And it’s not just because Chloe made it for him.
“I think we should get you a different shirt.”
“I thought you liked pink sparkles,” he protests.
“I love them—andyouin them. But look”—I nod at the photographs again—“you need some variety.”
“Pink variety?”
“Maybe.”
I snag the bag I stashed next to the couch, hand it to him. “Okay,definitely.”
He takes it, but he’s frowning. “It’syourbirthday, Stitch.”
“Think of this as more of a present for me.”
His frown doesn’t disappear, but he pulls out the tissue paper.
Then the shirt.
Thepinkshirt.
“You weren’t kidding about the pink,” he says lightly, holding it by the shoulders and letting the fabric unfurl. He eyes flick down…and he freezes. “What the?—”
Then the best thing ever happens.
He starts laughing. Loudly.
“What’s so funny, Daddy?” Chloe asks, skipping into the room wearing a sparkly pink dress, Pear and Olive trailing behind her.
“I gave him our shirt,” I say, scooping her up and peppering kisses all over her face.
She giggles. “Did he like it?”
“What do you think?”
Rhodes has stopped laughing…but only because he’s tugging it over his head and smoothing down the front.
Which is emblazoned with?—
Cat Mom
And below that? A screen print of Olive and Pear dressed up like two queens, complete with crowns, scepters, and fur-trimmed robes.
“This is epic,” he exclaims.
“It was Finn’s idea, Daddy!” she says, squirming out of my arms and dancing around, Olive and Pear dancing through her legs.
“You helped,” I say, ruffling her hair.
“Yep.” A nod. “I sure did.”
“I knew my two girls were the best,” Rhodes says, snagging her hand and spinning her around. I watch them for a moment before my gaze is drawn back to the wall and the picture I just hung up.
It’s of the three of us.
And the kittens.
