John

"You want a snack, Mor?" I asked as my daughter settled at the kitchen table to do her homework.

We had a strict do your homwork first thing after school policy, so our evenings were with usually the same. Amora would walk the two blocks from her school to mine, we'd ride home togther, and she'd do her homework while I make dinner. After, she usually caught up with one of her friends while I graded papers or worked on lesson plans, and before bed we'd watch a couple episodes of whatever show we were binge-watching.

Currently, we were on 'Heartland' which we both were loving.

"Sure," Amora replied with a half shrug as she started on her math worksheet.

I smiled at the back of her head, thinking how great it was that we were finally in a place where we were both content, and my daughter was happy.

Kayla's abandonment had hit us both hard, and Kayla had taken quite a while to recover. I'd spent many nights holding her while she cried herself to sleep. It was hard for me, a thirty-year-old man, to understand why my wife of nine years had left without looking back. It was impossible for our eight-year-old daughter to comprehend.

She went from having her mom drive her to gymnastics, help her with her homework, and laugh with her over 'Girl Meets World', to listening to her mother tell her she needed a live of her own, then walk out the door.

I swear, if I ever saw Kayla again, I'd ... I don't know what I would do, just for those words alone.

My wife and I had never been over the moon in love with each other, but we'd shared a healthy relationship, love for our daughter and what I'd thought had been a unbreakable support for one another.

Her leaving totally blindsided me.

I was placing a plate of cut-up apples and a spoonful of peanut butter on a plate in front of Amora when my cell phone startged to ring.

When I looked ar the unknown number, my heart clenched like it always did when I wondered if this was the day Kayla was going to reach out.

There's not way she would actually leave her daughter and never look back, right? I mean, me, I could get, but Amora? I'd never understand it.

"Uh, Hello?" I managed, becoming embarrassed at the nerves in my tone. I saw Amora glance up from her sheet, and my heart sank at the look of hope on her face.

"Hello, is this John?" a light, sweet voice asked and I let out a sigh of relief.

It was Renee', from the catering place.

"It is," I replied, unable to keep the smile off of my face.

"Hey, this is Renee' from Three Sisters Catering."

"It's great to hear from you, Renee'," I replied and dammit, it really was. I hadn't been this excited to talk on the phone to a girl since high school.

I could tell she didn't know how to respond, because I heard a nervous laugh, then she said, "I'm calling to let you know that we're all set for Saturday. I'll plan to arrive at 2 o'clock to set up and be ready to serve from 3 o'clock to 4 o'clock. Are there any allergies or dislikes I need to know about?"

"Um, no, I don't think so," I replied, then added, "Thank you so much. I know it was lasst minute, and not something you would normally even do. You're really saving me here. I can't thank you enough."

"It's no problem," Renee' replied, before pausing and saying, "I'll contact you if I hae any questions, but I think you covered it all on the sheet. I'll see you Saturday."

"I can't wait," I said, truthfully.

"Bye, John."

"Bye and thanks again."

I pressed the end button, still smilling and glanced up to see Amora watching me with an odd expression.

"Who was that?" she asked, her tone surprisingly surly.

"That was you good news," I replied, ignoring her tone and crossing to lean over the table, stopping when my face was inches from hers. "You're not going to believe it."

"What?" Amora asked, her tone still wary, but her face starting to react to my excitement.

"That was the catering company that's going to be here to put on the best tea party ever, for my favorite daughter's birthday."

"Really?!?" she squealed, all surliness gone.

"Really, really."

Amora jumped up and rounded the table to jump into my waiting arms. "Thanks, Daddy," she murmered and my heart filled with joy.

"Anything for  my baby girl," I replied, bending slightly to droping a kiss on the top of head.

Amora pulled back and grinned up at me.  "I can't wait to tell everyone. A sleepover and a tea party? This is going to be the best birthday ever!"

I chuckled as she practically danced back to her seat.

"Can I call them?" she asked, her eyes wide and hopeful.

I just smiled and gave my head a small shake 

"After homework"

"Boo," Amora repliedd, but she was still beaming.

I went back to my dinner prep, my heart as I watched my daughter fo back to her homework with a smile on her face and I sent a silent thanks to Renee' the sweet and sexy chef who's unwittingly saved the day.