So, what do we do now?" Lucas wondered, walking her to her door after their successful first date.
She slipped her fingers between his and smiled up at him. "Whatever feels right. We can go slow, spend more time together." She shrugged. "See what happens."
"Slow is good."
"Thank you, Luke. For tonight." She kissed his cheek, his soft beard feeling so good on her cheek. "I'll talk to you tomorrow?"
"Yeah." Before he could stop himself, he touched her cheek, guiding her mouth to his for a slow, gentle kiss. "Sorry, I just really wanted to do that. I'm not usually that impulsive."
"I like the impulsive Luke, but I'm partial to the Luke that thinks about things too." She wrapped her arms up and around his neck and kissed him again, relishing his warm lips as they caressed hers. "I also like that we aren't in the friend zone anymore."
"I'm grateful for the friend zone. I'm grateful for you."
She looked into his eyes for sincerity. It was there. "Slow and steady?"
"Yeah. That sounds good."
After one more kiss, she walked inside, and he headed to his car. He had a new outlook, a new bounce in his step. He felt happy and it had been so long since he had felt that particular emotion, he almost didn't know what to do with it.
When he arrived home, he realized he needed to see Randi in two days, causing his new mood to go downhill.
"What happened?" Molly asked, concerned he wasn't smiling.
"Nothing. It was great. How was Cates?"
"An angel. Perfect."
"Good."
"Lucas? It was your first date. Why aren't you happy?"
"I am. I swear. It really was great."
"Just getting inside your own head again?"
She put her jacket on and patted his cheek, a very motherly gesture. "Forget about Randi. She doesn't deserve so much consideration."
"How did you…"
"Getting to know you, dear. Think about Beth." A smile played on his lips.
He had kissed her. Something very impulsive and uncharacteristic of himself but the feel of her mouth on his….
"That's right. Just think about her." She kissed his cheek and smiled. "You smell good."
"That's what she said."
"Its something that you should always do for a woman. Dress nice, smell good. It makes them feel important, like you're pulling out all the stops for them."
"I'll remember that."
She nodded and opened the door. "Anytime you need a sitter, call us. We love her like a granddaughter."
"I will. Thanks again, Molly."
He sat down and pulled up the picture he had snapped when Catie and Elizabeth had been snuggled under a blanket the other morning. His heart had overflowed and it was now just staring at the picture.
He could see how much the two of them loved each other. They were comfortable together. He could plainly see how much children meant to Elizabeth.
His phone buzzed with a message from Elizabeth. "Goodnight, Luke. I hope you sleep well."
"Goodnight, Beth. You too.""Dad!" Catie squealed, running to him as he drank coffee on the couch the next morning.
"Hi, baby girl!"
"How was your date with Miss Elizabeth?"
"It was good."
"Did you kiss her?"
"Catie Ann, where do you get such ideas?"
"People kiss on dates, Bill says so."
"He did, did he?"
"Yup, he said that he kissed Molly on their dates. So….did you kiss Miss Elizabeth?"
"I'm hungry. What about you, Cates?"
"I am! Can we go to Abigail's?"
"Sure." He actually had a bit of money leftover from what he'd budgeted from the date the night before. "Go get dressed."
"Yay!"
They walked across the street twenty minutes later.
"Miss Elizabeth!" Catie squealed, running ahead towards Elizabeth's table.
"Cates, slow down," he called, even though Catie had already arrived at Elizabeth's booth and climbed up on the seat facing her.
"Sorry," he said, walking up.
"For what? Have a seat," she said, patting the area beside her.
"Are you sure? We don't want to intrude."
"Luke, please. I hate eating alone before services." Lucas sat down next to her and took a deep breath. She smelled like flowers. His eyes met hers when he felt her shoulder touch his. "You are never intrusive."
"Can we go to church, Dad?" Catie asked.
"Not today, baby. I have errands to get done." He pulled his eyes away and looked at Catie.
"I could help you run errands after church. We can go right from there," Elizabeth offered.
"I don't go to church," he told her, picking up a menu.
"Nana took me when we lived by her," Catie brought up.
"I know," Lucas muttered. "What do you want to eat, Cates? Eggs?"
"Biscuits and jelly and bacon and orange juice please."
He didn't particularly enjoy biscuits and jelly but he would eat what she didn't. As he always had.
Elizabeth watched him do what he had always done. Order for Catie, just getting coffee for himself.
He put his hand down on his leg and she moved hers to cover it. He looked at her again.
"Hi," Elizabeth whispered.
His eyes twinkled but didn't quite reach to his lips. "Hey."
"Are you uncomfortable?" she wondered.
"Good morning, folks. What are we in the mood for today?" the waitress asked.
"Morning," Elizabeth said. "Coffee for us," she said, gesturing with her free hand.
"I'd like orange juice, please," Catie said, starting to color on her placemat.
"And to eat?"
After ordering, she felt him flip his hand over and spread his fingers, inviting her to do the same. "No, I'm not uncomfortable."
"Okay."
