Page 86 of Havoc's Fox
Next morning bright and early Analise stood outside Havoc’s home in the early morning light. It was colder than she’d anticipated though the sun had come up, but she’d not bothered with a jacket, and now she was rethinking that thought. “I’m already here, too damn late,” she grumbled, going up the steps and knocking on the door.
Harley opened the door wide and stepped back. “Daddy made French toast with peaches and whipped cream!”
“He did?!” Analise asked.
“He did,” Havoc said, from the kitchen. “Sit, y’all eat before you go out there in the cold.”
“If we must,” Analise said, rolling her eyes for effect. She slid onto a bar stool at the large kitchen island and watched as Havoc finished cooking breakfast. “How’d you learn to cook all this?”
Havoc grinned at her before he went back to the stove. “Maia. She said if I was going to have a daughter I couldn’t feed her fast food all her life, so she made me start helping out from time-to-time when I wasn’t working with Riley and the guys.”
“Was that often?” Analise asked.
“Well, when Harley was sick, I wanted to be the one taking care of her when I could. She was sick a lot when she was little. I still did more than my share of work with the crew, though, too.”
“Felt like you had to?” Analise asked.
He looked up from the skillet to meet her gaze again. “I had to prove myself, still do. In everything I do.”
“You should give yourself a break. You’re a great dad.”
“I’m not sure everybody believes that.”
“Then they’re fools,” Analise said, looking directly into his eyes to get her point across.
“I’m not sick no more!” Harley announced.
“Well, no. Because you’re a strong little girl. Lots of babies get sick when they’re little. It doesn’t mean you’re not strong.”
“I used to have to give her breathing treatments, and force antibiotics into her, and sit up nights with her coughing like a seal with that croup,” Havoc said.
“I have no doubt having you there with her made all the difference,” Analise said. She watched for a few minutes as Havoc fried some breakfast sausage patties in another skillet, then plated all their breakfasts. He put a dusting of powdered sugar over the French toast, then a dollop of whipped cream, and a splash of warm syrup drizzled over the peaches, the toast, and the sausage.
“Bon Appétit!” Havoc said, sliding a plate in front of both Analise and Harley, before giving Harley a glass of milk, and Analise a cup of coffee with so much vanilla creamer in it, it was almost white. He poured himself a cup of black coffee, and sat down on the stool on the other side of Harley.
Analise took a bite and closed her eyes to savor the flavors. “Oh, my God,” she said.
“Good, huh?” Harley asked. “My daddy cooks the best except for Aunt Maia.”
“I believe you, baby,” Analise said. She looked at Havoc. “I’m impressed.”
“Me, too. I actually enjoy it.”
“It shows.” They ate quietly for a few minutes before Analise started asking questions. “So, what exactly do you do on Riley’s crew?”
“Anything he needs. He taught me to run conduit and electrical wiring. I can install plumbing, though I hate that part. Carpentry, sheet rocking, roofing. Whatever Riley needs, I’ve been taught to do, and I do it well.”
“Are you going to join the crew here if you move back?”
“That’s the plan ultimately, but not necessarily right away.”
“Won’t Riley and Maia miss you?”
“I’m sure to some extent, but I think they always kinda figured I’d meander back here at some point.”
“Why?” Analise asked, placing a peach slice in her mouth after dipping it in extra whipped cream.
He didn’t answer, so she looked his way.