After thirty minutes of going in circles, Poppy realized that the wine had kicked in, and her brain had become too fuzzy to discuss it further.
Yawning, she said, "I get that this is something you want. I don't know if I can go through this again." Wanting to bring the conversation to a quick end, she added, "Let me sleep on it. We'll talk moretomorrow. I love you." Giving him a quick kiss goodnight, she snuggled under her covers and closed her eyes.
Bennett gave her a quick kiss on the forehead and said, "I meant what I said. I won't do this if you, Ben, or Taylor say no. I will never hurt any of you again." With that, he turned off the light before heading to the bathroom for a quick shower before bed.
Poppy fell asleep almost immediately. Her last thought before sleep claimed her was that she prayed Ben or Taylor would have the strength to tell him no because she could not.
Chapter 4
Gulf Shores, Alabama
November 22, 2023
"Rosie!" yelled Greer for the third time as his ten-year-old daughter came down the stairs with her earbuds blasting. Seeing her dad, she broke into a large, metal grin. The bond between them was incredible. For a man who thought having a family had passed him by, Greer thanked his lucky stars every day for her. Because of a few stupid mistakes made by some very careless people, himself included, he got to be her dad. As she met him on the stairs, she reached over to graze his cheek with a soft kiss.
Yanking the nearest earbud out, he said," Turn that down. I will be paying for hearing aids next. Mom’s about ready. I put your suitcase and duffle in the trunk."
Motioning to her jacket and pillow, he asked, "Is that all you want up front?"
Holding up the items in her hands, she said, "I am good. Mom's got snacks, right?"
Laughing, Greer nodded. "Of course. Already put them in the car." Before Rosie, he had no clue how much kids ate. She was always hungry and was a complete beanpole. They could not fill her up. "You sure you don't want me to grab Mr. Rabbit?”
"You wish. You know I have not slept with Mr. Rabbit since I was eight,” replied Rosie.
"I know. I keep forgetting you are practically grown." She was correct; he did wish she was still little. She was growing up so fast. Looking closer as she continued down the stairs, he nearly had a heart attack, "Are you wearing lipstick?" Little pieces of pink littered the silvery braces of her top teeth. She looks slightly ridiculous and entirely too old all at once. His first instinct was to order her to come back and wash all of it off her face. However, she raced down the stairs before he could stop her.
She slowed down long enough to yell back, "Mom said I could do it since we were driving all day. I wanted to show Aunt Joules."
Yelling “Taylor!” at the top of his lungs, Greer went in search of his wife as Rosie slipped outside. He stomped into the kitchen, where his wife was finishing filling a cooler with drinks.
"You will not believe what your daughter has on!" He was bellowing. He tended to do that when he was stressed or frustrated.
Not reacting to Greer's sudden outburst, Taylor calmly replied without even looking up, "She had on leggings and a sweatshirt the last time I saw her."
"Not her clothes! Makeup! Hot pink lipstick! It is everywhere!" he barked. "She said you said she could put that shit on."
Zipping up the cooler and handing it to him, Taylor replied, "I did. It is fine. She wanted to show Joules the new trick she learned on YouTube. What's the big deal? We are just going to ride in the car most of the day and then eat with Joules for dinner. Chill."
"Chill? Chill?" he repeated. "You want me to chill? I don't like it. She is growing up too fast.”
Taylor patted his shoulder and said, "I know. But, give her this. What does it hurt?"
Accepting defeat, he replied, "I guess you are right, but tell her to get it off her teeth." Then, with a growl, he added, "I still don't like it."
"Yeah, me either. But that's life." Gesturing to the cooler he was holding, she said, "Put that in the car, and we are ready."
Following her out of the kitchen, he said, "Speaking of things I don't like, explain why we have to drive eight hours to Arkansas to have Thanksgiving with your ex-husband and his family?"
Pinning him with a “don't start with me” look, she pursed her lips and said, "You know why. Bennett and Poppy aren't just my ex-husband and his new family. Besides, you only have to see them one day by going there. I could have invited them for the weekend if you preferred."
Giving her a look ofhorror, he replied honestly, "Oh God no! One day is enough. Plus, it will let me check in on Aunt Edna."
Walking out ahead of him, Taylor got in the car and sarcastically grumbled, "Yeah, Aunt Edna!" She had forgotten about promising to spend the night at her house. Time spent with Edna Stone was always trying for her.
Rosie removed an earpiece from the backseat and asked, "What did you say, Mom?"
"Oh, nothing," Taylor replied, "Just thinking about how nice it will be to see your Aunt Edna again."
