Page 71 of Shattered Dreams

After showers, we loaded up the van and ran through a McDonald’s drive-thru for breakfast before heading back to our campsite.

The boys were trying hard to stay on task and I noticed the more confident Grady got, the less he misspoke.

“Grady, Tyler, hold your pole. I’m coming over to you.”

I finished pounding the stake in for the corner Harrison held.

“Hey, Richard?”

“Yeah, buddy?”

“Thank you.”

“For what?”

“Teaching us stuff.”

“No problem, kiddo.” I ruffled his hair and walked around to his brothers to secure that pole.

“Now we do this again with the other poles.” Grady slowed himself down to speak.

“Sure do, Grady.” I winked at him, and he beamed with pride.

The boys continued to help me with things and as much as it slowed me down; it made me appreciate them more.

I want to be Jo’s husband and their father.

Once we finished, we wandered over to where Jo sat talking with another woman and toddler. “How’s it going?”

“Good, this is Trish. Her family is catty-wampus from us.”

“Cool.” I held out my hand. “I’m Richard. And these fine fellows are Harrison, Grady, and Tyler.”

“My husband, Jacob, is taking our twins fishing.” She thumbed over her should as a man walked up with a boy and girl that appear to be about Grady’s age.

“Jake.” He held out his hand.

“Richard.”

“We’re heading down to fish. You and your boys are welcome to join us.”

Looking at the kids, the five have already made friends. “Sounds like a plan.” Turning to Jo, I smiled. “You and the girls’ll be ok?”

“Yeah, they’ve got a camper. We’re gonna go have some coffee and let the little ones play.”

Nodding, I leaned in and kissed her. “We’ll see you later.”

Her cheeks turned pink, and she smiled. “See you later. Boys, be good.”

“We will, mama!” Harrison said as he waved.

I grabbed my fishing gear and went off with the boys on another adventure. Conversation was easy, the kids are happy, and we found a brilliant spot to settle in and teach them all.

Every time one kid caught a fish, we all got excited, but nobody wanted to keep them to eat.

Which ended up being a good thing, because I didn’t think I was up for a teaching session on gutting and skinning.

Jake focused on his two, leaving me to focus on my three.

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