Chapter 35
"Why is the kitchen all smoky? And where's Dad?" Joey asked when she came back with Brilor from the mall. Both had spent the evening with Cameron, who was alone herself because Paul had started law school and was working on a paper at the law library.
She had just dropped Joey and the baby off early because she had a photo shoot early the next morning, and of course, Joey had to go to school. Brilor was also getting fussy.
"He's in hiding in the den," Lorelei replied, taking the baby. "There was a little mishap with dinner and I rather teased him about it."
Joey shook her head, going over to knock on the door. "Dad, Bri Bri and I are back. Come on out."
"I am not coming out," Brian called from the den. "Never, ever again. That's embarrassing as fuck."
"Oh, come on, it can't be that bad," Joey reassured him.
"Your mother didn't stop laughing at me for over half an hour. She was on her ASS, hands on stomach, laughing at me. 'Leave it to you to burn spaghetti!' Yep, only me, the big time lieutenant and co-head of the Major Case Squad. I suck."
"Ma!" Joey exclaimed. "Why did you laugh at him?"
"He was just so cute, Joey. He was like a love sick teenage boy, and the next thing you know…the spaghetti was burning and the pot caught fire."
"Oh my God!"
"It wasn't so much that dinner was burned as the dance he was doing while using the fire extinguisher." She began to chuckle again, cuddling Brilor as he went to sleep in her arms.
"I'm glad you're finding all this hilarious at my expense, Lorelei. Now I know I'm not coming out till I go back to work," Brian scoffed from the den.
"Really, Ma, he had this whole day planned out himself because he felt bad about falling asleep Saturday night," Joey said. "It's not the first time he's burned something."
Brian couldn't help but smile behind the door at hearing Joey defend him. What a kid, he thought.
"Besides," he finally said, "I'm used to burning long, hard things."
"Dad, come on out. Please? For what it's worth, at least you made the effort."
"Yes, honey, come on," Lorelei encouraged. "I'm sorry for laughing, really I am. At least come say goodnight to your son before he goes to bed."
"Oh, all right," he sighed before opening the door, coming out and warning, "But one smart ass remark about the kitchen being smoky or my burning spaghetti noodles from either of you two, I'm sleeping in there tonight."
"I opened the window a little bit to get some of the smoke out," Joey said.
"Ahh, thanks, kiddo. Yeah, sorry about the disaster."
"Don't worry about it, Dad," she smiled up at him.
"How would you like to put this little guy to bed? He's had a long evening," Lorelei offered, suddenly feeling bad about how she'd acted earlier.
"Why, so you can laugh at how I do that too?" Brian gave her a look of mock hurt.
"More like you're very good at it and I feel bad about laughing at you earlier."
He brightened. "Yeah?"
"Yes, now come on, someone wants his bed."
While Joey parked in front of the TV flipping channels, Brian and Lorelei headed upstairs with the baby, changing and dressing Brilor before putting him down for the night.
"See there?" Lorelei smiled. "I think the only thing I'm good for with that child is a meal. Someone seems to like Daddy for everything else." She gave him a gentle tickle. "Isn't that right, sweetie?"
Brilor gave a sleepy smile before he began to drift off again.
"Look at that," she said to Brian. "Even your own son agrees with me."
"He's a baby; of course he's going to agree with everybody."
Lorelei put an arm around his waist. "In all seriousness, though, thanks for everything this evening."
"Even if I practically set the house on fire?" He was glowing.
"Even that," she nodded. "It was the effort you made that counted more than anything. Most guys wouldn't have bothered. I will admit you order one mean pizza, though."
He broke out laughing. "Glad you approve!"
"And the mother's ring is stunning," she added, giving him a kiss. "Thank you. That's another one of your best qualities, knowing what really makes women happy."