Page 109 of The Summer of Us

“I play with Chase?”

I took the carrier to the desk and set it beside the table. “I’ll be right over there.”

“Okay.” She bent over, whispering to Chase. She always did that, and I often wondered what secrets she was sharing.

I pulled Sunny into my arms and held her. “You okay?”

She sighed, burrowing closer. I sat down and tucked her onto my lap. We both needed to be close.

“That hurt?” she asked. “Saying the word punishment?”

“Yeah, it did.”

“Pretty lame punishment, Daddy. She got off easy.”

“It was all I could come up with on the spur of the moment. It’s my first time, you know. Cut me some slack.”

She smirked. “I think we’ll find we’ll need some more, ah, guidelines.”

“Christ, she’s too smart. All happy and proud, walking in, clutching your pass, coming to see me,” I muttered. “Telling me how she waited for the little man before crossing the street.”

Sunny covered a laugh behind her hand. “Lori said the back door buzzed, so she went to let in the supplier. She told Mandy she’d be right back. She’s sat there having her snack numerous times—she’s never done this before.”

I sighed. “I’d never waved to her before and said I missed her. I’m sure the idea popped into her head. I think we’re entering new territory here.” I glanced over at Amanda and groaned. “And she’ll teach Chase. She’s already started.”

Sunny followed my gaze. “You said no TV. She’s streaming.”

I put my lips close to her ear. “She’d tell us it’s a computer, therefore different.”

“We are so screwed,” Sunny sighed.

I watched Amanda as she sat on the floor, pointing out funny things on the screen to Chase. She’d pulled Abby’s laptop down with her, signing in, no doubt using the password Abby shared with her at some point.

Amanda knew she was bending the rules, and I tried not to find delight in my little rebel of a daughter. She knew I would take away the computer, and she would surrender it with no fuss, but until then, she would enjoy her time with her brother.

And the sight of it made me smile.

“We are screwed,” I agreed.

“But I love them,” Sunny sighed again. “Our little fusspot and the rulebreaker.”

I hugged her close. I rather looked forward to seeing what they would do to keep us on our toes.

We’d certainly never be bored.

“Me too,” I assured her. “Especially their mother.” I kissed her. Once. Twice. Third time for luck.

She cupped my face. “Now, let’s take them home,” she said. “I have biscuits for you in the car. We can have them for lunch before you forget the no-dessert thing too.”

I had to kiss her again. An unexpected afternoon with my family.

“Perfect.”

* * *

Twelve years later

AMANDA