Chapter 29
Chapter Twenty-Nine
A ntonio watched as Bella measured the baking powder for the peanut butter chocolate chip cookies she was making for dessert. His little sous chef impressed him at every turn. For the last few weeks, since she wanted to learn to cook and bake, he had her helping him in the kitchen. Yes, preparing meals took longer with her assistance, but his dad had taken the time to teach him to cook. Now it was Antonio’s turn to do the same with his daughter.
My daughter , he thought with a smile as he watched Bella add the next ingredient into the dough. She wasn’t legally his yet, but in Antonio’s heart she was his.
“Daddy, guess what?”
“What?”
“Gram sent me another birthday gift even though my birthday was weeks ago. She said it didn’t arrive on time.”
“What did she give you?”
“It’s a… I’ll just show you.”
Bella dusted off her hands and left the kitchen. She was still talking about her epic Jenkins family birthday party. It had definitely left an impression on her. Even though she’d started out shy that day, she had soon warmed up to everybody. Especially when they started playing birthday games.
Antonio was proud of how his family always came through, and he appreciated the way they had welcomed Scarlett and Bella to the family.
Bella returned to the kitchen carrying a white, yellow, and pink birthday bag.
“It’s an apron, and it came with a chef’s hat and look what it says.” She pulled the hot-pink apron out of the bag and held it up. “It says, Chef in Training .”
Antonio chuckled. “That’s perfect, but why aren’t you wearing it now?”
She smacked her lips and gave him a look that said he should know why. “Because I don’t want to get it dirty.”
“Wait, isn’t that the whole point of an apron—to keep your clothes from getting food on them? It’s meant to get dirty.”
“Not if I don’t wear it,” she said and left the kitchen again.
Antonio shook his head and laughed. Women .
A short while later, they worked together rolling the cookie dough into balls and placing them on a cookie sheet.
“You can put them in the oven right before we sit down for dinner,” Antonio said just as the timer on the stove sounded.
Bella hurried across the room to turn it off. “Should I take the baked chicken out now?”
“Yes, if you think you can handle it.”
Bella was still timid when it came to removing items from the oven, but she was getting better. He made sure the pans were light enough for her to hold.
She nibbled on her lower lip, looking unsure. “I think I can handle it, but can you help me?”
“Of course. Grab your oven mitts.”
Antonio was keeping his promise to Scarlett, regarding cooking at least four times a week despite his work schedule being hectic. He had accepted the VP position, and for the most part, he loved the job. What he didn’t like was having to take work home at night. Most days he could leave the office at six, but that also meant he couldn’t always get everything done.
Bella slid her hands into the small oven mitts he’d bought her while Antonio grabbed a couple of potholders. She slowly pulled out the pan, and he hovered close, trying not to jump in.
She set the dish on the cooling rack and grinned. “Done.”
They fist bumped each other, and Antonio turned off the oven, needing it to cool off some before they baked the cookies.
“Oh, it smells good in here,” Scarlett said, strolling into the kitchen. When she slid her arm around his waist, Antonio pulled her in for a hug and kissed her.
“You taste like strawberries,” he told her.
“It’s a new lip gloss that I’m testing out. I think I like it.”
“Me too.” He kissed her again.
“Okay, so I have some bad news.” Scarlett moved away from him and leaned her back against the counter. “I just heard from Sue, and she said the daddy-daughter dance has been canceled. Or at least postponed.”
“Oh, no, but we practiced so much,” Bella said with her bottom lip poked out.
Though Antonio loved the idea of dancing with her, he hated that the organizers wanted the fathers to wear tutus. Of course, they all would do anything for their daughters, but he was glad he wouldn’t have to embarrass himself.
“I’m sorry, baby, but the weather is too bad. They don’t want anyone to get caught in the storm.”
In that moment, the windows rattled, and the lights flickered, but they didn’t go out. Antonio had already pulled out his tornado preparation bag. They were also prepared if the lights went out. He always kept battery operated lanterns in every room.
“Do the weather people still think we’re going to have a tornado?” Bella asked nervously and glanced at the windows. “It’s really windy.”
It was. Last Antonio heard, the winds had gotten up to forty miles per hour. The house was solidly built, but that hadn’t stopped him from hearing creaks here and there, along with the windows shaking.
“There’s still a tornado watch, but it hasn’t turned into a warning,” Scarlett said. “I was thinking. After dinner, maybe you and your dad can do your performance for me. I can videotape it and take pictures of you two. What do you say? Because I was really looking forward to seeing it.”
Her wicked smile and the gleam in her eyes meant what she really was looking forward to was seeing him in the stupid tutu. Hell, he didn’t even know they made those things that big.
“Yes! That’s a great idea,” Bella said, grinning. “Is that okay, Dad?”
Antonio sighed dramatically. “Fine. I guess if I have to.”
They had practiced for weeks, and though he loved hanging out with Bella, he wasn’t too broken up about the performance being canceled. Thank goodness for small miracles.
The lights flickered again, and he pulled a few candles from the pantry. “How about we eat by candlelight tonight?”
His girls agreed, and they went about their usual dinnertime routine. Bella set the table, and he laid out the food. Scarlett usually had cleanup duty but assisted wherever needed.
