Page 100 of Trouble Comes in Threes

Hope beamed. “We helped make the cookies, Daddy.”

“I could tell,” Joe said, swallowing his food, then reaching for a glass of water and taking a big gulp. “It was full of extra love.”

“I helped too, Uncle Joe,” Daisy said.

“And I could taste your part too,” Joe teased. “The really, really sweet part.”

Both girls giggled.

While Joe finished his dinner, the kids all told him about their day, with Hope and Daisy repeating parts of what Ashley, Mikey, and each other had said. But he listened patiently, even though I could tell he wanted nothing more than to stretch out on our bed and go to sleep.

When he finished his plate, I got him a cookie, and he quizzed the girls on which parts they’d played in the cookie-making process.

Ashley was quiet, and I was worried about her. I knew I’d spooked her with my nightmare the night before, and now she’d caught on that I’d had sketches made of two people I’d seen in my dreams. Normal people didn’t do that.

Joe shoved the last bite of cookie into his mouth and announced it was time for everyone to brush their teeth and go to bed.

The older kids complained that Joe had just gotten home, and they hadn’t seen him all day, but I told them he was tired, and they could see him sometime tomorrow.

At least I hoped.

Jed announced it was time for his family to go home, and Daisy started to cry, begging to spend the night with Hope.

I glanced over at Joe to get his take. He was worried, but was he worried about our safety or the fact he had two homicides on his hands?

“I’m fine with it if you two are comfortable,” Joe said, holding Jed’s gaze.

That made me feel better. Joe would never encourage them to leave their daughter if he thought we might be in danger. The real question was whether Jed felt comfortable leaving her.

“Are you goin’ to church tomorrow?” Jed asked.

I hadn’t even thought about church, but that was our typical Sunday morning routine, so it made sense to go. Even if I would be handling all the kids on my own.

“Yeah. Are you wanting to pick up Daisy there?”

“That seems like a lot for you to deal with,” said Neely Kate.

“We’ll be fine,” I said. We had a spare car seat for when Daisy was with us. “But if you two are getting a child-free night, you should leave immediately and take advantage of it.”

Neely Kate gave Jed a dry look. “I suppose that depends on him.”

Jed gave her a frown that suggested they were still in the middle of a disagreement. Maybe they’d be able to resolve it if they weren’t tiptoeing around Daisy.

“Before I head to the office, I can help Rose and get the kids loaded in the car to head to church,” Joe offered.

Jed relented, and he and Neely Kate kissed Daisy goodnight. She gave them gentle hugs and kisses, then ran upstairs so she and Hope could brush their teeth together.

Neely Kate motioned to the stairs. “They’re gonna need supervision.”

I laughed. “Really? This is my first time putting children to bed.”

She cringed. “Sorry. Habit.”

I gave her a playful grin. “Go. We’re good. Enjoy your kid-free night, and we’ll see you tomorrow.”

We got them out the door and oversaw the children’s teeth brushing. I took Liam into his room and began to rock him under the low lamp light. He seemed especially clingy tonight, and I wanted to give him some extra attention.

Joe found me and said from the doorway, “I’m gonna take a quick shower. Meet you in our room when you’re done?”

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