He pressed his lips to her forehead, lingering there a moment. "You make me feel worthy." And apparently say things he wouldn't normally.
"You are, Luke."
"I haven't felt this way in a long time. Maybe that's one of the reasons I don't go to church. I don't feel like I deserve to be there."
His eyes filled with tears as he admitted that. Elizabeth squeezed his hand and leaned her head against his shoulder.
"None of us deserve what God gives us. But the love and comfort that he does give keeps us going."
He nodded. Maybe one day he'd return. "If Catie wants to go and it's not too much for you, she can go with you."
"What do you think, angel?"
"I want to go!"
"Okay. Let's eat and we can go."
"Oh," Catie said, turning sad. Elizabeth hadn't seen her that way before. The child was always grinning.
"What is it?"
"I don't have a dress to wear. The one I have is too little."
"Well, at our church you don't have to dress up. I don't always wear a dress."
"Are you sure?"
"Yep."
"Okay." She nodded and gobbled up a biscuit and two pieces of bacon before Elizabeth finished her omelet.
"Slow down, baby," Lucas told her.
"But I need to pick out what I'm going to wear, Dad, since I don't have a dress."
Lucas took a bite of biscuit. "You have some time."
Elizabeth pushed her plate away. "I'm full. Would you like my eggs and sausage, Luke?"
"Sure." He pulled her plate over and sprinkled salt and pepper on it.
"Will you help me pick out something, Miss Elizabeth?"
"Sure, angel but you don't have to worry. Whatever you wear will be fine."
"I don't want kids to laugh at me."
"Oh, sweetie, they won't."
"They do at school," she told her, nodding. "My pants are too short and my shirt had a stain. The mean girl named Cassie said I'm poor and I can't afford nice stuff."
"I'm sorry, baby," Lucas told her, his embarrassment evident. "We'll get you some new clothes somehow." He pushed his plate away. "Excuse me."
She watched him walk outside after leaving a ten dollar bill on the table.
"Is Dad sad?"
"A little, yes."
"I didn't mean to make him sad. That's why I didn't tell him. I know we don't have a lot of money. I heard him talking to Nana and Bill."
"Sweet girl, come here," Elizabeth said, holding out her arms. Catie climbed up and sat on Elizabeth's lap. "You don't need to worry about what you don't have that other kids do."
"Why not?"
"Because your Daddy gives you everything you really need. It's not important to have the very best clothes or toys. He gives you love and food and a place to live."
"I love Dad."
"Of course you do."
Elizabeth's phone buzzed. "I'm home. Sorry I left."
"That's alright. We will be right there."
"Dad?" Catie called, walking in the apartment with Elizabeth.
"Right here, baby." She ran into his arms.
"I'm sorry I made you sad. I didn't mean to."
"You didn't. I was sad because kids teased you about what I can't give you. I will get you better clothes. I promise."
"That's okay. It doesn't matter if my clothes aren't the best. Miss Elizabeth told me that you give me more important things like love and food. I love you, Dad."
He looked up at Elizabeth whose face had heated so that it matched his. "She said that?"
"Yep. Miss Elizabeth is smart."
"Yes she is." He kissed the top of her head and smiled. "You better go see what you want to wear to church, baby."
"Okay!"
Lucas stood up and walked close to Elizabeth, surprising her with a soft kiss on her lips. "Thank you."
"Happy to help. I have an idea too."
"About…."
"Well, I have tomorrow off so what if I took Catie to get her a few things after school? Maybe something new to wear to meet her mom?"
"I can't afford much," he said, running his hand through his hair.
"You won't need to."
"I don't want you buying her clothes, Beth. She's my child." He didn't realize his tone until she let go of his hand and stepped back, nodding.
"You're right. I'm sorry."
"Miss Elizabeth?! Is this pretty enough?"
She had a pink shirt on with sparkles on the top and blue jeans. Then to make the outfit even better, she wore a pink headband with a bow.
"Yes, angel. You look beautiful. Why don't you get your shoes on and we will go."
Lucas watched Elizabeth avoid meeting his eyes.
"Elizabeth…."
"You're right. I shouldn't have said anything."
He stepped in front of her and touched her cheek. "I'm sorry. You were only trying to help and I'm not good at accepting help. Not sure if you noticed."
"I have and all you need to do is tell me the max to spend and I'll take care of it."
He pulled out his wallet and handed her his debit card. "I think twenty five has to be max. I get paid this week and it's my first with the raise but I need to pay rent and groceries and…" he stopped when her lips touched his cheek.
"I'm good at staying on budget."
"I'm ready!" Catie said, smiling big and taking Elizabeth's hand. "Bye, Dad."
"Bye, baby. Be good and stay quiet during the sermon."
"I will."
He held on to Elizabeth's hand. "Are we okay?"
"Yeah. Sure." She smiled slightly and kissed his cheek. "If it's alright, I'd like to make lunch for us."
"Okay. I'd appreciate that."
She nodded and they walked out, leaving him alone. He got to work, cleaning the apartment and then got their laundry together to take to the laundromat. He had just enough quarters.