As they prepared for dinner, Antonio felt a peace deep down in his soul. He finally had everything he’d ever wanted, and he couldn’t ask for a better life.
* * *
Since Scarlett had planned to make up Bella’s face for the performance tonight, she went ahead and did it even though they’d be performing at home. They were in the master bathroom. The bathroom Antonio had remodeled days before she and Bella moved in, and now Scarlett had a makeup vanity that she loved.
They had gotten into an easy routine as a family, and it felt as if the three of them had been together forever. She never knew marriage could be so much fun and make her feel so complete. It was all because of Antonio. He was turning out to be everything she didn’t know she wanted or needed.
She had Cynthia to thank.
Scarlett smiled recalling the woman’s reaction when she told her about marrying Antonio. That’s the best news I’ve heard in a long time. She hadn’t seemed all that surprised, and Scarlett wondered if Cynthia had manipulated her by putting the adoption idea in her head. She probably knew there couldn’t be an adoption without them getting married, but Scarlett wasn’t complaining. Marrying Antonio was one of her best decisions ever.
“Can you do my makeup for when I go to Chanelle’s birthday party next Saturday?” Bella said of Nick’s oldest daughter. The kids in the Jenkins family welcomed Bella, but she really enjoyed hanging out with Nick’s two little girls.
“I’ll let you wear makeup sometimes around the house, but not in public. You’re too young. Maybe a little lip-gloss occasionally, but that’s it until you’re fifteen.”
Bella smacked her lips and huffed. “But that’s a long time away.”
“Exactly. Baby, you’re beautiful without makeup. You don’t need it.”
“Daddy said you’re beautiful too. So you don’t need makeup either.”
Caught off guard by her daughter’s words, Scarlett wasn’t surprised Antonio had said that. Some women wished their husbands complimented them more, but hers actually did. She also appreciated that he was honest. He wasn’t one of those men who only told her what she wanted to hear. There’d been several occasions when she ended up changing clothes after asking his opinion about an outfit. There used to be a time when she dressed for her pleasure. Now, she also dressed for his.
“Okay, are you ready for the show?” Scarlett asked Bella while tidying up the vanity.
“Yes! I’m ready. Let’s do this.”
Scarlett laughed and followed her downstairs. Antonio had already moved furniture around to create a stage for them, and all Scarlett needed was her camera equipment.
Twenty minutes later, she was dabbing at her eyes. Bella and Antonio had three dances they were going to perform, and when they danced to “One Call Away” by Charlie Puth, Scarlett felt the lyrics were perfect for the two of them.
Bella looked like an adorable ballerina in pink and white as she did a pirouette and pranced in front of her dad. Antonio, bless his heart, gave Bella his full attention, preparing for when he had to lift or spin her. He looked handsome in the white button-down shirt and black pants, and Scarlett didn’t blame him for not wearing the pink tutu. Still, it warmed her heart that he would have if Bella had insisted.
There were moments like this that Scarlett was so glad Antonio was in her daughter’s life… in their lives. She didn’t realize what they’d been missing until he came along. Sure, she and Bella were happy with just the two of them, but Antonio made them feel more like a family.
Scarlett had the video camera set up on a tripod to catch the whole performance. While that was happening, she took pictures. She brought her camera back up to her eye and snapped several shots of Antonio lifting Bella. He held her up high and her daughter stretched out her arms as if she were flying. The trust she had in Antonio was clear as he danced around the makeshift stage while holding her up in the air.
God, this man. He was meant to be a father.
Scarlett startled when a loud crackle sounded outside, followed by roaring thunder that shook the house. Then there was a loud boom that rocked them seconds before the lights went out and the music stopped.
“I’m scared,” Bella said, her voice trembling.
Scarlett couldn’t help but chuckle as she felt her way to the fireplace mantel where Antonio had set a lantern. She turned it on and lifted it up, aiming it toward Bella and Antonio. “Well, I guess that’s it for the show, huh?” she asked
“That wasn’t the end,” Bella said with attitude. “It was just getting good.”
Scarlett and Antonio laughed.
“It was,” he agreed. “Maybe we can pick up where we left off later or another day. For now, how about we hang out in the basement for the rest of the evening? We have everything we need down there in case this storm gets worse.”
What he meant was in case this storm resulted in a tornado. This was one time when Scarlett was glad he was well-prepared. Not only did he have supplies, but the rec room in the basement was cozy. There was a sofa sleeper, and Antonio had taken an air mattress and extra lanterns downstairs earlier—just in case. They’d be able to entertain themselves with games or shooting pool, and Scarlett was glad they’d have a distraction. Like Bella, she hated storms.
“I loved the show,” Scarlett said. Antonio still had Bella in his arms, and he reached for Scarlett’s hand. “Your dad is a good dancer.”
“Yep, he is. At practice, he was better than all the other daddies,” Bella said proudly and rested her head on Antonio’s shoulder.
“I’m sure he was.”
Scarlett could barely make out his expression in the dim lighting, but he squeezed her hand. She hoped he felt how important he was to them and how much they adored him. Because Scarlett couldn’t imagine her life without him.