Goldie

"Dad, I've got some clients for thebakery idea."

Seth smiled, "Of course you do—mylittle business woman."

I smiled. He loved it when I was there,but I could tell he was getting worse—his cough, his liver—I wassure he had stomach cancer.

"Who are the clients?"

"A man named..." I checked the listonline, "Damien... Lawson.."

I gasped, "Oh...wow...he really didshow up for me."

"Who? Dad coughed again and this timehe couldn't stop.

"A man...someone I met..."

"At the bar? I said no boys.."

"Dad, I am grown and so is he," Irolled my eyes, "Nothing is going on between us anyway. I have toomuch going on."

"You mean you have ME going on?"Dad coughed, "I'm sorry.."

"Dad, I am not looking for arelationship," I said, only half telling the truth.

I was young and I eventually wanted toget married, of course, but Damien...

There was something exciting about him.

"That damn cat is outside again,"Dad said, "I feel his presence."

"There's no.." I peeked outside andsure enough, there was...

What was his name?

He looked up at me and meowed.

"How did my dad know you'd be here?"I smiled, stepping outside, "I mean...it's dinner time, but youlook plump enough. Neighbors must be feeding you."

He watched me closely—but didn't rushinto the house like I figured he would.

"It's going to storm tonight," Isaid, rubbing his fur, "I think you should find shelter."

Again, he didn't try to come into thehouse, but allowed me to give him some food and water.

"Such a good kitty," I said, "Iwish...maybe my Dad wouldn't notice if I brought you in—just in myroom for the night."

The cat rubbed against my leg and then,as I approached him one more time for a pet, he scampered off as ifsomething had startled him.

"Wait!"

I rushed to the end of the road andrealized that maybe he was just an outside cat with an actual home.

"Feeding that stray again?"

"Yes," I smiled, giving my dad somedinner and a glass of milk, "I need to go to the library for a fewhours. Are you alright here? I promise we'll eat together tomorrowbecause I am making your fave!"

"Spaghetti?"

"Of course!"

"Then it's a date!"

I kissed my dad on the cheek and rushedout the door with my bookbag and headed to the library.

It was a little after 6 and I couldn'tbelieve my eyes when I walked through the door.

"Damien?!"

"Oh, hey there!" he smiled at me asI was hushed by the head librarian, "Fancy meeting you heretonight."

"You too..what are the odds?" Ilooked at the book in his hand, "What is this?"

"It's how to bake cookies," he toldme, "From scratch."

"You can use the internet as a greattool," I said, "Sometimes I get my ideas from there, but.."

"How about you teach me?"

I watched his face—his eyes...

I wanted to be next to him.

"I..."

"Tonight," he said, "I have akitchen."

I laughed, "I don't know...my dad..."

As if he completely understood me,Damien nodded and smiled, "How about we invite your friends and myfriends and have a little get together tomorrow night? We're out by11?"

I shrugged, but in my heart I couldn'twait.

"It's a date!"