Total pages in book: 49
Estimated words: 48187 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 241(@200wpm)___ 193(@250wpm)___ 161(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 48187 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 241(@200wpm)___ 193(@250wpm)___ 161(@300wpm)
Like Taylor Dum-Dum.
It makes me wonder if Robot Derek and Mr. Dinosaur want to be Dum-Dums with us too.
“Can I tell you a secret?” I smile at Derek.
“I like secrets.”
“This secret is really important. Only you and Ollie can know it.”
He nods, smiling, no longer teary-eyed.
“There’re people out there who will love you,” I assure him. “And you won’t have to look for them. They’ll come to you.”
“How do you know this?”
“Because it happened to me. That’s how I found my daughter and my wife. And my son Taylor.”
“Wow, cool,” he breathes.
“And if you run away, they may not be able to find you.” I stand and pat his head. “Can you promise me something, Robot Derek?”
“Yes.”
“Promise me you won’t run away. Promise me you’ll let them find you.”
His face falls, but he nods. “I hope they don’t take too long. We’re lonely.”
“You have each other,” I assure him. “But don’t worry, they’re out there looking for you right now.”
Lauren
One year later…
Someone giggles and I lift a brow, fighting a smile.
“I heard that,” I say with mock gruffness. “You’re supposed to be studying. All of you.”
They all burst out laughing at once and I can’t ignore it this time. I start laughing too. At this rate, we’ll never get our homework done.
“You guys are a bad influence,” I tell them.
“Maybe we should eat ice cream instead of working,” Taylor offers. “Dad bought root beer. We could have root beer floats.”
“Yeah!” Ollie and Derek say in unison.
Root beer.
It’s my weakness.
And, thankfully, one of my few weaknesses these days thanks to my transplant.
“Fine,” I huff. “We’ll have root beer floats, but whoever tells Dad has to do dishes for a week.”
“Tell Dad what?” Daniel asks, sauntering into the kitchen wearing a smirk.
“I give up,” I groan.
All three boys giggle again. It’s the sweetest sound in the world.
“Root beer floats instead of homework, I gather?” Daniel asks as he starts pulling out the ice cream and soda.
The boys abandon me at the kitchen table to help. They circle around Daniel, eager and excited. I can’t help but watch them.
Our boys.
When I was home recovering, Daniel brought something up to me. Two foster boys who were best buds. Two little guys who needed love—a love only we could give. My new kidney may have been working like a champ, but my heart broke for them. As soon as I met Robot Derek and saw Mr. Dinosaur again, I had an overwhelming urge to love and protect them. Jenna calls it a motherly instinct, and apparently I have one. We did what we had to do amidst my healing and made it happen.
They’re ours now.
Just like Taylor.
My three little bears.
And their momma feels incredible. She’s never going to leave them, no matter what her future health throws at her. Never.
Daniel is handsome today, having just come home from work. He still wears a tie and a nice shirt, but he’s since rolled up his sleeves to keep from getting ice cream on them. His smile is crooked and silly as he chats with the boys about their day. I could stare at my family forever. They’re perfect. More than I could have ever dreamed up for myself.
I’ve given up on homework and close my psychology textbook. I should be worrying about what I’ll cook for supper tonight, but I can’t find it in me to worry. Not when I can watch my boys as they babble about how they each think root beer floats came into existence.
“It was aliens,” Derek says, deadly serious. “I saw it on YouTube.”
Daniel shakes his head. “You can’t believe everything on the Internet.”
“Oh boy,” Taylor groans. “Here we go again.”
They continue to argue, but Ollie slips away to bring me a root beer float. It’s messy and dripping all over my newly mopped floors, but I don’t mind. It’s the thought that counts. His helmet is in place and I’m happy he’s wearing it. Though he’s had less seizures the older he gets, he still hasn’t been cleared to not wear it as often. I hug him to me and he nuzzles his face into my hair.
“I love you, Momma,” he says, melting my heart. “Thank you for finding us.”
My eyes burn with tears as I pat his back. “I love you too, baby.”
We’re still hugging when I feel eyes on me. My stare meets Daniel’s. He’s watching me with an intensity that always turns my insides to mush.
You’re a good mother.
He says it all the time, but more importantly, he makes me feel it.
“Okay, Mr. Dinosaur,” I chirp, to chase away the urge to cry with happiness. “Let’s have a taste of this amazing root beer float.”
Ollie and I take turns sipping on the yummy treat.
“Best root beer float ever,” I praise.
“Mom,” Taylor says, “try mine.”
I have a taste of his. “Ohhhh, we have a competition now.”