Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 88220 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88220 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
She nodded, a hiccup heaved her chest. “And tap. And I need a pink leotard and two different shoes, but they sell them all inside a special bag. Me and Paw saw it.”
“Do your friends go there?” I asked, drawing her into my arms. She nodded and hiccupped again. “So your heart’s set on that particular dance school and not one closer to the house.” She nodded again, giving a giant sniffle.
When we chose a highly-rated school that was also LGBTQ-friendly, of course, I understood we’d be driving quite a bit for various projects and friendships. It wasn’t a surprise.
“All right. We can get you started this weekend. Maybe take a class and see if you like it.”
She gasped with joy, launching toward me with a giant hug. “Thank you, Daddy.” After I was given the proper amount of love for my decision, she bolted toward the house. “Abuela, he said yes like you thought he would! I get the pretty bag, and I’ll wear it over my shoulder.”
My happy grin faltered as I stood and faced Beau. “You don’t have to agree to everything they ask for. We’re two months from the end of the year, and that would have made a great holiday gift for her.”
All very valid points.
“At some point you’re going to learn to tell them no without my input,” I said. “I’m a sucker, and their tears destroy me. Maybe if you’d given me a heads-up.” Of course, I was teasing him. I gathered West in my arms again. “Hi, buddy… No, don’t look at Paw, only me.”
I heard a heavy sigh, but Beau didn’t push it further. This wasn’t the end of the discussion, but a break for him to gather his thoughts and come back at me.
“I’m makin’ hamburgers on the grill. We stopped by the grocery store and grabbed baked chips and apple slices to go with them. Amelia’s back is messin’ with her. She doesn’t like to leave the house anyway. I told her to take it easy before it becomes a thing,” Beau said, walking side by side with me toward the house.
“Are the hamburgers real red meat?” I asked, crossing my fingers hopefully.
“No.” Beau shook his head as if the mention was absurd. “How was work?”
Disappointing. “I took another pro bono immigration case today. It’ll be difficult, but I’m looking forward to the fight.”
Beau gave me a side-eye glance, giving a side-grin to match. “You’re doin’ what you always wanted to do,” he said with the same sense of accomplishment I experienced. My younger self had only wanted to get a law degree to do legal aid and pro bono work. The adult me recognized that making money had swerved me from those goals. Maybe now I could toss in a few cases here or there.
“Joy called today,” I said, switching gears. “She’s pregnant.”
“That’s great. She needs to come for a visit or we go there. It’s been too long since we’ve seen her,” Beau said and gave another whistle while opening the back doors to the house. Everyone in our family came running, Dixie making it to the door first, busting through ahead of anyone else. They always had to be first everywhere we went.
“Stop laughing at them,” Amelia said, sliding between me and Beau. “He whistles for you too.”
My brows instantly furrowed.
“Of course, you don’t come when I call.” The way he said it made my brows scrunch tighter together. Beau trained me like the animals. “Did she say anything about your family? Are they still not talkin’ to her too?” Seconds passed as I absorbed the blow of information. “Stop lookin’ at me like that. West is smilin’ at you.”
The little guy in my arms did make it better. “She said Carter posted pictures of the kids with him on the Disney cruise. He’s certain my parents have seen the post, but I’m not sure they’d have the reaction he suspected. They’d never take a cruise like that. It’s too ‘working man’ for them.”
“Huh,” Beau said, clasping my shoulder to turn me toward the house when Mia bumped into me.
“I won,” Mia said, managing to get past me.
“I wasn’t racing,” Ava said, clearly racing Mia, and the apparent loser in the contest.
“Yes, you were,” Mia shot back. “I run fast.”
“No fighting,” Amelia called, handing Beau a platter of raw, not beef, burgers. That was also a new development in the home. Once school started, the girls learned all about arguing. I didn’t like it a single bit. “Paw’s cooking on the grill. Everyone grab something and let’s eat on the patio.”
“What about your telenovela?” I asked, teasing her.
“Someone needs to close Dash’s car door, and probably needs to lock the gate, Beau. And Dasham, take your son upstairs and change his diaper. I got my shows recording. Don’t you worry about me.” Her sassy way made me follow her directions so I didn’t get in further trouble.