Total pages in book: 136
Estimated words: 125037 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 625(@200wpm)___ 500(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 125037 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 625(@200wpm)___ 500(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
“She said I had to put Grace down, or I could get hurt.” Ginger’s lower lip trembled.
“She’s an adult looking out for you,” Pepper said. “But that shouldn’t matter, not when it comes to Nonny. We all treat Nonny the way she treats us, with love and respect.”
Tame? Leila couldn’t hide her smile as she looked up at Diego. Her heart gave that strange stutter when her eyes met his. You think it’s tame being a man who controls his jealousy?
Tame. I used that word because my reactions can be more animal than man. I do have violent tendencies when you’re threatened.
Men looking at me doesn’t constitute a threat, silly.
Ginger kept one hand on her hip, but she didn’t look quite as defiant. “I’m strong, Mama. Really strong. Stronger than kids twice my age.”
“That doesn’t mean your back is fully developed, Ginger. You just had your third birthday, and you’re still growing. That isn’t the point. Tell me what the point is.”
Leila turned her attention back to the conversation between Ginger and her mother. It was an interesting question to ask a child just turning three. The question seemed far too complex, and yet Leila could see the child turn to her sisters.
They’re talking telepathically, aren’t they? she asked Diego.
Unfortunately for all of us, they’ve been able to do that since they were barely able to walk. Or run. They are incredibly fast. We used to have to watch them like hawks.
The three girls crowded close, and one put her arm around Ginger as they bent their heads together.
What are they doing?
Leila couldn’t help thinking those little girls were super close, just as she had been with Bridget before Whitney and Pillar had ripped them apart. Her hand crept up to find Diego’s. She threaded her fingers through his but kept her gaze fixed on the triplets. Little Grace toddled over to them, and instantly, the three girls drew her into the middle, where she was protected. Leila glanced up at Pepper, wanting to convey she thought the girls were sweet.
Pepper caught her gaze and winked. The woman had fantastic eyes. Very different. The vivid violet color surrounded by dark lashes.
Ginger is a handful, Diego supplied. She’s the little ringleader. The other two are more cautious, but she has to know everything yesterday. The three of them are little geniuses, and sometimes, because they’re so young, we forget that.
Genius or not, Ginger is in the wrong. Leila wanted Diego to know she was firm about that. Gracie was not getting away with ever talking to Nonny that way. Pepper is right in reprimanding her.
“The point is, I shouldn’t have spoken to Nonny that way,” Ginger said painfully. She gripped her sisters’ hands and looked straight at Nonny, remorse stamped into her little features. “I’m very sorry, Nonny.” She ducked her head when tears shimmered in her eyes. “I don’t know why I got upset. But I love you, and I shouldn’t ever say mean words to anyone I love.”
“I love you too, Ginger,” Nonny said and held out her arms.
Ginger ran to her and threw herself onto Nonny’s lap, burying her face against Grand-mere’s shoulder. She hugged the older woman very tight.
Nonny tilted Ginger’s face up toward hers and kissed her. “Your momma hasn’t met Grace yet.” She lowered her voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “You’ll have to tell her about Grace having the same name as me and your baby sister. I’m not sure your mama knows my given name is Grace because she always calls me Nonny.”
Leila was absolutely certain Pepper knew Grace was Nonny’s name, but she pretended not to hear, willing to let Ginger be very important, having knowledge her mother might not.
A smile broke out on the little girl’s face, lighting it up instantly. After hugging Nonny tight around the neck, she scooted off her lap and went to her mother, solemnly holding out her hand. “You have to meet Gracie. She’s just a little baby.”
Pepper took her hand and moved down the steps with her. “Where did she come from?”
“She’s Uncle Diego and Leila’s little girl,” Ginger said. “She’s so cute, Mama. Isn’t she, Thym?”
Thym nodded enthusiastically. She and Cannelle were on either side of Grace, ensuring she didn’t leave the play yard and head toward the river. There was a fence surrounding the play yard, but the gate was wide open. Leila found it rather amazing that the little triplets were so careful of her daughter. They weren’t very old, and yet they were very focused on Grace’s safety.
She also found it sweet the way Nonny and Pepper handled Ginger after she showed remorse. The incident wasn’t brought up again. Her guilt wasn’t hammered home. She was forgiven the moment she showed real remorse and that she understood why she shouldn’t have done what she did. Leila liked that. She liked watching as Ginger took her mother down the steps and across the grass to the play yard, where Pepper crouched down in front of the toddler as her triplets happily introduced her, all three talking at once.