Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 96284 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 481(@200wpm)___ 385(@250wpm)___ 321(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96284 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 481(@200wpm)___ 385(@250wpm)___ 321(@300wpm)
We had to be a bit gentler with Casper. My boy was a little quirky when it came to drastic changes. He could handle them just fine, but if we built them up by talking about them too much, he got confused and frustrated. The best approach was to take things in steps and not make a big deal out of them. Which was why Sandra had broken the news to him about Mommy and Daddy not living together anymore. It was a good thing, she’d said. Mommy and Daddy were still friends, but Casper would have two homes now.
At the age of five, he didn’t exactly grasp the concept of marriage, so I’d been reassured by Kathryn when she’d relayed how he’d reacted. Like we’d hoped. It wasn’t a big deal. It was a little confusing, absolutely, but okay, so he would have one home with Mommy and one with Daddy.
I crammed a cookie into my mouth and reckoned there’d been at least one positive outcome from the past couple of years. I mean, Sandra and I hadn’t been affectionate in that way. Casper couldn’t remember a time he’d seen Mommy and Daddy hug or be close to each other.
I wasn’t worried, for once. Not about our move to Marina del Rey. My son would see a new room, which he’d share with one of his favorite people in the whole world. And that was the thing, wasn’t it? There wasn’t a lot to break up in Bel Air. Because he’d always had another family right here. This house, as well as our office, had been a big part of his childhood already. This was where we barbecued, threw the kids into the pool, where they visited Daddy and Uncle Jake at work, and where they had sleepovers. This was where Colin and Sam lived. This was where we stashed our leftovers after food-truck Thursday.
We were the fucking condor family.
I perked up when I spotted Nikki out the kitchen window. She was just coming through the gate, and Colin and Sam had to squeeze through at the same time.
Showtime.
“Nikki’s here with the ankle biters!” I yelled, heading for the hallway.
“Okay! Be there in a sec. I’m just getting the last sheets outta the dryer.”
Jake was good at laundry. I was not. I was on dishwasher duty instead.
We had chores in our home.
I opened the front door at the same time as Colin yanked at it, and he looked up at me in surprise.
“Oh, hi!”
“Hey, kiddo.” I smiled and flicked the brim of his ball cap. He usually had it on backward like his old man. “How was Washington?”
“Cold!”
“Hi, Uncle Roe!” Sam darted for me, lookin’ too fucking cute in two bouncing pigtails. “Catch me!”
“Oh, I’ll catch you.” I grinned and swooped her up, and I positioned her on my hip. “How’s my princess?”
“I’m good! Nana and I made lotsa candy.” She widened her eyes and held out her arms to show just how much.
“You did? I hope you saved some for me and Daddy.”
She giggled behind her hand and shook her head. “We ate all of it. Right, Mommy?”
“Well, yeah. Why would we give away awesome candy?” Nikki replied.
“Rude.” I smirked and dipped down to kiss Nikki’s cheek. “Welcome home. I’m guessing you have a hot date tonight.”
“I sure do.” She beamed. “Last holiday we spend apart. Russell’s coming home in an hour, so I can’t stay long. But I heard you have news?”
We did, didn’t we?
For the record, Nikki would have news soon too. Jake told me last night Russell was gonna propose over Christmas. It was kinda sweet, if you asked me. Russell had spoken to Jake first. Not as some chauvinistic way of asking for permission, obviously, but just to touch base and have a beer in the yard. With children involved, it was always good to square things first, get everyone on board and prepared. Kinda like Jake had spoken to Nikki first about my moving in here, though she probably didn’t buy our original spiel of “staying here for a while.”
The woman knew. I could tell by the little smile that played on her lips.
Jake rounded the corner just in time for Colin to have thrown off his backpack and shoes, and they lit up at the sight of each other.
“How you doin’, buddy? It’s good to have you home.” Jake squeezed the boy in a hug.
“Hi, Daddy!” Sam reached for him too, so I walked over to them, and Jake was happy to get both his kids in his arms.
“Hi, baby. What’s this I hear about y’all eatin’ all the candy, huh?”
She squealed and squirmed as he tickled her.
It was a beautiful sight.
Nikki smiled and took a picture of them. “Okay, wrap it up, Denvers. I wanna see your oh-so-temporary living arrangements before I go home and beautify myself to pieces.”