Total pages in book: 128
Estimated words: 121210 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 606(@200wpm)___ 485(@250wpm)___ 404(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 121210 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 606(@200wpm)___ 485(@250wpm)___ 404(@300wpm)
“Everyone!” Breezy calls toward the living room. “Dinner is served! Grab a plate, help yourself to the delicious food that Chef Julian made for us today, and head into the dining room to enjoy!”
Pete and Reverend Bob are the first hungry bastards in line, followed by Harold and his high-waist trousers. Charlie starts to carry a chatty Summer into the dining room to sit her in her high chair, but Josie stops her halfway there.
“Let me take this little cutie,” Josie says and pulls Summer into her arms.
Summer smiles and giggles, and Josie presses soft kisses to her cheek. “You ready to eat, sweet girl?”
“Cookie!” Summer exclaims. “Wanna cookie!”
Josie just grins. “Turkey first, then cookie, okay?”
“No cookie?” Summer asks, her eyes fixated on Josie’s face as she tries to understand why in the hell anyone would refuse her a cookie at any point of the day.
Josie shakes her head. “Turkey first.”
“But cookie? I wanna cookie.” A pout forms on her little pink mouth, and her big blue eyes turn wide and doe-like. It’s a look we’ve all experienced, and it’s a look that I’m not sure anyone can deny when it comes to Summer.
Josie looks around the room, no doubt looking to see if Bennett is paying attention. He’s too busy grumbling to Breezy about there being too much food and Breezy telling him there’s so much food because there are so many people and then Bennett telling her there are too many fucking people too, to notice Josie’s dilemma.
I, on the other hand, have noticed.
Josie whispers something in Summer’s ear, and Summer nods. She even lifts one tiny finger up to her lips and makes a shushing sound.
And Josie, the little turncoat, discreetly walks behind Bennett and Breezy and sneaks two cookies from a tray that sits on a table by the other desserts Breezy picked up from Melba’s bakery yesterday.
And when the two sneaks head toward the dining room while everyone else is getting their food, I don’t hesitate to follow their lead.
“Whatcha doing?” I ask when I close the distance. Both Josie’s and Summer’s backs are toward me, and a few giggles escape both of their lips.
Eventually, Josie slowly turns them around. “Just looking out the window.”
“You want me to pull the blinds up so you can actually see out the window?” I ask, raising my eyebrows in a challenge.
“Nah.” Josie shakes her head. “We like to use our imaginations about what could be out the window. It’s a whole fun game we do.”
“Oh yeah?” I look at Summer. “And what are you imagining right now, sweetie?”
“Cookie.”
“You want a cookie?” I ask and Josie tries to make a shushing sound toward Summer, but the little sweetheart is too honest for my wife’s own good.
“Ate cookie. Secret. Shooooooosh.”
“Did Josie eat a cookie too?”
“Uh-huh.” Summer nods. “Shooooooosh. Secret.”
I look at my wife, who is now smiling and rolling her eyes at me. “And what do you have to say about this big revelation?”
“That you should stop being such a killjoy and let us girls have some secret fun.”
I grin at that. And lean forward to press a kiss to Josie’s lips. “Your secret is safe with me.”
“Kisses!” Summer squeals. “I wanna kisses!”
Both Josie and I playfully kiss the air over Summer’s cute cherub cheeks, and Summer giggles and snorts the whole time. Now that her bones are breaking more often, we have to be especially careful with our affection.
And when Josie puts Summer in her high chair, the only thing I can think about is how I can’t wait for the day when I get to see Josie be a mother to our babies. Mine and hers. The thought surprises the hell out of me. And honestly, it makes me realize that we’ve never actually talked about if we want kids or not.
One step at a time, Clay, I remind myself silently. For now, just enjoy your wife.
42
Josie
Thursday, November 24th
Breezy taps her knife on her wineglass and stands up. “If you don’t mind, I’d like to make a little speech.”
“I mind,” Bennett grumbles.
But when Summer starts to clap her hands and shout, “Bees! Bees! Love you, Bees!” his annoyed frown turns into an instant smile.
“I think the crowd has spoken,” Breezy comments, flashing a knowing smile at her brother, and Bennett just laughs.
“Looks like I’m the odd man out, huh, Summblebee?”
“Lovoo, Daddy!” Summer claps her hands again.
“Love you too, baby,” he says and reaches out to wipe some mashed potatoes off her face. Summer proceeds to dive back into her dinner while Breezy commands the attention of the room.
The dining room is filled with everyone we know and love from Red Bridge. Sheriff Pete, Earl, Reverend Bob and his wife Darlene, sweet little Melba Danser, who was one of my Grandma Rose’s favorite people in the whole world. Marty and Sheila Higgins and their new baby, Ella, who is currently sleeping in her car seat on the floor beside their chairs. My boss Harold Metcalf and his wife Carol. My two coworkers and good friends Camille and Todd.