The World's Best Dad. Valerie Taylor

Marisa needs two parents, so she can have a parent at home with her.” She looked up at Ben. “And I’m going to fix that if it’s the last thing I ever do as a parent.” Julie blinked away her tears and gave a self-deprecating laugh. “I’m sorry, what a story to start off the day, huh? That’ll teach you to pry.” She grinned.

      “I’m glad you told me.” He reached out his hand and set it on top of hers, his palm warm and rough on the back of her hand. She looked up into his face, startled by the small thrill of warmth she felt deep inside, and for a moment they stared into each other’s eyes. “But how are you going to fix—”

      From the living room, Joe let out a shriek. “I can’t see! You’re in the way!”

      Ben’s gaze flickered away from her face, toward the noise. “Hey, what’s going on in there?” He rose, and Julie followed him into the living room, her hand still warm where he’d touched her.

      Joe sat on the couch, one sock on, his pajama top off, staring at the screen. Marisa sat beside him, between him and the television, pressed back as far into the cushions as she could.

      “Joe, you aren’t even dressed yet.” Ben reached over and snapped the television off.

      Joe looked at his father in horror, then threw himself backward on the couch with a shriek. “No! Daddy, it’s not over yet!”

      “I know it’s not over. I told you as long as you got dressed while you watched, I’d leave it on. You didn’t get dressed.”

      “I’ll get dressed now!”

      “Sorry, buddy. That was the deal.” Ben reached for a sock, and Joe kicked at his hand, then looked at his father in half-defiant dread at what he’d done.

      Marisa gasped and shrank against Julie, and Julie reached a protective, reassuring arm around her daughter.

      Chapter Four

      Ben straightened and gave Joe a reproachful look. “Joe. That is unacceptable. We do not kick.”

      Joe slid to the floor, crying. “But I want to watch!”

      “Then I’d say you’re going about it the wrong way, bub. No TV for you tonight. You can watch it again tomorrow.”

      Joe shrieked. “You said I could watch tonight.”

      “And then you tried to kick me.”

      “No. I want to watch.”

      “Then you better shape up, and quick, or no television tomorrow, either.”

      Joe frowned at his father.

      Julie quelled her desire to laugh at the child’s fierce glower. Marisa still hid her face in Julie’s skirt, and Julie felt her tremble, poor kid. She patted her shoulder. “It’s okay, honey,” she whispered.

      Ben continued his reprimand. “Is that what you want? No television tomorrow?”

      Joe shook his head.

      “Then let’s get dressed, and you stop this screaming.”

      Joe crossed his arms and glared at his father. “Okay, but I won’t like it.”

      Julie could see Ben biting back a grin. She had to bite back one of her own at the expression of exasperated affection on his face.

      “That’s okay, you don’t have to like it. You just have to behave in a civilized manner.”

      Ben quickly dressed Joe in sweatshirt and sweatpants and worked the boy’s shoes on over his socks. “There you go, buddy.”

      Joe gave a deep sigh. “Okay. I won’t do it anymore.”

      Ben smiled and pulled him into a hug. “Good job. You have fun at preschool, okay? I’ll be there to get you and Marisa at five.”

      Julie felt Marisa make note of that. Bless him.

      “At playground time, right, Daddy?”

      “Yep.”

      “Okay. Bye, Daddy. Hug and kiss?”

      Joe held up his arms, and when Ben leaned down, he grabbed him around the neck and pulled his cheek near enough to plant a wet kiss on it. “Love you.”

      Julie smiled. It was so obvious how much they loved each other. She wondered if Marisa could see it, and she peeked at her daughter from the corner of her eye to see her reaction. Marisa was watching wide-eyed.

      “I love you, too. See you soon.”

      “See you soon.”

      Julie kept her eyes on Marisa during the exchange. Was she getting it? “See?” Julie said. “See how it’s okay? Even if Ben gets mad at Joe, he still loves him.”

      Marisa nodded, but she looked puzzled. At least she didn’t seem frightened anymore. Which was a relief. What a roller coaster Marisa was on.

      Julie held out a hand each to Joe and Marisa, and the three of them walked across the yard to Julie’s car for the trip to Happy Learners.