Second Chance

Stalker

Brooke sits in the back seat babbling away to her wolf wearing the red hooded cloak I grabbed for her. Now that we got the shopping done and her appointment schedule for next week all that's left is lunch and maybe the bookstore. That depends on how tired she's going to be after eating. She's been fussy all morning. Hoping all she needs is something to eat to change her mood. Maybe a quick nap would do her some good. I just hope that our little girl isn't always going to be this fussy. I want that sweet little girl from last night that's cuddly and happy. Getting her that wolf seems to have brighten her day so I doubt the fussiness is normal for her.

Steve takes us to my favorite diner. I love my husband. I know he rather we eat at one of those upscale Bistros. Something about organic food, no trans fats, no added sugars, no artificial dyes or preservatives. In other words tasteless crap. I have no idea why he likes it so much. This place has the best curly fries not to mention the best pie ever. I wonder how Brooke would react to a milkshake. They're pretty good here too. And the cheeseburgers are made with the best meat in all the state. They have the best everything if you ask me. But then again I'm biased.

"Okay sweetie time to go eat." I turn to her seeing how I'm already in the backseat. I'm not ready to let her sit back here by herself just yet. I'm trying to unbuckle her but her wolf is in the way. "Lets leave your wolf in the car so he doesn't get all messy." I try to take the wolf from her but she has such a tight grip on it. I'm afraid I'll hurt her if I pull any harder.

"No!" She screams at me. I'm a little shocked. Looking to my husband I see he's just as shocked as well. It was said with so much force you would think we're hurting her.

"That's no way to talk to your Daddy little one. Why don't you let Papa hold your wolf and I'll give it back to you as soon as Daddy gets you out of the car." Of course he would let her bring her toy. She already has him wrapped around her little finger and he doesn't even know it. I can't say much however because he didn't recover from her outburst a little faster than me.

She thinks it over for a bit before holding her wolf out for him. I unbuckle her and hand her off to him before grabbing her diaper bag and baby seat from the trunk. She quickly takes her wolf back from Steve and continues on talking to him as if she was never interrupted. It's amazing how short kids attention spans are. It's like everyday something new and exciting happens to her. I can't wait to start teaching her things just to get that look of amazement. When we walk in we immediately walk to our normal booth in the back. Luckily for us it's empty. I set her seat up on my side of booth and then move everything out of her reach before I let Steve buckle her in. He gives her a kiss on her head and runs a hand over her curls before sitting across from us. He hooks his foot around my ankle and traps it with his other one. I always feel more grounded when he does that. I even told him so when we had just started dating and ever since he makes sure to do it when we're out. We are just getting settled when our waitress comes over.

"Well if it isn't the Remington's. How are you guys doing today? I've haven't seen you guys in over a month." She's cheerful like always. We sit in the back for two reasons. One, Steve likes being able to see everything going on in the diner. Two, our waitress.

This has been her section since she started working here. My dad used to bring me here on his days off. I remember that we came in after my Mom's death and the cook's daughter was coloring in the back booth, which is now our booth. She saw that I was sad and came over to share her crayons with me. Told me how it was okay to be sad. That she's still sad at times too and that she misses her Mom. Then she sat with us for the rest of her Dad's shift telling me about about the fun things she gets to do with her Dad. We kept coming back over the years. When she started waiting tables part time after school I started sitting in her section. I even brought Steve here for our first date.