Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 81718 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 409(@200wpm)___ 327(@250wpm)___ 272(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81718 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 409(@200wpm)___ 327(@250wpm)___ 272(@300wpm)
The door opens, and Briar smiles. “Hey, come on in.”
I step into the house and smile when I hear the girls playing. “Enjoying their new toys?”
“They are.” Briar smiles. “They’ve taken a picture of everything they can think of. You did good with those cameras. It was a great idea.”
“Maybe you have future photographers on your hands.”
“At this rate, you might be right.”
“Mommy, who are you—Forrest!” Rayne says excitedly. She comes barreling toward me, wrapping her tiny arms around my legs.
“Forrest?” River joins us in the hallway. “Are you here to see us?” she asks, with awe in her voice.
I kneel and open my arms. They both move in for a hug. “Of course I’m here to see you. Have you been taking a lot of pictures?” I ask them, even though I already know the answer.
“So many,” they reply at the same time.
“Come on, we’ll show you.” River grabs my hand.
I stand and offer Rayne my other hand and allow them to lead me into the living room.
“I’m sorry,” Briar says, following us.
“I’m not. Show me these pictures.” The girls race to grab their albums and climb up on the couch, one on either side of me. They hand me their albums, and I open one on each thigh and take turns flipping the pages, trying to give them both equal amounts of my attention.
“Wow. These are great, ladies.”
“We know,” they say, making me laugh.
“Girls, manners,” Briar reminds them.
“Thank you,” they chorus.
“I’ll go grab the watch,” Briar says.
“We’re fine here, Momma. Do what you need to do.” I keep flipping through the girls’ pictures. Some I’m not exactly sure what I’m looking at, but there are several from their birthday party, and of their mom and their aunt. “I’m proud of you. You’re doing an amazing job. Both of you,” I praise them, closing the albums.
“We’re real good at pictures,” Rayne tells me.
“I can see that.”
“Hey, Forrest, guess what?” River asks.
“What?”
“We’re having sketti for dinner!”
“No way. I love spaghetti.”
“Can you eat with us?” Rayne asks. “Mommy makes the best. Don’t tell Aunt Brogan we don’t want to hurt her feewings.”
I laugh. “Your secret is safe with me.”
“Here it is,” Briar says, walking back into the room.
“Mommy, can Forrest eat sketti with us?” Rayne asks.
“Of course he can. Forrest, would you like to stay for dinner? It’s just us. Brogan had a hair appointment in town.”
“I don’t want to impose.”
“Pwease?” River asks.
“Oh, pwetty pwease?” Rayne asks.
These girls. So fucking cute. My eyes find Briar. “Are you sure?”
“Absolutely.”
“I’d love to try your momma’s spaghetti,” I tell the twins. They cheer and bounce off the couch, tugging on each of my hands, and leading me toward the kitchen. “I guess it’s time to eat?” I ask through my laughter.
“Yes!” the twins reply.
“Girls, go wash your hands.”
“Forrest, you have to wash too.” River changes direction and pulls me down the hallway.
I laugh and follow them. I watch as they step up on their stools at the double bathroom vanity and wash their hands.
“Now you,” Rayne says.
“Yes, ma’am.” I make quick work of washing my hands and drying them. “Let’s eat,” I tell them. They start giggling as if I’m the funniest person in the world and race down the hall to the kitchen with me hot on their heels.
“Take your seats,” Briar tells them.
“What can I do to help?” I ask Briar.
“I’ve got it.”
“I’m sure you do, but I can help. Come on, put me to work.”
She smiles. “Thank you. Grab yourself something to drink, and I already have sippy cups for the girls on the island.”
“What about you? What are you drinking?”
“If you don’t mind, you can grab me a bottle of water.”
“On it.” I snag two bottles of water from the refrigerator before scooping up the girls' cups and placing them in front of them. “Where does Mommy sit?” I ask them.
“There.” They point to the head of the table. I drop one of the water bottles there.
“You sit there.” River points to the seat directly next to Briar.
“Aunt Brogan sits there.” Rayne points to the opposite end of the table.
I set my water bottle down and move to help Briar. “Are those for the girls?” I ask. They are smaller plates.
“Yes.”
“I’ll take them.” I grab them from her hands before she can object and deliver them to the twins. Briar follows me and places a plate for both of us on the table.
“I just need to get the garlic bread and the napkins.” She looks around the table, making sure she has everything.
“Sit. I’ll get it.” She tries to argue, but I’m already on the move. I collect the basket of garlic bread and the stack of napkins from the island and place them in the center of the table.
As I sit with these three ladies, I can’t help but wonder what it would be like if this was my life. If I had a wife and two daughters to come home to each night.