Keep it cool, Bea,I warned myself as I walked toward the shop, trying to keep the calm facade on the outside so I didn’t freak anyone out.
In true Willow Lake fashion, several people were out and about. They nodded politely as I passed. It was familiar enough that I relaxed little by little.
A shadow fell over me as a small, but mighty, person stepped into my path, nearly making me stumble.
"Where are those hot firemen?" Dolly asked as she stepped in front of me. I was only a few stores from the bookshop… almost safe.
"Huh?" I asked stupidly, lost in my own world.
"Those firemen I set you up with, that’s who. Why aren't they following you around?" she demanded.
"Well, they do have a serious job, Dolly," I reminded her. We both knew I was playing it dumb now and she was not amused.
"Yeah, but I thought that they'd be worshipping the ground you walk on. What is wrong with them?" she asked in a huff. I couldn’t let them take the fall for me.
"I love you for that, Dolly, but I've asked for some space. It's me, Dolly, not them," I reassured her.
"I'm going to see them and whack them with my purse a couple times until they kiss your feet," Dolly said, completely ignoring me.
"What? No need, how about we head to the bookstore and we find you something smutty to read with firemen in it?" I countered.
"Oh, I think I'd like that," she smiled at me and hooked her arm in mine. "Are there many of those types of books?"
"Smutty or firemen?" I questioned, slowing my pace to match hers.
"Both," she answered.
"I have a whole new world for you," I told her as I stopped to open the door for her. "Dani, where's my baby? And Dolly needs some firemen smut."
"At the counter," she called back.
Dolly and I made our way back to where she was standing with Wrigley in a cute, little Knuckleball Knockouts onesie.
"Here is the one of the only two men I need," I said, holding my hands out for the chubby little angel. Dani passed him over with a smile.
"Two?" Dolly asked, looking at me, then Dani, for clarification.
"Oh, yeah. Liam would be jealous if I left him out," I reminded her.
"Did someone say Liam?" Matthias asked as he rounded the corner with my other nephew.
"There's my other man," I cooed as they got closer. Matthias handed him to me as well.
"Taryn is running a few minutes late. Gem decided to blow out her diaper after she was loaded in the car seat," he explained. "Can you two keep an eye on him? I have a full day of painting ahead of me."
"Oh no, all this cuteness and they are all mine for the morning?" I questioned with fake sarcasm. "What am I to ever do?"
"Thank you," he said, giving Liam a kiss on his forehead before he disappeared from where he came.
"Bea, if they get to be too much, just let me know and I'll come and get Wrigley, or take both," Dani said. She had a million questions in her expression but shut it down for my sake. Dollywas the lady you wanted in your corner, but not with your secrets.
"I will, now get this sweet lady her firemen smut, stat," I said before I walked back to my office with my favorite boys.
Once we got there, I set Liam down for a minute to gather up my laptop and a few files and loaded them into my backpack. I slung it over my back and picked up Liam. I navigated the halls to the kids room and got us all settled in.
This was the smartest upgrade we did here at work. It was an adorable playroom with a smart TV mounted to the wall so we could stream music or movies, had soft mats on the floor and plenty of toys. Mathias had painted it in an adorable fantasy theme so the walls were covered in a gorgeous fantasy forest with a twisting tree and dragons in the air.
Liam was excited to see the toys and was squirming to get down, but Wrigley, on the other hand, was yawning. I placed the toddler in front of the toys and settled onto the couch with Wrigley. A lot of my work could be done on my phone, but it was easier to answer the email with a real keyboard.
