After starting the truck, I make sure a kid-friendly playlist is on and listen as Dakota starts to sing the first song.I pull out of the driveway behind Caleb in Cali’s SUV.We leave the compound and I follow them to the local diner.It’s actually Annistyn’s first time inside to eat because we typically get something to bring home or takeout on one of our dates.Yes, we still go out at least once a week and do something.Even if it’s just sitting in the park and eating a meal together.
Annistyn starts to sing along with Dakota and I enjoy the free concert I’m privileged to hear.My Sweet Girl might not know all the words, but she makes up for it with her enthusiasm.I silently laugh at some of the words coming out of her mouth while Annistyn’s voice remains softer than normal so she doesn’t overshadow Dakota.That tells me a lot about the kind of mom she’ll make.My girl always puts the kids first and it doesn’t matter that they aren’t ours by blood.I’ve witnessed her buy a little boy a new ice cream cone when he dropped his in the park and his babysitter wasn’t paying attention.There was an ice cream truck in the parking lot and my girl didn’t hesitate to soothe the little boy as he cried over his dropped treat.Then she went off on the babysitter for not paying attention to anything but her phone.
In the middle of a song, we pull into the parking lot of the diner and I don’t shut the truck off.Dakota loves this song.It’sA Thousand Yearsby Christina Perri.She makes up her own words for the song and we let her go through the entire thing before I shut off the truck and get out to help my girls.I open Annistyn’s door and help her down before closing it and moving to get Dakota out of the truck.The three of us head in the diner to find Caleb, Cali, and the other three kids already at the table in the back we typically sit in here.It’s reserved for members of the club and everyone knows it.
“What took you so long?”Caleb asks as I lift Dakota into the seat after Annistyn places a booster seat down for her.
“Dakota’s favorite song came on before we got here and we let her finish singin’ it,” I tell him as Caleb smiles at his daughter with nothing but love in his eyes.“I was enjoyin’ the concert she gave us on the way here.”
“Silly Girl loves to sing.I see a possible future career for her,” Caleb says indulgently while turning his attention to Kylan next to him.“What are you gonna do in the future, Son?”
“Race bikes,” Kylan says without hesitation and I know he’s been hangin’ out with King way too much because he’s the racer in the club.
“Yeah?Gonna talk to King about that,” Caleb says as he turns to Rory.“What about you, Darlin’?”
“Dancer,” she says immediately and I know she’s just been enrolled in dance classes here in town.In a year or two she wants to start cheerleading because they practice in the same building and she’s watched them.
“Bryce?”Caleb questions his oldest son.
“President of the Feral Dragons,” he tells us with a large smile on his face as I laugh.Bryce’s answer has never once changed.He’s talked about the club since he could understand what it is.
“All good choices,” I say as Annistyn places her hand on my thigh under the table.
We have a circular booth that fits us all.It’s a tight fight, but we always make it work.The kids color on the paper place mats while the rest of us look over the menus to decide what we want.Maysen is our waitress tonight as she makes her way over with drinks for us all.We don’t usually order anything else and we’ve had her take care of us enough for her to know what we all drink.She gives us a shy smile as she sets everything down in front of the correct person.Without making her come back again, we all order our meals as Annistyn listens to Dakota telling her a story about the characters on her place mat.
Throughout our meal, the kids entertain us with stories and listen in as we talk about mundane things.We laugh and have a great time as Annistyn opens up with Cali and they talk about the pictures taken yesterday.Cali wants to see them when Roger’s done and I know she’ll be the first one there.Caleb and I split the bill when it’s time to go and we end up with Dakota and Bryce in my truck on the way home.Dakota wanted her big brother to ride with us and he doesn’t tell her no.Again, my Sweet Girl sings on the short trip back to the compound and I drop them off at Caleb and Cali’s house before moving next door to ours.Annistyn follows me inside rubbing her stomach as I call my mom to check on her.
Annistyn and I spend a while listening to my mom talk about her upcoming doctor’s appointment and how she wants to go back to work because she’s slowly going out of her mind sitting at home every day.Sam has been spending a lot of time with her and taking her out, but it’s not the same.My mom is so used to working every day she doesn’t know what to do when she’s home on a day off.
“Kreed, I’ve been seriously thinking about things since you were here.I’ve decided I want to move to Glendale.I’d rather be around you and Annistyn than stay here with Sam, Playboy and the others.They’re great and I love them, but you’re my son and I want to be closer to you.I want to get to know Annistyn better and spend time with her.Plus, when the two of you start having babies, I’ll be there to help,” my mom says as I look at Annistyn to see her smiling at the phone.
“That sounds perfect,” she tells my mom as they start talking about everything they can do when my mom moves here.I simply listen to them bond and laugh about things.It’s the perfect end to a great day.
When Annistyn and I get off the phone with my mom, I start looking for houses to buy her.I bought the house she has in Benton Falls and won’t allow her to rent or buy something herself here.She’s done so much for me over the years and worked herself until she’s sick to make sure I have everything I could possibly need and most things I wanted.I never once felt as if I weren’t like the rest of the kids because I had her at my back and she tried her absolute best to provide me with things I didn’t really need.It was rough every now and then, but I still never once felt as if I were going without.So, buying her a house when I have the means to do so is nothing to me.It’s something I want to give my mom even though I know she’ll yell at me for it.She can’t ever stay mad at me for very long.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
