Mateo clamped a hand over his daughter’s mouth. “Maggie’s very busy, kiddo. We don’t want to slow her down. It’ll be just as fun to watch it on the computer.” Then he mouthed so sorry to Maggie.
Maggie leaned forward and rested her elbows on her knees. “Do you see that house way up there on the hill?” she asked, pointing over Decked Out’s flat roof. The Old Campbell Place was visible on the bluff.
Isabella nodded, and her dad dropped his hand from her mouth. “It looks very, very small,” she said.
“That’s because it’s so far away,” Silas explained. “It’s Maggie’s biggest house and biggest yard ever.”
Isabella’s mouth fell open, revealing two missing teeth. “Even bigger than the Midtown Mansion?”
Maggie nodded. “Even bigger.”
Isabella was impressed into silence.
“I tell you what,” Maggie said. “If it’s okay with your dad and if you have time while you’re in town, you can come for a tour.”
The little girl was dancing on her tiptoes, giving Mateo puppy-dog eyes that could have rivaled Kevin’s. “Daaaaaaaaad?”
“Are you sure? We don’t want to impose,” he said, sounding more than a little excited.
“I wanna impose!” Isabella announced.
“I’m positive. I’ve been dying to show it off,” Maggie promised.
“Well, if you’re sure…”
“I’m sure.”
“Can I go tell Mom?” Isabella begged, her eyes wide.
“Quietly,” Mateo insisted.
“Mooooooom!” Isabella sprinted across the deck to a woman who was sitting at a table with three plated desserts.
“I can’t thank you enough,” Mateo said, after ensuring his daughter had made it back to the correct table. “It’s been a tough year. Her mom, my wife, is sick. Cancer. She’s winning, but it’s a tough fight. The three of us look forward to curling up and watching your show every week. And now I’m babbling and embarrassing myself.”
Maggie reached out and squeezed his hand. “Mateo,” she said very seriously. “I choked on my own spit earlier and almost received the Heimlich from our server. You’re not embarrassing yourself.”
“This…this really means a lot. Are you sure? Because I don’t want you to be under the impression that we won’t act like rabid fans.”
“I’m sure. I would love to have your family come see my new house. It’s a construction zone, so no flip-flops,” she warned.
Dad looked much like daughter when he jogged back to his table.
“You just made someone’s day,” Silas observed.
She beamed at him. “I’m trying to play it cool, but honestly, it still blows me away that people can recognize me out in the wild.”
“Take a walk with me, Maggie,” Silas said suddenly.
She cocked her head and considered the offer. “I really should be getting back. Early start tomorrow.”
Tomorrow was Saturday.
“If you say yes, I’ll buy you an ice cream,” he offered, sweetening the deal.
“Okay.”
After a brief wrestling match over the check, he paid, and they headed for the street.
The deck and restaurant were starting to fill up. Families with kids in sports gear coming in for a dinner parents didn’t have to cook. Adults gathering at the bar for some laughs after a long day. Tourists looking for a good meal before turning in early for tomorrow’s adventures.
He waved a thanks to Pete the bartender for the beers and then introduced Maggie to his ninth-grade science teacher and her longtime girlfriend. He ignored the looks tossed their way as he took Maggie’s hand and pulled her out. Kinship was going to have to get used to seeing him with someone else.
Finally on the street, she turned to him. “Are you the mayor or something?” she asked.
“Me?” He slung his arm around her shoulders and tucked her into his side as the evening turned cool. “No. Our mayor’s a cat. The last election was pretty contentious. She barely beat out the parakeet.”
“Freaking Idaho,” Maggie murmured with that half-smile on lips that he couldn’t stop thinking about.
His phone vibrated in his pocket, and he knew before looking that it was one of the moms.
Mom: Heard from Alice May on the bowling team that it’s a nice night for a date.
Silas rolled his eyes. “Mags, you mind posing for one more picture?”
“With you?” she asked.