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)
“Daddy needs to stop being sick,” Livie said. “We wanted him to dress up as Peter Pan.”
Oh man, he’d have hated that, but done it in a second.
Mia’s hands abruptly fisted, her body gave an excited full-length shake. “Gigi said that Kailey’s going to have lunch with us at school. Everyone will see our big sister.”
Kailey grinned, and I didn’t correct Mia. No one else did either, even Livie.
“She’s coming to our Thanksgiving parade lunch too,” Ava explained. “Gigi’s making her costume to look like ours.”
“Do you know about Thanksgiving, Paw?” Livie asked. Of course, no one waited for my answer.
“Everyone in school is dressing up like something from Thanksgiving. I wanna be a cornico,” Mia said, abruptly stopping the explanation, casting a quick glance at Livie.
“Cornucopia,” Livie corrected.
“The Native Americans and pilgrims became best friends and ate turkey together on Thanksgiving,” Mia finished her explanation. Ava nodded along with Mia.
“We’re all dressing as cornucopias with different insides because Mia liked the colors better,” Ava explained. “She’s the one that knows best about it. Abuela’s making the costumes. Kailey’s gonna sit by me and Livie, and Mia is sitting with Gigi and Abuela if she comes, but maybe I want to sit with Abuela and Gigi. Mia doesn’t make the rules.”
Ava shot a mean glare to Mia, causing me to jump in before a fight broke out. Ava wasn’t above tackling Mia over a perceived slight.
“No fighting. I need you guys to make Daddy some get-well cards. Can you do that for him?”
“Yes,” they said in unison.
“I made Daddy a vase in pottery class. It leans but it’s still pretty,” Mia said, proudly. “Next time, I’m making him a cup, but I don’t think he can drink from it.” She shrugged sweetly.
“Good and make him a card. Gigi or Abuela can help you write a message. Give your best effort,” I said, hoping it would occupy them a little longer than the five minutes every project took. “I’ll hang them around his room. Make him one every day. I’ll read him the messages. He also likes your book reports. Listen to your books then record yourselves summarizing them. He misses when y’all read together.”
“Gigi said we could make you a lunch and she’ll take it to you,” Livie said, her knees lifting as her hands hung on to the tips of her open-toed sandals.
“I’d like that.” I had only slept a couple of hours this afternoon, but enough for right now. I was hungry, the lunch sounded great. “Make me two sandwiches and send me some of those little cakes your dad hides.” The girls laughed. So did Abuela and my mom. My sophisticated husband thought he was sneaky enough to hide the Little Debbie white cakes without anyone else knowing. Yeah right.
“Abuela bought some yesterday. We’ll get them ready.” Livie jumped up and ran toward the kitchen.
Ava seemed fine to let her do all the work. Mia instructed from her seat, “Liv, Daddy likes the Doritos with cheese. And Paw likes those cups of mandarin oranges. He’ll eat two cups. And the cauliflower bag. Get that.”
“I will,” Livie called.
Their accurate dissection of our eating habits showed me the girls saw more of what was happening in our home than I’d realized. My gaze refocused on West, babbling incoherently, talking along with the girls as drool dribbled from the side of his mouth. My stare traveled to Amelia. She appeared as worried as I’d ever seen her. My mom took West, with Duke and Dixie at her feet and staring at the screen.
“Hi, you two. I miss you,” I said and four ears lifted. “Are you gettin’ enough runnin’ time? Are you bein’ good?”
Duke couldn’t hold it as well as Dixie did and began talking to me on the screen.
“Ava, go pet Duke. Mia, pet Dixie. Tell ’em they did good.”
Amelia leaned in, catching my eye. “How’s my boy doing?”
“Every time someone comes in here, they feel like he’s better and it’s just a matter of time before he’s up. Do you want to see him?” I asked the words I didn’t plan to say, and sat up, briefly turning the tablet to the profile side of Dash that I had tried to make presentable. He looked better without the trappings of the ventilator. The slim fitting nasal cannula that helps with his oxygen levels was there. Also the nasogastric tube was on Dash’s other side, maybe the kids didn’t see it. Tears sprang from Amelia’s eyes, the sudden intake of breath stopped me from showing more.
“I’m upset, Beau.” Amelia hiccupped as a full cry started.
“Abuela.” Mia was there first, hugging her grandmother. Ava and Livie came to her. The tears began to double time, causing the girls to cry too. The dogs got involved, mashing the undersides of their jaws on Amelia’s legs, offering their love.