Total pages in book: 136
Estimated words: 132951 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 665(@200wpm)___ 532(@250wpm)___ 443(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 132951 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 665(@200wpm)___ 532(@250wpm)___ 443(@300wpm)
“She is. She’s doing a lot better in school. She’s not really getting in trouble.”
“I feel that. I’m a better hockey player thanks to Mildred, and more settled too.”
“She has that effect on people.” Victor nods.
I want to tell him that soon we’ll be able to make this sense of security permanent, that we’ll be able to give him the stability and love he craves and deserves. But I can’t yet. We’re almost there, and we want to wait until all the paperwork is complete.
We join Lexi, Fee, and her best friend, Cammie, in the stands. Everly flops into a seat and pulls Victor down beside her.
“Perfect timing!” Lexi cradles baby Ariel to her chest. “They’ve almost finished warmups.”
“Look at that sweet face.” Mildred slides into the seat next to her and rests her cheek on Lexi’s shoulder. “You’re pretty too, Lexi.”
Lexi laughs. “Do you want to hold her?”
“I would absolutely love to hold this sweet, tiny nugget of adorableness.”
Lexi passes Ariel to my wife, who coos at her.
Roman, who was talking to one of the coaches, comes over and wedges himself into the seat next to mine—they aren’t built for guys over six three—with a smirk.
“You gonna be next on the baby brigade?”
“Calm down, bro. We have to see some kids off to college first,” I murmur.
Understanding and compassion lights up his face, and he drops his voice to a whisper. “You get everything finalized?”
“We’re close.” Roman and Lexi have been helpful on this journey since Lexi is the legal guardian of her sisters, and Roman formally adopted them last fall. Now they’re officially his.
Everly’s head appears between mine and Mildred’s. “Fee and Cammie are going to the concession stand.”
I pull a twenty out of my wallet and pass it over my shoulder. “Please bring me the change, if there is any.”
“Thank you!” She kisses us both on the cheek and disappears.
Callie skates past, waving at us as she heads for her net, but then she circles back and stops in front of Victor. He smiles and taps the glass with his fist.
“How have I been so easily replaced?” I mutter.
Mildred grins and kisses my cheek as Callie skates away, pulling out some figure skating moves as she goes.
“She’s the only girl who ever loved me without even knowing me,” I lament.
“You’ll get over it.” Mildred nudges my shoulder. “Here, hold this adorable baby.”
I put out my arms.
“Push your sleeves up first, though.”
I do as my wife asks, then take Ariel into the crook of my elbow.
“Ahh, there’s the magic…” Mildred snaps several pictures, her eyes sparking with heat and full of promise.
I see our entire life writing itself for us; a home full of love and family, kids and grandkids and Terror reunions. I want it all. And I want it with Mildred at my side.
CHAPTER 54
DRED
“I’m so excited!” Everly is bouncing around us like Tigger with springs in her feet.
“Keep your eyes closed,” Connor tells me.
“Your giant hands are covering my whole face,” I assure him. “I can see nothing.”
“You love my giant hands,” he murmurs.
“Not in front of the children.” I elbow my husband in the ribs.
“Victor, can you get the door, please?” Connor asks.
“On it.”
A door opens. Based on the smell, we’re in the garage.
“Are you ready?” Connor asks.
“Show her, show her, show her!” Everly claps.
Connor drops his hands.
“Happy birthday!” the three of them shout.
In the middle of the garage filled with outrageously expensive cars is… “Betty?”
“It’s Betty!” Everly gazelle leaps across the expansive space and jazz hands her way around my car.
“I thought maybe she went to the car graveyard.” When Connor handed me the keys to one of his cars and told me it was mine until further notice, I wasn’t totally convinced Betty would make it out of her makeover.
“I would never.” Connor looks aghast.
I arch a brow.
“Okay. I would, but I know how much you love Betty.” He takes my hand and pulls me over to my car.
“She looks brand-new,” I marvel. No rust. No missing side mirror.
“That’s because she pretty much is,” Everly says. “I helped pick out the fabric for the driver’s seat.” She opens the door. “Ta-da!”
My seat is covered in a strawberry pattern. The entire interior is brand-new—everything is brand-new.
Connor rubs his hands along his thighs. “Do you like it?”
“I love it!” I throw my arms around him. “Betty was a piece of shit. I can’t even imagine how much it cost to do this.”
“Your happiness is invaluable.” He passes me the fob. “Everything has been updated, so it runs like a new car, even though it’s still Betty. Why don’t we take it for a spin over to the Watering Hole?”
Everly climbs into the back seat. “Get in! Let’s go!”
Victor climbs in beside her, and I slide into the driver’s seat. Connor is comically large in this small four-seater. The engine purrs to life, and I drive my new-old car to the Watering Hole, the Terror’s favorite local pub.