Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 78793 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 394(@200wpm)___ 315(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78793 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 394(@200wpm)___ 315(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
“Swoan, no bye-bye,” Camden says, furrowing his brow.
“What he said.” Baker laughs. “We missed you,” he says, as I step out of the car.
“I missed you guys, too,” I tell them. Camden reaches for me, and I take him. “Look at your haircut. You look so handsome, just like your daddy,” I tell him.
“Hair’s gone,” he says, reaching up and touching his head.
“How did he do?” I ask Baker.
“Good. He sat still like a big boy and got a sucker.”
“What? You got a sucker? I’m so proud of you,” I praise, kissing his cheek.
“What’s this? I sat still, too.” Baker pretends to pout, pushing out his bottom lip.
“Come here.” I motion for him to come closer and kiss his lips, but Camden’s not having it, and pushes his dad away.
“When I say we missed you, I mean we really missed you,” he says, his eyes soft. “Go on in. I’ll grab the bags,” he says, opening up the back door and hauling out bags.
“I got you a costume today, and some new clothes,” I tell Camden. He doesn’t comment as he rests his head on my shoulder.
“He wouldn’t nap,” Baker says. “He was living his best life, being spoiled by his uncles. We got haircuts, then went to Landry’s and ordered pizza. He had our full attention, and he was soaking it up. I was sure he’d fall asleep on the way home, but he fought it. He’s been asking for you for the last hour,” he explains.
“I’m back, sweetie,” I say, rubbing his back gently. Carrying him into the house, I move to the living room and sit down in the rocking recliner. Camden doesn’t try to get down. Instead, he’s content to let me hold him. It’s after seven, so with no nap, if he goes down now, he’ll be down for the night.
“Should we try to keep him up a little longer?” I ask Baker.
“Nah, we might have an early morning tomorrow, but that’s okay.” He smiles softly at us. “His eyes are already drooping.”
“I’m exhausted, too,” I whisper. “I forgot how tiring a full day of shopping can be.”
“Are you hungry?”
“Maybe a little. We had a late lunch, and then we all got pretzels at the mall.”
“Cam had chicken nuggets and mac and cheese. I had a grilled chicken salad. I made extra chicken. Want me to make you one?”
“Maybe just heat the chicken and some barbeque sauce. I’m not super hungry. I don’t think I could eat a full salad.”
“Okay.” He bends down and kisses me before running his hand down Camden’s back. He opens his eyes, tucks his arms beneath him, and then his eyes shutter closed.
Within minutes, I feel Camden’s little body completely relax, and I know he’s asleep. I rock him a little longer, just to make sure. I’m standing to take him upstairs when Baker comes back into the room, carrying my plate and a bottle of water.
“I should have changed him before I got him to sleep.”
“I just changed his diaper and put him into his pajamas before you pulled in.”
“Okay, good. I’m going to take him to his room. I’ll be right back.”
“Want me to take him?”
“No, I’ve got it.” I take the steps slowly, careful not to jostle him, and manage to get him into his bed without him waking. Poor baby is exhausted. Once the monitor’s on, I make my way back downstairs.
“I love that this has three units,” Baker says, pointing to one of the three screens for the monitor. The other two are in his bedroom, and one is in mine, but it’s been weeks since I’ve slept in that room. “Eat,” he says, pointing to my plate.
“You cut it up for me.” I smile up at him, taking the plate and setting it on the pillow on my lap.
“Tell me you’re a dad without telling me you’re a dad.” He laughs.
“Thank you for this,” I say, taking a bite.
“How was your day?” he asks.
I tell him about Amanda and the adoption, the lunch we had, all the deals we found, and end with the Halloween costumes for Coral and Camden. I also mention my idea that we could all dress up, and he readily agrees.
“I mean, I get to be me.” He chuckles.
“Well, I was thinking that maybe you could be Knox,” I say, trying my hardest to keep a straight face. Tossing the pillow off my lap, I take my empty plate to the dishwasher, rinse it off, and try to get my laughter under control.
When I turn around, he’s there, his arms going around my waist. “Not funny,” he grumbles, running his hands up the back of my sweatshirt.
“Come on now… it was a little funny.”
“Nope.” That’s all he says before he steps back, laces his fingers through mine, and leads me through the house as he turns off all the lights, locks the door, and makes sure the alarm is set. He doesn’t say a word as he leads me up the steps and into his room. He flips on the bedside lamp, ushers me to the other side of the bed, and turns to face me.