Braxton was less enthusiastic. “Will I have to share my toys with it?”
I laughed and ruffled his hair. “Only if you want to. And it’s a baby, not an ‘it’.”
“You just called it an ‘it’,” Braxton pointed out.
I sighed in exasperation. “You’re right, son. I did.”
“Are we getting a little brother or a little sister?” Riley asked.
“I don’t know yet.”
“When will you know?”
“Probably in a few weeks.”
“Can I go play now?” Braxton asked. He didn’t seem to care one way or another about having another sibling as long as he didn’t have to share his beloved toys.
“Not yet, son. We need to talk about something else. It is not okay to kiss little girls. You can be friends with them, and you can even call one your girlfriend; but, you’re only allowed to hug her if you ask her and she says it’s okay. Do you understand?”
“Yes, Mommy. But she asked me to kiss her,” he said.
“Did she now?” He nodded his head several times. The little hussy. “Well, if she asks you to do that again, you politely tell her no.”
“Okay. Can I go play now?”
I sighed. “Yes, son. Go play.”
He scampered off to his room and I turned my attention to my daughter. She was a clever child and already knew what I was going to say. “I’m sorry for being sassy. I just wanted to play with Jenna. I didn’t know a baby was why you can’t do anything with us anymore.”
I pulled her in for a hug so she wouldn’t see the tears welling up in my eyes. “I’m sorry, honey.” I sniffled and took a few slow, deep breaths to get my emotions under control. “I know it’s a school night, but how about you and Braxton go pick out a movie and we’ll have a slumber party in here tonight?”
“Can I pick the movie?”
“Yes, but you can’t pick something you know your brother won’t like. So, noBarbiemovies,” I told her. We had plenty of other movies that they both enjoyed. Personally, I was hoping she’d pick one of the ones I enjoyed, too.
“Braxton!” she yelled as she ran down the hall. “We’re having a movie night in Mommy’s room!”
Ten minutes later, we were all settled in my bed watchingIce Age.Even though I cherished the time spent with my kids, I couldn’t help but wish Kellan was there with us, too.
20
Savior
After leaving Avery, I went straight to the clubhouse to talk to Copper. When I arrived, the clubhouse was surprisingly quiet. Layla and Leigh were in the common room hunched over a laptop but no one else was in sight.
“Is Copper in his office?” I asked causing both of them to startle.
“Shit, Savior,” Layla gasped. “You scared me.”
“I’m sorry, Layla. I didn’t mean to,” I apologized and held my hands up.
“It’s fine,” she said. “He should be in his office.”
I knocked on the door and waited for the okay to enter. “Savior, what are you doing here?”
“I wanted to talk to you about something if you have a few minutes.”
“Have a seat,” he said and gestured to one of the chairs. “What’s going on?” he asked and leaned back in his chair to study me.
