My girls are terrible singers, just like their mother. All three are singing loudly and bouncing around the living room. How they can sing and watch a Christmas movie at the same time, I have not a clue, but it’s adorable as hell.
My wife has given me three beautiful little girls. Each time they’d tell us it was a girl, Kindred would announce that she knew that already. The woman has a freaky skill of being able to do that with any pregnancy. She told me Kelly from the diner was pregnant with a boy before Kelly knew she was pregnant.
Kindred said I would only give her girls because great girl dads are hard to come by, and I was made to be one. That shit hit me hard, and I strive every day to be the best dad for them. I know a huge part of that is them seeing me with their mama. How I treat her sets an example, and I’m making the bar almost impossible to reach.
Our middle and wildest child bounces over to me. "You think they're dry?" She wiggles her fingers, showing off her nail polish that I put on five minutes ago.
“Looks like it to me.”
“Good, because I’m starving.” She jams her hand into the bowl of popcorn, grabbing a handful and shoving it into her mouth. I leave it be. They’re having a slumber party tonight since Kindred and I are going out.
Well, my wife is already out, and I have plans to join her. Not that I told her that, but my wife knows me, and I’m sure she’s expecting me to show up. She’d be highly disappointed if I didn’t.
I double-check to make sure the girls are all situated with snacks and so on. They already had dinner and are pretty much tucked in for the night in the living room. At some point, they’ll crawl into the fort we built and crash out.
When the alert at the gate goes off on my phone, I get up and give the girls hugs and kisses. Ethan has the code to the gate. He's in town for the holidays. If he's not around, Shelly, who retired from the library, or Tinsley will babysit when we have a night out. Tonight, however, all the ladies are at the Frosty Mug for Tinsley's 21st birthday.
"Uncle Ethan is in the house!" Ethan shouts as he enters the room. All the girls scream and practically tackle him. Ethan is damn good with the girls, but I don't see him settling down anytime soon, if ever.
I slip out in the chaos and head toward town. Not much has changed except I did get a deputy. She's quirky and fits the town. I'm glad I got it worked out because while crime hasn't gone up in New Hope, how busy I am has.
All my girls keep me busy. Kindred also got herself an assistant to take some of the workload off of her. It allows her to continue to work and be involved in the town but also to spend the time she wants to at home.
It shouldn't be shocking because we live in New Hope, but the assistant, a local girl who graduated last year, and the deputy have hit it off. The two of them are dancing around each other.
I have to admit it is amusing, and I'm guessing this was how it was when everyone was watching Kindred and I do the same. I suppose history does have its way of repeating itself, especially in this town.
When I enter the bar, the party is in full swing. I see my wife onstage with Candy and Tinsley, hitting all the wrong notes. She’s adorable. It doesn’t go unnoticed by me that the dress she is currently wearing is not the black one she left in. Now she has on a gold one covered in glittery sparkles.
That shit is going to get everywhere, and fuck, am I going to enjoy finding every speck for the next month. She’s lucky if that dress makes it out in one piece when I’m finished with her.
My wife spots me easily. I can tell by the glint in her eye that she’s up to something. A lot of things have changed, but Kindred’s mischievous side isn’t one of them.
"The strippers have arrived." She announces it to the bar, and they all cheer. I keep my face blank. I do have my sheriff's coat on, but there is only one of me. I hope she's not seeing double.
"Ew." Tinsley's whole face scrunches like she drank expired eggnog, and I can tell from across the bar that she might actually be seeing double. "It's like watching my dad strip. Before he died. Not the dead version."
"All righty then," Kindred says, taking the microphone from her. I make my way through the crowd. It's mainly locals tonight, but around the holidays, people have family in town. "Are you here to bust up my night, Sheriff?"
"You did not leave in that dress," I point out, still keeping my face blank.
"You don't like it?" She gives a little twirl.
"Shots!" Candy yells, barreling between my wife and me.
"Nope, nope, nope." Hollis is grabbing the shots away from the girls. I snag one off the bar too, but I hand it over to my wife, who gives me a wink and tosses it back. My girl wants to get drunk and party, so be it. I'm not here to stop her fun, not until the right time. I settle into one of the bar seats and pull her between my thighs.
"For the record, I fucking love the dress." I kiss her bare shoulder. The dress is strapless and only goes to mid-thigh. I know there is no way she's got a bra on under there, and I'm looking forward to exploiting that in the very near future.
Kindred turns in my arms. “And I love you.” She slides her hands up my chest to wrap around my neck before leaning in and brushing her mouth against mine.
“Watch it,” I warn. I only have so much control. I don’t care if she’s been my wife for many years; I still always want her. That will never change. She is and always will be my everything.
“I’m never going to have this.” Tinsley slips in beside us. “All this stupid love.” The expression on her face doesn’t lead me to believe she thinks it’s stupid at all.
“It can blindside you out of nowhere,” I tell her. I’m not used to a mopey Tinsley.
“Or you might already know them,” Kindred tosses out there too. Well, shit.
