She was walking out of the kitchen when she heard the front door open and one of Jake’s girls call out, “Daddy?”
Kelsey, or maybe it was Sophie, ran around the corner and into the kitchen. “Oh, hi, Selma.”
“Hey, sweetie. Your…a…dad’s not home.”
The girl threw her arms around Selma’s waist in a hug, and she heard the front door shut.
“He’s always late on Wednesdays.”
Oh, that’s right. He has the girls every Wednesday night. “I’m sure he’ll be home soon.”
The other twin walked into the kitchen, smiled, and hugged her as well. Selma was about to quiz them on coming alone when a tall, stunning brunette walked in behind them. Must be Jake’s ex.
“Kelsey,” the woman scolded. “Let her breathe.”
“It’s okay, Mom.”
Kelsey peeled off Selma’s side anyway.
“You must be Lindsey,” Selma said as she extended her hand.
“And you must be the woman the girls have been talking about all week.”
The woman? And was that a bite in Lindsey’s voice? Could she be jealous? Lindsey shook Selma’s hand with the wimpiest shake anyone had every placed in her palm and then stepped back.
“This is Selma, Mom. Dad’s new girlfriend.”
Lindsey ran her eyes over Selma’s frame and pressed her lips together. Her expression wasn’t toxic, but it wasn’t all that happy either.
“I understand congratulations are in order.”
Lindsey glanced at the ring on her left hand and gave a half a smile. “Yes, ah, thanks.” Lindsey set her purse on the counter next to Selma’s and looked around the kitchen. “Where’s Jake?”
“Running a little late,” Selma told her…which obviously wasn’t a lie since he wasn’t there and was clearly expected to be.
Lindsey glanced at her watch with a sigh. “Figures. The man can never do anything on time.”
Selma wasn’t sure she liked Lindsey’s tone in front of the girls. Yeah, maybe Jake couldn’t punch off the clock like her paper-pushing fiancé, but that didn’t make him a bad guy. “The nature of his job isn’t always predictable.”
Lindsey dismissed Selma’s comment with a wave of her hand. “I was married to the man. You don’t have to make excuses for him. He should have called me.”
Ah, the you-don’t-know-him-like-I-do comment from the ex. “He didn’t think he needed to. I told him I’d be here in case he got hung up again.”
“He expects me to just leave the girls with a stranger?” Oh, yeah…there was definitely some vinegar in her voice.
“She’s not a stranger, Mom,” Sophie corrected her.
“It’s okay, hon. Your Mom doesn’t know me. But I’m sure that will change.”
Kelsey noticed the gift bags on the counter and her name attached to one. “Are these for us?”
Thankful for the distraction, Selma said, “Yeah. So I can tell the two of you apart.”
Sophie pushed in and took the bag from her sister’s hand. They both removed the necklaces at the same time with tiny squeals.
“I love it,” Kelsey said first as she fiddled with the clasp and placed the pendent around her neck.
Sophie put hers down to help her sister. “Did Daddy tell you our favorite colors?”
“He must have, honey.” Lindsey watched her daughters and then shifted her gaze back to Selma.
“My room is green and Sophie’s is purple,” Kelsey told her.
“That was very nice of you,” Lindsey managed.
“Completely selfish, I’m afraid. The girls look so much alike. I’m sure the better I know them, the more their personalities will shine, but until then these will help.”
The sound of a car door shutting caught all their attention.
“Guess Jake’s not too late after all.” Selma pushed around them to head Jake off at the door.
He walked in voicing an apology before he realized she was there. “It’s okay, darling, I told Lindsey you had me here in case you were late again.”
Jake assessed the situation quickly as Selma walked up and slid an arm around his waist. She whispered in his ear. “Smile, buddy, I’m saving your ass… again.”
His hand squeezed her close, and he flashed a smile at his ex. “I see you two have met.”
“Seems we have, Jake. But you should have known I wouldn’t leave the girls with a stranger.”
“Of course not. Kelsey and Sophie will vouch for Selma.”
Kelsey ran forward, her hand around the necklace. “We did. Mom didn’t listen. Look what Selma gave us.”
Sophie moved beside her sister and offered her dad the same sweet smile.
“Your favorite colors.”
“So I can tell the two of them apart,” Selma told him.
He narrowed his eyes, but didn’t comment.
“Jake?” Lindsey caught his attention. “I’d like to talk to you about…” she paused, glanced at Selma. “something.”
That’s my queue to leave. “Right.” Selma offered Lindsey a fake smile before turning toward Jake. “I have to go—”
“You don’t have to.”
I don’t? Since when?
“Whatever you have to say, you can say in front of Selma.”
As much as she’d like to stick around for the ex fight… “Remember, hon, I have a girl’s night with Helen and Amber.”
“Oh, ah, right. Is Amber feeling better?”
“Much. But I should go.” Selma smiled at the ex. “Lindsey, a pleasure.”
“Do you have to go?” Sophie asked.
“Yeah. Maybe we can hang next Wednesday?”
Selma noted Lindsey rolling her eyes as she turned away.
The girls hugged her again and Jake walked her out the front door. Once they were out of hearing range, he whispered, “Thanks. Lindsey’s been crapping on me about coming late on Wednesdays.”
“You could have told me. It’s not a big deal for me to come by.”
Jake let a rare smile through his stoic exterior. When she started to smile back at him, and her stomach did a weird-ass flip, Selma paused and took a tiny step back.
“Why are you here anyway? Not that I’m complaining.”
“I was dropping off the necklaces for the girls.”
“So you can tell them apart?”
She blinked. “Right.”