Dammit, he’d said not to bother JP.
He counted to ten, waiting for Peter to be done so he could go get Tori.
He got Peter redressed, and his hands washed.“Come on.Let’s get sister.”
He found her in the dining room on the bed with JP, showing him her little drill set.
“An’ you zhuzh it like dis, Dad.”
“That’s pretty cool, Tori.Show me how you zhuzh it again?”
“Gimme you hand.You learn by doin’.”
Ian rolled his eyes, but grinned.“You’re not supposed to be bothering him.”
She shot him a look.“I not!I’mplayingwif him.”
“She has a point,” JP noted, giving him a look that was an awful lot like Tori’s.“And I’m sick and tired of being sick and tired and sleeping all the time, so the distraction is welcome.”
“Yous supposed to do it, Dad!”Tori pushed the drill into JP’s hand.
“Right.So like this?”
She watched him like a hawk, then applauded.“Good job, Dad.You do-ed it.”
Peter frowned and wiggled.“I wanna play.I went potty.”
“Did you?All by yourself?”JP asked, eyes wide.
“Uh-huh.I telled Daddy, and we went.”
“You did.I’m proud.”He let Peter go to the bed and look over, so curious.
God, he was exhausted, and he didn’t want to think JP was cute.
He was, though.It was adorable the way he was paying attention to the kids, looking like he was absolutely fascinated.
“Sister.I wanna play!”
Tori shrugged.“I climbed.”
She pointed to the walker.
Peter looked like he was trying to decide between climbing and crying.
“Come on up, Petey.There’sy room for you too.”JP patted the space next to Tori.
“Do you need help, baby?”He picked Peter up and put him gently on the bed.
One of JP’s eyebrows went up, but he didn’t say anything.
Tori on the other hand frowned.“That’s not climbing, Daddy.”
“It’s not.I don’t want you climbing on things.You know better.”
“It’s fun!”
“Uh-huh.”He didn’t want to hear it.
