Sharon took a deep breath and rang the doorbell, all the while Evie was at the bottom step playing in the snow.
"Evie, come here," she said, slightly irritated, knowing that Evie was bound to get wet and cold, which wouldn't bode well for this dinner.
"Sharon," she heard and spun around to greet George, the man she'd finally met and enjoyed chatting with over a quick cup of coffee at his hardware store. That had turned into a dinner invite for the weekend, and now, he she was.
"Hi George," she greeted him with a smile and turned back to retrieve Evie from the snow. Evie threw a snowball at Sharon, thankfully missing and hitting the ground before it got to her. Sharon smirked at George and turned to deal with Evie. "Evie, NOW, "she called and gestured.
Thankfully, Evie ran up and was grinning. She jumped to stomp her feet by Sharon and looked up at George, "You're not Andy." She frowned and looked at Sharon, "You said he'd be here."
"Evie," Sharon looked down at her, "this is his dad. Can you say hi?"
"Evie, I'm George," he bent down by her. "Now, I heard you might like cookies, and I have some Christmas cookies if your mom will let you have one before dinner."
Evie grinned up at her mom, giving her a look.
"Just one," Sharon held up her hand, and George gestured for them to step inside. He helped Sharon with her coat, and Sharon helped Evie with hers. "Andy is out on a call but should be back shortly. I don't think it's anything too serious."
"Oh, okay," Sharon nodded, now turning to George. "Now, you wouldn't let me bring a thing, but can I help you with dinner?"
"I kept it simple," he put his hands up. "Tonight, it's just soup and salad. Now," he looked between Sharon and Evie. Sharon was holding Evie's hand, knowing otherwise she'd take off exploring in a house that wasn't hers. George eyed Sharon and glanced down at Evie, "I thought that maybe Evie might like some chicken nuggets instead? Just a hunch," he winked at Sharon. On the few occasions Andy had eaten with them now, Evie had repeatedly asked for chicken nuggets. Sharon grinned at George and looked down at Evie.
"I love chicken nuggets!"
"Thank you, George," she grinned. He gestured for them to follow him into the kitchen, where after showing them around the small downstairs, they were seated at the kitchen counter to talk to George as he worked. Sharon pulled out Evie's bag with her coloring books, and soon, she was working away.
"Are you looking forward to having students soon?" George asked her.
She nodded, sipping at a cup of coffee, "I am. I think," she smiled softly. "I've not taught before, at least not this level. Teaching police officer is a much different thing."
"Hey, Pop," they both heard Andy call out, coming in the back door where he'd pulled his car toward the small one-car garage. They could both hear him dusting off the snow from his boots, and he appeared in the kitchen shortly after that. Sharon gave him a wide smile, and he easily returned it.
"Evie, did you come to my house for dinner?" Andy asked her, and she looked up, a silly grin on her face.
"You have chicken nuggets, my favorite!" Evie squealed, and Andy moved around the kitchen, patting his dad on his shoulder as he poured himself a cup of coffee. Before returning the pot, he checked on George's cup, topping it off, and he grinned when he turned toward Sharon with the coffee pot. She gestured she didn't need any, and soon, he was walking around the counter to look over Evie's picture where she was sitting next to Sharon. He surprised her, only because she didn't expect him to show anything in front of his dad, not that it bothered her, but he leaned down and kissed her cheek there while looking at Evie's picture.
"Hi," he said and quickly added, "Sorry I was held up."
"No problem," she said with a warm smile, noting George was watching their interaction.
"Oh, Evie, I love the Christmas tree you drew."
"Christmas is in four days! I can't wait!"
"Oh yes," Sharon commented with that information, looking at the two men, "I enjoy making a turkey on Christmas, and since I didn't get to make one at Thanksgiving, I'll be doing that if you two gentleman don't have plans and would like to join us?"
"That's really kind of you," George spoke up, "but I often go down to a friend's house on Christmas. He's alone too, a tradition, and Andy here, well-"
"I always take the Christmas shift," he shrugged. "Done it for years to give my guys a day off. I could certainly stop by for a quick bite," he winked. "I suspect that it will be better than any frozen meal I'd normally make, actually," he flashed a grin at her, still standing there with his hands braced on the back of Sharon and Evie's chairs, "I'd very much enjoy a home-cooked meal, but I'm warning you that I'll probably have to eat and run."
"Well, that is no problem," she smiled at him and then gestured to George, "I'll be sure to send a plate home to you, George, and you can enjoy it the next day."
"I won't turn that down," he told Sharon. He gestured to Andy, "Evie's drawing. I'm enjoying talking to her if you and Sharon want to take a walk or anything before we eat."
"You sure?" Andy raised an eyebrow. "I thought I was late for dinner."
"It's soup," his dad explained and waved. "Go, have a nice walk."
The two didn't argue and didn't waste any time putting on their coats before stepping outside into the cold, dark night. Thankfully, there were a few spread out street lights with Andy living in town, and with no snow in the last few days, the sidewalk had been shoveled. Andy reached for her hand and turned his head toward her.
"I heard all about your meeting with Pop," he flashed a smile. "I hope he didn't scare you. He likes to mess with people."
She laughed and nodded, "Maybe at first, but he's really kind. I like your dad."
"Mmm," he nodded and added, "well, he thought you were about the best thing he's ever met, maybe now only second to Evie. She'll have him wrapped around her finger very quickly."
Sharon nodded as they walked, neither interested in a long, brisk walk. They enjoyed their leisurely pace, and soon, they were at the corner. Andy turned, and he just smiled at her before saying, "Hi, it's good to see you, and I'm sorry I wasn't there when you arrived."
"I'm happy we could have dinner with you and your dad. It just feels," she sighed and shrugged, "nice."
"Nice," he nodded, and she laughed at that. She gripped his arm, still giggling, and he took the opportunity to pull her in and put his head against hers. "Nice, huh?"
"It does feel nice," she shrugged again. "I am content, happy."
"How about now?" Andy spoke quietly and leaned in to softly kiss her. The two stood there on the corner like that for a few seconds before Sharon started to laugh quietly. "Great, now the lady laughs."
"No," she smacked at his chest, pulling back, "only because we're here on the corner. I mean, you keep saying it's a small town, and I'm sure this isn't exactly what either of us want getting around."
"Fine," he let out a sigh, one she knew he was joking with her, and he gripped her hand again, walking back to the house. As they walked, both were enjoying their silly moods, and he finally spoke, "I suppose if we can't make out on the corner in town, we'll have to find somewhere else."
"Suppose so," she said with a warm gaze up at him. "Another time."
"Oh, for sure," he winked at her. "The more I'm around you, the more I like you, so yes, another time for sure."
"Too bad you have to eat and run on Christmas," she shrugged with a playful glance at him. "Might not be time for that 'another time.' They were walking up the sidewalk now to the house, almost back for dinner.
At that, Andy tugged her hand, and he walked them around the side of the house toward the back door, where in the shadow of the house, he pulled her in for another kiss, this one earning a bright smile from Sharon. She finally nudged at him, "I suppose we should go inside for dinner before it gets cold."
"I thought things were heating up here nicely," he chuckled, and she smacked at his chest, her face blushing.
"Come on," she sighed, tugging at his hand. "You can tell me all about your shift over dinner."
"Not much to tell today," he said as they walked to the back door.
"Fine then," she turned back to him with a smirk as he opened the door for her, and she continued, "if you don't have anything to say about work, I'll be happy to ask your dad for stories about you when you were younger."