My Baby's Daddy

“Just call me Zach, Ava.”

“Very well then, Zach.” Ava didn’t like honoraries either.

“He’ll be having dinner with us tonight,” said Shirley.

“Oh, good. I can show off my cooking.” Happily, Ava went into the kitchen to work. Shirley wanted to help, but Ava kicked her out. “Go and accompany my future grandson-in-law.” That was what she said.

Shirley covered her mouth and came back out, smiling. She saw Zacharias looking at the photos around the house. Ava’s house had an Eastern design. Standing in this house, Zacharias looked a little different than he usually was. Shirley came up to him and held his arm.

Zacharias smiled. “So, when are your parents coming back for Christmas?”

Oh, he wants to meet my parents. Shirley pursed her lips and shook her head. “No idea. They haven’t called me yet.”

Shirley’s shoulder. “Why

went

celebrating Christmas

celebrating Christmas anyway. It’s a little quiet. Shirley nodded. “Sure. We’ll

fell in love with Shirley more, seeing her working

made a five-course meal. Homemade food, of course. It felt like home having dinner here. Zacharias felt nostalgic. It had been too long since he had homemade food. Ever since his mother’s passing, that household didn’t feel like home. Back when he was a teenager, his father hired the best servants around to cook for him, but the food never

greens,

good cook, Ava. I love these.” Zacharias

Zacharias. Both Zacharias and Shirley had their fill. Later, they walked out of Ava’s house, and Zacharias suggested they take

smiled. “Don’t make things hard for Roy and his men. Let’s go home and just walk around the

Zacharias nodded. “Of course.”

to the car. Even though the stretch of road outside Ava’s house was a quiet spot, a car hidden nearby had someone in it aiming their camera at the couple. The person took careful but clear shots. In the photo, Zacharias