Chapter 11 - Brandon
Ilsa squealed in the backseat as I parked the car. Jade gave me an apologetic look, but I smiled. Ilsa was excited, and I understood that. I could listen to her giggle and cheer all day long. It was a blessing to hear.
“We’re going to eat here!?” Ilsa asked with wide eyes. She was bouncing in her car seat, her eyes glued to the Boathouse restaurant.
I nodded. “We are. I made a reservation for the nicest table.”
Ilsa’s smile grew. I looked at Jade, who started to fidget in her seat.
She wore a black dress that was layered with ruffles.
She had bows that were holding the dress up on her shoulders.
She looked stunning in it with her hair pinned back to the side, falling in smooth curls over her shoulder.
You could see the different colors of brown in her hair as the sun hit it.
“Are you nervous?” I asked, offering her a soft smile. This was new for all of us, and I was grateful that Jade agreed to it so quickly.
Jade shrugged. “It’s just been a while since I’ve gone out to some place this nice. We couldn’t afford this.”
It twisted up my heart to hear. The Boathouse was nice, but it wasn’t as expensive as some of the other places we had in town.
“Well, don’t worry about tonight. I’m covering it.”
She smirked. “I would hope so, you invited us.”
We all got out of the car and headed inside.
Ilsa clung to Jade, her eyes wide as she looked around the restaurant.
The Boathouse wasn’t new. It had been around for many generations and was well-maintained in condition.
I used to come here a lot with Kaleb when we were growing up. They had the best food.
The host looked up and smiled at us. “Alpha Brandon. Your table is ready. It’s out on the deck.”
Ilsa looked up at me with sparkle in her eyes. She pulled on Jade’s arm. “It’s outside on the deck.”
We were guided outside where lights were hung up. The deck was designed to resemble the top of a boat, and with the river next to it, it felt like you were actually on one.
There was a gentle breeze, and it smelled like summer. Jade helped Ilsa into a chair and patted her head softly. Ilsa sat giddy in her seat as I sat down across from them. Jade slid into her chair, being sure to slide Ilsa in closer.
“What do you guys want to drink?” the waiter asked as she stopped by our table.
Jade gave a tight smile. “I’ll just have a water. Ilsa, what would you like?”
Ilsa smiled at the waiter. “Chocolate milk.”
The waiter offered a smile in return before turning her eyes toward me. I smiled. “Chocolate milk sounds good.”
Ilsa’s eyes widened, and she giggled. It was a rich sound that I never wanted to stop. “You can’t have chocolate milk. It’s for kids.”
“Is that what your mother told you?” I asked, tilting my head.
Ilsa nodded. “Yeah. Right, Mom?”
Jade smirked as she reached a hand out, moving some of Ilsa’s hair. “It just means he’s a child too, Ilsa,” she teased, her smirk growing.
Ilsa started to laugh, and I couldn’t keep my eyes off them. Ilsa was so bubbly, so full of life. I never wanted that to change. Jade had done an amazing job with her, better than anyone else I could see.
I looked at his soft Jade was with Ilsa. She was like another version of someone. She always smiled, always looked so happy. I could see just how much she loved her, and I so desperately wanted that. I wanted her to look at me with the same eyes, with that soft, turned smile.
A moment later, the glasses were set down. “Do you guys know what you want to eat?”
Ilsa looked at the menu with wide eyes, and I shook my head at the waiter. “Not yet, give us a few minutes, please.”
“Of course.”
Jade leaned closer to Ilsa. “How do fish fingers sound?”
Ilsa scrunched up her nose, making a disgusted look. “I don’t want to eat fish fingers.”
I chuckled at her cuteness, and Jade smiled. “They aren’t fishes fingers, Ilsa. Do you have chicken tenders instead?”
Ilsa nodded. “Yeah, chicken…tenders.”
Ilsa looked at her chocolate milk and then looked at my glass. She snuck a peek at me before looking back at her glass. I watched her reach for it, taking a large gulp of the milk. I reached for my glass at the same time, matching each of her movements.
Ilsa giggled as I set my glass back down.
“Is it good?” I asked.
Ilsa nodded her head. “It’s good.”
Jade looked at her menu, scanning the pages. I glanced down at mine, seeing that they served most of the same food as before, which told me it was good.
“I’m going to have fish fingers,” I said casually. I glanced at Ilsa, whose eyes widened in horror. She scrunched up her nose. “Eww.”
I cackled, and Jade tried to suppress her laugh. Ilsa looked at her mother. “What are you going to eat?”
