Meeting Mr. Wright by Cassie Cross Read Free Book Online Page A

the living room and meet Madeline?”
    Madeline is Jessa’s daughter, and I just so happen to know that she’s out in the living room playing with her Uncle Nate. The very last thing I need to see in this world is that beautiful man with a small child. Amy and Gabby must know that, and because they’re both evil, evil women, they insist I go out there, grinning all the while.
    “You two are about as subtle as an anvil to the head,” I say as I head to the door.
    I can hear them giggling behind me as I walk out of the kitchen.
     
    I N THE living room, Nate is sitting cross-legged in front of a child-sized table, which is covered by a pink tablecloth with tiny purple flowers embroidered all over it. A hot pink feather boa is wrapped around his neck. It’s tiny, meant for someone Madeline’s size.
    “Pinky up, Uncle Nate!” Madeline says. She sounds exhausted, like she’s told Nate to remember his manners a thousand times before. He complies immediately, gently lifting the tiny purple tea cup from the tiny purple saucer that he’s holding in his right hand.
    He sees me standing in the doorway and he smiles. He smiles without a hint of embarrassment, without even reaching to pull off the boa or set down the cup. It’s like he’s living for this little girl’s amusement, and I have to admit that’s so incredibly endearing.
    “Mad,” he says, nodding in my direction. “You have a customer.”
    Madeline grabs an old notepad from the pocket of the tiny checkered apron that’s tied around her waist, and she rushes over to me.
    “Welcome,” she says, pulling a pencil from behind her ear. “How many?”
    “Just one,” I reply.
    “This way.”
    Nate grins as his niece leads me toward him, and I sit cross-legged on the floor, mirroring him.
    “Nice boa,” I say.
    “My purple one’s at the cleaners,” he replies, tossing it over his shoulder.
    “Well, pink looks good on you.”
    Nate puts the cup and the saucer down on the table. “You know, I’ve heard that before.” He offers me a sly grin.
    “I’ll bet you have.”
    Madeline walks up to the table, her oversized pencil at the ready. “Coffee or tea?”
    “Tea please.”
    She clinks her tiny tea kettle against my tiny cup and pours it to the brim with air.
    “Maddie,” Nate says. “This is Miss Callie. Callie, this is my niece Madeline.”
    “Hi Miss Callie,” Madeline replies, completely disinterested. Her laser-like focus on her fake cafe operation is so cute, and I can’t help but smile at her even as she snubs me.
    Nate isn’t having any of that behavior though. “What do we say?” His voice is so patient, and still kind.
    Madeline turns her body toward me, but looks over at Nate. Out of the corner of my eye I can see him mouthing words to her.
    “Nice to meet you, Miss Callie.” She’s staring at Nate as she says the words, nodding her head after each one of them.
    “It’s nice to meet you,” I tell her.
    “Good girl,” Nate says, beaming at Madeline. She walks over to him and wraps her arms around his neck as she leans in and whispers something in his ear, giggling.
    Nate raises himself up to his knees before he stands. “I’ll be back in a sec.”
    My eyes grow wide with low-level panic. “I don’t know what to do with kids.”
    “Just talk to her. She’s like a tiny adult. You just can’t cuss in front of her.”
    Nate glances back at me as he walks out of the room. I watch Madeline play in the makeshift kitchen she and Nate built out of couch cushions and blankets. She’s wearing a tiny broncos jersey, one that Nate has no doubt given to her. It’s too long, almost like a dress on her.
    “I like your jersey,” I say, trying to start a conversation. “Do you watch a lot of football?”
    She nods. “With Daddy.”
    “Do you play?” I ask, half teasing, just wanting to know how she’ll respond.
    She turns around and looks at me like I’ve just said the most ridiculous thing in the world. Pointing at the sparkly