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)
“Fishing?” River wrinkles up her nose. “We don’t know how to fish, Forty.”
“How do you do it?” Rayne asks.
“Lucky for you, I was thinking ahead. I bought you fishing poles.”
“You did?” They gasp at the same time.
I smile at their reaction. I love that they are so in tune with each other. I’ve not spent a ton of time around Briar and Brogan without a big crowd, but I can imagine they are the same way.
“I sure did,” I answer. “But before we go, we have to go over some rules.”
“We’ll be good, Forty,” Rayne assures me.
“I know, sweetheart, but these rules are to keep you safe.”
River gasps. “Is fishing scary?”
“Not at all. Fishing is fun, but it can be dangerous if you get too close to the water.”
“We swim,” Rayne says.
“You do, but a big body of water is deeper than a pool. It’s important that you stay with me, and don’t wander off or get too close to the edge.”
“We can do that, right, sissy?” River says.
“We can do that.” Rayne nods in agreement.
“Thank you. Now, I’ve got a cooler in my truck all packed up and our poles. Do you have some old play shoes?” I ask them.
“We gots flip-flops,” River says.
“I better ask your momma.” Grabbing my phone, I fire off a text to Briar. I hate to bother her, but I’d rather be safe than sorry.
Me: Hey, babe. Can I take the girls fishing at the river in flip-flops, or do they have old play shoes?
Her reply is immediate.
Briar: Flip-flops are fine. They do have play shoes. They’re at the bottom of the closet next to the front door.
Me: Thank you.
Briar: They don’t have poles.
Me: They do now. I bought them for them last night.
Briar: Don’t spoil them, Forrest.
Me: Okay, I’ll most definitely spoil them. Enjoy your day, baby.
Shoving my phone into my pocket, I smile at the girls. “Okay, ladies, your momma said flip-flops are fine. Go use the potty and we’ll go.”
“I don’t gots to potty,” River tells me.
“Well, can you try for me? I’m going to go too. There’s not a bathroom down by the river.”
“I’ll try for you,” Rayne says.
“Me too.” They take off, racing down the hall. My phone vibrates and I know it’s Briar. Unable to resist a message from my girl, I dig my phone back out of my pocket to see what she has to say.
Briar: What am I going to do with you?
“I can think of a few things,” I mumble as I type out my reply.
Me: Keep me.
Briar: Tempting.
Me: I’m already yours, so you don’t have a choice. I just wanted you to think you did.
She replies with a string of laughing emoji. I can see her smiling face and her sparkling green eyes in my mind. I hope she’s enjoying herself as much as I am. I truly enjoy spending time with the girls. I’m honored that she trusted me with them. I know what that took for her.
“Ready!” Rayne and River say as they come racing back into the room.
“Okay, I’m going to go use the potty. Wait here for me.” I take off down the hall and make a quick bathroom break. There is water all over the bathroom sink, and a small puddle on the floor. I chuckle as I grab the towel to mop up the mess. At least they washed their hands.
I find the girls standing next to the door, bouncing on the balls of their feet with excitement. “Oh, I’ll need to lock the door. Let me text your mom.”
Me: Do you have a spare key so I can lock the house while we’re down by the river?
Briar: My keys are on the hook by the front door.
Me: Thanks, babe.
Grabbing her keys, recognizing her keychain with a picture of the girls as babies, I shove them into my pocket and lead the girls out to my truck.
Briar: There’s a wagon in the garage if you want to take that.
Me: Nah, I think we’ll be fine.
Briar: It comes in handy.
Me: I got this, Momma.
Briar: Have fun!
“Let’s do this.” I grab the fishing poles and toss the cooler strap over my shoulder. The small tackle box I brought just for this, their small chairs in a bag I bought with the poles, along with a larger one for me, and the small bag of snacks I picked up for the excursion. Thankfully, I didn’t bring my pole. I figured I’d have my hands full helping the girls.
“That’s much stuff,” Rayne says, eyeing me warily.
I’m loaded down, so I don’t have a free hand to hold theirs. Looks like Briar was right, and the wagon is a good idea. “You know what? Let’s take the wagon. Mommy said it was in the garage.”
Placing everything on the driveway, I walk hand in hand with the girls back into the house and to the garage to get the wagon. Once we have it outside and the house is locked up again, I load up the wagon, and we’re ready for our adventure.