona.
"Save your money, dear. I pay for your mother's shrimp," Steve took out his wallet and paid Kamekona.
"It will be ready in a few minutes," Kamekona replied and went to prepare the shrimp for Catherine.
While Kamekona was preparing the shrimp, Steve continued talking to his daughter. "Did you like me picking you up from school and bringing you to lunch?"
"Yes, Dad. I loved it. Can we do this more often?"
Steve thought for a moment before answering. "In fact, I'm thinking of making a proposal to your mother: you stay at my house on alternate weekends. Do you think she'll allow it?"
"Yes, Dad. Mom is really cool."
"I'm going to talk to her about it today," Steve kissed Cecilia's forehead and then answered Brooke's call.
"Hey, Steve. I'm leaving school right now and I was wondering if you want to have lunch with me. I think we need to talk."
Steve hesitated before answering, but he looked at Cecília's smiling face for being there with him and he decided that he would not hide his daughter. He was now a father and he was going to act like one.
"Actually, I already had lunch, Brooke. I picked up Cecilia from school and brought her to lunch. In a few minutes I will take her to her mother and I will need to get back to work."
At that moment, Kamekona was taking Catherine's lunch to Steve and Cecilia innocently spoke loudly and Brooke heard, "Mom's shrimp is ready, Dad!"
"What?" Brooke asked Steve.
"We'll talk later, Brooke. See you tonight, dear," Steve ended the call before Cecilia put him in further trouble.
Steve took Cecilia back to the hotel and the girl arrived excited. "Mom, I ate some delicious shrimp and I brought you some!"
"Ah, thank you dear! Kemekona's shrimp is always magnificent," Catherine said as she looked at the package.
"Dad bought it," Cecilia pointed to Steve.
Catherine then thanked him. "Thank you, Steve."
"You're welcome, Catherine. Can we talk about our daughter? I want to be able to come and pick her up for the alternate weekends with me. I'm going to ask Danny or Lou to take over the alternating shifts so I won't have to go out for solve cases while she is with me. "
"Aren't you going to have problems with your wife because of this?" Catherine asked. She would always be concerned that Cecilia would be away from her and close to someone who probably wouldn't sincerely like her.
"No," Steve replied, knowing it wasn't quite true.
"If she wants to go, that's fine," Catherine made no trouble. Cecilia celebrated and Catherine made only one recommendation: "If you have to go out to resolve an urgent case, don't leave her with your wife. Bring Cecilia home."
"Okay," Steve replied.
"Let me know in advance so I can pack her backpack," Catherine also asked him.
"I need to make some changes to the room and I will probably come and pick her up just the other weekend."
"Okay, Steve." Catherine was more understanding than he expected.
Steve said goodbye to Cecilia and Cecilia kissed his face. "I love you dad."
Steve smiled and Catherine thought he was not going to answer the same for Cecilia.
"I love you too daughter." Steve kissed her forehead and left.
"He didn't even say goodbye to me," Catherine thought.
Steve was in the hall waiting for the elevator and a breathless guy passed him. The guy passed in front of Catherine and Cecilia's room who were at the door waiting for Steve to get on the elevator for Cecilia to say goodbye.
"Hi, Cath!" Mike told Catherine and Steve heard that.
"Did you go up the 7 floors again, Mike?" Catherine asked him smiling.
"Yes, I need to keep in good shape. Now I'm going to take a shower and get ready to introduce myself at the new job. Wish me luck," Mike said to Catherine while Steve just watched.
"Good luck, Mike," Catherine replied.
Steve waved to Cecilia and got into the elevator. "Idiot, stuck-up." He said in low voice referring to Mike.
Steve went to headquarters and some new candidates for team members were waiting for him to be interviewed. Danny and Lou participated in the interviews and finally they would talk to the man appointed by the Governor.
Steve, Danny and Lou were waiting for him and when he entered the room Steve was surprised. "Good afternoon, I'm Mike."
"I don't believe it," Steve murmured and Danny heard it.
Mike didn't remember Steve because he hadn't paid attention to him in the hotel hallway.
"Don't you believe his name is Mike?" Danny asked Steve.
Steve didn't answer Danny's question and told Mike to come in and close the door. Steve asked him several questions, and at the end of the interview he asked if Mike was married.
"I'm divorced," Mike replied.
"And do you intend to get married again?" Steve asked and Danny and Lou didn't understand why Steve was asking this.
"Maybe. I'm looking for someone special," Mike replied.
"You start on Monday. Don't be late," Steve was not nice to Mike.
"Okay. I'm not going to be late. Thank you all," Mike replied to Steve, Danny and Lou.
Steve told Danny and Lou to call the fourth and seventh respondents as well. Mike was an indication of the Governor and Steve could not dismiss him.
"Why were you so hard with the Governor's nominee? His resume is good," Danny wanted to know.
"Bye, Danny," Steve said to indicate that he didn't want to continue the matter.
At the end of the day Steve went home and Cecilia called him while he parked the car. "Hi, Cecilia," Steve said as he answered her video call.
"Hi, Dad. I just wanted to say hi."
Steve smiled at her. "Hi," he repeated and she smiled too.
"You are tired?" Cecilia asked when she saw his dark circles.
"Yes, dear. I just got home and I really need a shower. I'll call you later, okay?"
"Okay, dad. Bye!"
"Bye, daughter." Steve ended the video call and went into the house. Brooke was sitting on the couch watching TV and didn't look very happy.
"Hey," Steve told her when he came in.
"Hey," she replied and then complained that he was late.
"I had to interview some candidates today."
"And how was your lunch?" She wanted to know.
"It was good. I took Cecilia to know the Kamekona trailer and she loved it."
"And you took the opportunity to bring lunch to your ex, too," Brooke showed jealousy.
"Cecilia asked to bring lunch to her mother, and I didn't see any problem with that, Brooke. If you're up for an argument today, know that I'm not." Steve went up the stairs and went to the bedroom.
PS: Thank you for your review in the previous chapter!