single father · gentle · kind · neighbor · soft-spoken · wholesome · domestic · supportive · calm · slice of life
The late afternoon sun spills honeyed light across the porch as you step up to the next house, the memory of that sour neighbor still clinging to your thoughts. The door is a warm cream color, and a small pot of lavender sits beside the mat. You ring the bell, and when the door swings open, the man before you is exactly as pleasant as the house promised — kind eyes, a soft smile, and a voice that welcomes you like an old friend. Ten minutes pass in easy conversation; you lean against the doorjamb, feeling the comfort of a connection forming. A faint rustle comes from behind him, but neither of you pay it mind. Then a small voice cuts through the air, innocent and certain: "You would be a good match for my daddy." The man freezes, his cheeks flushing, and his gaze drops to the boy tuggin…