Jade continued to look at her menu. “I think I’m going to have the salmon. Do you want to try some of it when I get it?”
Ilsa chewed on her lower lip, seeming unsure. “Is it fish fingers?”
Jade shook her head, that smile still on her lips. “It isn’t, but you don’t have to try it if you don’t want to.”
“Fish fingers are good,” I told Ilsa.
Her nose scrunched up again as she shook her head, sticking her tongue out. “Ew…”
We joked around for a while longer before placing our order. We decided to take a small walk over toward the river while we waited for the food. We took in the river, and Ilsa stuck her hand under the water. I watched as Jade sat down next to her, running her fingers through her hair.
“Brandon, come feel the water.”
I felt my heart jerk at her saying my name. I walked over and bent down, dipping my hand into the water. I watched as some fish swam down the river, swimming close to our hands.
We stayed by the water for a few more minutes before getting back to our table. Everyone got their food, and Ilsa stared at my plate with confusion. She tilted her head. “Where’s the fingers?”
Jade had been sipping her water when she spit half of it back into her glass. I laughed, unable to contain it. Jade wiped at her mouth, looking embarrassed. But I found it all cute.
We enjoyed dinner. It was peaceful, and Ilsa was the entertainment. She told us about daycare and everything they did. For only three, she talked well, which was a testament to Jade.
Ilsa told me about her favorite color and her favorite animal. She went on and on about her Barbies and how much she loved playing with them. Ilsa had a vivid imagination and loved telling stories, often going on and on about anything she could. I soaked it all in, hanging onto her every word.
We were just finishing the food when Ilsa looked at me. “Were your fish fingers good, Brandon?”
I felt my stomach twist up, wanting her to call me dad badly. I knew it was wrong since she had no idea who I was, but I could see the way she said mom. The way she looked at Jade. I wanted the same. I’d listen to her go on and on about her mother, and I could see how much she cared for her.
“They were,” I said, smiling at her. “How were your chicken tenders?”
“They were good,” she said with a big smile. “Can we come here again?” She turned to Jade as she asked.
Jade nodded her head. “Of course we can.”
Ilsa beamed.
After paying, we walked back to the house. Ilsa walked a foot ahead of us, her head bobbing as she hummed with each step. Jade walked next to me, just within arm’s reach. She rubbed her hands together as she walked, seeming cold.
“Do you want my jacket?” I offered, already pulling it off.
Jade offered me a smile as I placed it over her shoulders. She smelled like fresh air, and it took my breath away. I stared at her for a moment before turning back and continuing to walk. Ilsa turned around, pointing up. “Look at the stars.”
Jade looked up, and her eyes took in the stars. I watched Jade walk over toward Ilsa, pulling her hand down, patting her head.
I suddenly never wanted this to end. I never wanted this to change. I wanted Ilsa and Jade like this—I wanted us to have great meals and walk home after them. I wanted to listen to Ilsa go on and on about her life. I wanted Jade to look happy.
We arrived at home, and Jade took Ilsa up to bed. I sat down on the couch, glancing through some emails on my phone. I was just finishing when Jade came down the stairs. She pulled the jacket off and handed it to me.
“Thank you for the jacket.”
“Of course,” I offered, taking it back. “Is Ilsa in bed?”
She nodded. “Yeah. She said she had a great time.”
I smiled. “Good to know. Did you?”
She smiled. “I did.”
“How was your salmon?”
Her smile grew. “It was delicious. And your fish fingers?”
I smirked. “They tasted wonderful.”
Jade started to laugh, and I realized it was the first time I’d seen her laugh like that. It was a soft laugh, her lips turned up slightly as her shoulders shook. I suddenly wanted to hear it all the time.
She sat down on the couch next to me. “We both had a lovely time. Thank you for suggesting going out. I haven’t seen Ilsa laugh that hard in a while.”
I couldn’t stop myself as I moved closer to her. I leaned into her space, and Jade stiffened up as she realized how close I was.
Her hair looked darker in the low light, and her light brown eyes looked like swirling coffee.
She had put makeup on, just a little. Jade had always been that quiet kind of beauty.
She wasn’t the model in the catalog, but rather that soft, loving person who made your stomach flip when they smiled at you.
I reached a hand out, cupping the back of her head, and kissed her. I knew it was wrong, but the thought of not kissing her in that moment felt even more wrong.
Her lips were soft against mine, her body frozen. I parted my lips slightly, inhaling. I expected her to pull back, but she didn’t.