Page 35 of I Loved You First

“I promise we had some carrot sticks and apple slices, too,” she called from the kitchen.

Cam headed her way, eager for another glimpse at her long legs in her shorts and her sexy shoulders in her spaghetti-strap top. He’d almost been too frazzled to enjoy the view at the office. “It sounds like it’s been a busy day around here.”

Fiona turned with a navy-blue bandana tied in her hair, smiling as she held out a cookie to him.

“Thanks,” he said as he took it.

“Try it, Dad. It’s good. We talked to Leo on the computer. Felix was there, too, because they’re married. Leo told us the special recipe since gluten makes him feel bad, too.”

Cam bit into the warm cookie, not quite sure what to expect. It tasted like a delicious chocolate chip cookie. “These are good.”

Fiona laughed. “You seem surprised.”

He grinned. “I didn’t know what I was going to be.” Then he looked around at the half dozen paper grocery bags lined up along the back corner of the smaller kitchen. “Are those for us?”

Fiona laughed again. “Yeah, pretty much. There’s some stuff in the freezer and fridge, too. And we made a stop at Target.”

Brady settled his hands on Cam’s cheeks so they looked at each other. “I picked out a toaster that’s just for me. It has a smiley face on it. And we have lots of stickers for my chart.”

Cam’s brow furrowed. “Your chart?”

“I’ll go get it.” Brady wiggled his way out of Cam’s arms. “Me and Ms. Stella decorated it. We’ve been sitting at the table in the backyard.” Brady ran off.

Fiona walked over with Cam’s credit card and several receipts. “Don’t hate me when you get the bill.”

“Never.”

She smiled again. “We’ll see. Gluten-free isn’t synonymous with inexpensive.”

He shrugged, loving that the bandana pushed her hair back from her face, accentuating her big brown eyes. “Luckily, that’s the least of my problems.”

Brady rushed back with a chart on a piece of white poster board with dozens of foods listed on the side in computer print. Brady and Stella’s marker-colored doodles surrounded the border. “Look, Dad. Now we’ll know what I like and don’t like.”

Brady hurried over to the Target bag. “See these emoji stickers? I’ll use the happy ones if I like something and the mad or sad ones if I don’t. That way, we know when we go shopping.”

“And look at what me and Fi did.” He pulled on Cam’s hand, bringing him closer to the bags. “I picked out even more stickers, and we put them on all my food so I know what stuff will make my body happy and what stuff will make me feel bad.”

Brady beamed as he held up a bag of bagels with a couple of stickers on it. “See the cool dinosaurs?”

Fiona hadn’t missed a trick. She’d taken an experience that would have been a nightmare and made it fun. “I do. All of this is super awesome. We should gather our stuff so Fiona and Ms. Stella can have their house back.”

Brady nodded. “I’ll tell Ms. Stella I’m leaving. I got to write on her cast.” He ran off again.

Fi chuckled as she walked to where he stood. “I made you some lists so you’ll know where to find all the foods Brady likes. Unfortunately, it’s at three different stores.”

Cam looked at the sheet, remembering how ultra-organized Fi had always been, appreciating it now more than ever. She’d added the store, the name and brand of the product, and what aisle it would be found in. “This is truly amazing.”

She shrugged. “We had fun.”

He snagged her hand before she could step away. “Thank you, Fi. For making this okay for Brady. For making this okay for me.”

She nodded as their gazes held. “I’m glad I could help.”

“It’s safe to say you saved the day.”

“I guess we’re both superheroes.”

He grinned as she did. Then he let her go. Because they were friends. “We’ll get this stuff loaded up and get out of your way.”