The Prince Charming List by Kathryn Springer

Packers? Because that was the only green and gold distraction I knew about. Or maybe he was trying to figure out how to get to the next level. If that was the case, he needed someone to lead him back to the real world.
    “It’s a good thing we’re making vanilla ice cream then,” I said as gently as possible. “Because vanilla is white . Very harmless.”
    “The chicken is ready,” Stephen called.
    I sent a silent thank-you to God for the distraction.
     
    “This is delicious!” Annie scooped up another helping of ice cream and dumped a handful of chocolate chips on top. Since imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, I sprinkled some on mine, too. “We got this last year for our anniversary and never used it because we were busy packing up to move to Prichett.”
    “Two weeks from now it will be five years,” Stephen said.
    “Are you planning anything special?” I tried not to look at Dex, who was stirring his ice cream into something that resembled the cooked cereal Mom had force-fed me as a child.
    Annie laughed and wove her fingers into Stephen’s. “Not yet. I can only plan things several hours in advance. I think the twins borrowed some of my brain cells when they were born.”
    “If I could convince her to let us hire a sitter for the evening, I’d take her out for a nice dinner. Something expensive. Something hot .” Stephen gave her The Smile. The one reserved for couples who are truly soul mates. The one that makes girls with no significant other—like me—sigh with envy.
    “ Hot? Remind me again what hot food tastes like.” Annie closed her eyes.
    “You’ve got a whole youth group full of teenage girls,” I pointed out. “I’m sure they’d love to babysit.”
    “And they’re great,” Annie said quickly. “It’s just that the twins are only three months old—”
    “But they go to bed at seven,” Stephen murmured.
    “And that’s a lot of responsibility for someone.”
    “I’ll do it.” The words slipped out before I could completely think the offer through. Annie and Stephen gave so much of themselves to the youth group, they deserved to have some time away. It would be my gift to them to watch the twins so they could go out on their anniversary and eat hot food.
    Annie squeaked and almost tipped the bowl of ice cream off my lap when she hugged me. Dex stopped stirring and stared at me in disbelief.
    “You told me that you never babysat.”
    Annie and Stephen exchanged a worried glance. How dare Dex question my gift? And my credentials.
    “I can change diapers and warm up bottles.” And I’m sure there was a Twins for Dummies book out there somewhere if I needed a quick reference guide. I gave Dex a look guaranteed to refreeze his ice cream and then smiled at Annie. “We’ll be fine. You just name the time and I’ll be here.”
    The concern in Annie’s eyes faded and she nodded happily. Stephen sent me a grateful look that inspired me to do another good deed.
    “If you want me to, I can even come over a few minutes early and fix your hair.”
    Annie pursed her lips and blew a strand of sunset-red hair off her forehead. “That sounds almost as good as hot food.”
    “Great.” I resisted the urge to cross my arms and give Dex a so there smile. Not that he would have noticed. He’d tuned out again and was stacking dishes on the tray as efficiently as a busboy.
    “We’ve got a lot of leftovers,” Annie said. “You guys should take some potato salad home.”
    That got Dex’s attention. His eyes locked on the mountain of potato salad in the bowl on the center of the picnic table. Annie had told us she’d never learned to cook, so every month she picked out something new to try and practiced until she got it right. She’d confessed this potato salad was only her second attempt. Somehow the salad dressing had morphed into a gluelike substance that bonded the potatoes, celery and onion together like a chunk of concrete. I’d seen Stephen discreetly cutting it