Rather than go quietly like I expect, she throws a fit and begs to stay up with us.
“What if Uncle Ezra puts you to bed?” Millie suggests.
Me?
“Yay!” Bea catapults out of Ethan’s arms.
I catch her at the last second, then wander to the cabins. Rachel, thankfully, accompanies us and directs me to pick out a book while she helps Bea change into her pajamas and brush her teeth.
Once she’s in bed, she pats the mattress. “Sit.”
Beside her, I stretch out my legs on top of her pastel rainbow comforter and begin reading.
“No, no, no,” she says two sentences into the story. “You have to do the funny voices.”
My chest tightens. “I don’t?—”
“You heard her.” Millie stands in the doorway, as if she’s appeared out of nowhere.
I raise a brow, silently conveying that I know what she’s doing and that she’ll pay for it later.
After a full day with the little girl, I understand why Asher is the way he is. It’s impossible to say no to that puppy dog face.
Bolstering my nerve, I clear my throat and attempt my best toad voice.
Immediately, the girls fall into a fit of giggles.
“Why do you sound like an Irish Jamaican?” Millie gasps.
Rachel sidles up next to her daughter, her hands on her hips. “What’s going on here?”
“Uncle Ezra is funny.” Bea climbs to her knees and wraps her arms around my neck.
I return the embrace, realizing that the room has fallen silent. Still in the doorway, Millie leans into Rachel, and the two of them share a sentimental look.
“Okay,” Bea says far too loudly when she’s so close to my ear. She flops back onto the bed and burrows under the covers. “I need my booty sleep now. Good night.”
I chuckle. “Bootysleep? I think you meanbeautysleep.”
She tilts her head, her messy hair dragging across her pillow. “Then what’sbooty?”
Across the room, Millie gives me a soft smile and nods in approval.
“Uh, well”—I scratch at the back of my neck, suddenly worried Asher may murder me—“your booty is your butt.”
Her eyes widen, then she breaks into another fit of laughter, kicking her feet under the covers.
“All right, you two.” Rachel flips the light off and steps into the room. “It’s time for bed, little one. You’ll see Ezra in the morning.”
“Uncle Ezra,” she corrects her grandmother.
I ruffle her hair. “Good night, Bea.”
“Night, Dolly.” Millie blows her a kiss from the door.
“Hey, Uncle Ezra?”
“Yes?”
