“Bobby at school said if two adults like each other, they kiss,” Sadie says, matter-of-factly.
“No more hanging out with Bobby.”
“Bobby’s a good kid,” Harper says. “You’re just mad because they know what it is.”
I point to both girls. “No kissing any boys. Especially that Bobby.”
“Does that mean you kiss Harper?” Sadie asks. “If you love each other, you can kiss.”
“I guess that means we do love each other,” Harper says, looking at me. There’s nothing but love shining through her eyes.
I can’t help myself. I give Harper the shortest, softest, sweetest kiss ever.
“Gross,” both girls say.
“Now.” I want to make this point before I lose them. “While Harper is here, you can call her Harper, but if you see her at school, I want you to call her Miss Smith, okay? The other kids don’t need to be calling her Harper.”
“Okay,” Sam says. “Can we have pancakes now?”
“Yes, time for pancakes,” I tell them.
“If Harper comes over, will Gigi still come play with us?” Sadie asks, following Sam into the kitchen and pulling out the bag of chocolate chips. I don’t miss her sneaking a few in her mouth.
“She will.” I take the bag from her so it won’t be gone before breakfast is made.
Broaching the subject of Harper with my mom is a topic for a different day. Without the ears of little girls around. It’s not one I’m looking forward to. Telling the truth to my mom about what happened all those years ago isn’t going to be easy. There’s a lot of hurt to overcome, but maybe if she sees the two of us are in this for the long haul, it won’t matter.
Breakfast is a happy affair. The girls pepper Harper with questions that she asks them right back. Fuck, I don’t know if I’ve ever been this happy in my life.
“You said we can watch this episode of Bluey,” Sadie tells me after she clears her plate. “One episode, please?”
“Look how sad they look,” Harper whispers. “You have to tell them you like this show.”
“You like Bluey?” Sam pops up from behind me. “You said you didn’t like Bluey.”
“Oops.” Harper is smiling too widely for her own good.
“You set me up for that.”
“I did no such thing.” She throws her hands up in defense.
“You so did.” I drop the plates in the sink and stride around the counter to where Harper is sitting on the stool.
“Oh yeah? What are you going to do about it?”
“Get her, girls.”
Sam and Sadie need no further prompting as we all start tickling Harper. It’s the best punishment I can giveher right now as her laughter mixes with the girls’ and echoes throughout the house.
I’m becoming a sap, because hearing and seeing these three together is about the best damn thing in the world. Getting to wake up to this every weekend?
Yeah, I could get used to it.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
MARCUS
“Hard to believe the holidays are coming up,” Noah tells me.
