Still nothing. The rain onlythump, thump, thumped.
Emmaline military crawled a little farther in, about as far as she figured her hips would allow. “Everyone wants you to be okay. Me, especially.”
“Why?” Annie asked, looking at her little hands.
Well, that was another simple answer. “Because we all love you very much.”
“I wish I had a mum.”
Emmaline’s throat clogged. That was not easy at all.
Emmaline’s heart hurt for her. “You are an awesome kid. And I think you are pretty special to have Ethan as your dad. No one else gets to call him their dad.”
A tear fell down Annie’s cheek. Emmaline felt that trail of wet right in the smack dab center of her heart. But like Barbie had said, only the strongest women were willing to cry.
“You willalwaysbe first for him. And he’s super worried,” Emmaline said.
Annie wiped at the tears with her wrist. “He’s going to be so mad at me.”
“Maybe.” Emmaline figured the truth was going to always be the best with Annie. “But I think you should tell him what you told me, so he’ll know. And he can help you see how much you mean to him.”
“You’re really nice.” Annie stared at Em like she was her everything.
Emmaline had no problem reciprocating. “You’re really nice, too.”
“I’m getting cold,” Annie said.
“Me. Too.” And uncomfortable to boot.
Emmaline moved closer in toward Annie, even though she was not dressed for the playhouse or the tube. “Sometimes hugs help. Can I give you a hug?”
Annie nodded.
Emmaline did more of the military crawl, but…uh. There was no forward movement happening for Emmaline. She was half in, part out of the tube, and there was likely not enough butter or WD-40 in the world to get her moving.
Oh no. She tried to move back, but her hips were sort of turned and there was not room to turn over and slide out.
This children’s tube clearly wasn’t built for adults who enjoyed any amount of Rice Krispies treats.
“Annie.” Emmaline looked at her. “I’m stuck. Give me a pull?”
Emmaline gave Annie her hands. Annie did not have a problem maneuvering in the tube. She pulled and huffed and pulled, but Emmaline was really stuck.
“You’re not moving,” Annie said, dropping Emmaline’s hands.
Nope, she wasn’t. “I think we are going to need some help.”
Damn. Damn. Dammit. Damn.
“Emmaline?” Mom called from the porch. “Where are you?”
“I’m in here,” Emmaline yelled. “I’ve got Annie.”
“She’s stuck,” Annie hollered. Then she got right up to Emmaline’s face. “I’ll get help.”
Emmaline nodded, because it’s really the only thing she could do. “Go find your dad first. He needs to know you’re okay.”
“Okay,” Annie said.
