Page 81 of Pretty Baby

“Yes!” Caleb agreed eagerly. He climbed to his feet and brushed off the grass.

Avery gasped. “I’m sorry! Sorry!” he started to pat Caleb’s arm as he teared up.

“What’s wrong?” Caleb asked then looked for Grant. Why was Avery upset?

Grant, Jace, and Byron all hurried over.

“What wrong baby boy?” Jace asked Avery gently.

Avery was still patting him. “I sorry. I knocked you down and got you dirty. You’re so pretty. Your shirt! So pretty! Sorry!”

Caleb glanced down at his cami. Sure there was some grass on him but he had been having fun. “It’s okay. Daddy brought me some of my other pretties in case I get dirty.”

“Okay?” Avery rubbed his eyes before peering up at Caleb. Caleb had a few inches on him.

“Yep! I have lots of pretties. Daddy keeps buying them for me.”

“Crisis averted,” Byron murmured before he turned and headed back to the porch while smiling.

“Can I touch?” Avery asked his fingers already heading the direction of his shirt.

“Sure.” Caleb shrugged.

Avery ran his fingers over the bottom of the cami then the lace. “Soft, so soft. And pretty.”

“Thanks.” Caleb danced from side to side. “I like your shirt too. Lions are so cool!”

Avery wiggled his bottom. “Lions are brave! I’m a brave boy!”

“Me too!” Caleb grabbed Avery’s hands and bounced again. “I have never worn my pretties in front of anyone but my Daddy. I wanted to show you though.”

“Yeah! Pretty! Pretty!” Avery jumped around.

They were making a circle jumping as both Grant and Jace chuckled.

“Wait! Sandbox!” Caleb remembered.

Avery tugged him toward the corner of the porch where the sandbox was located. He stopped and bent to pick up the pacifier that had fallen from his mouth. He started to lift it when Jace yelled.

“Don’t you put that in your mouth boy.”

Avery jumped.

“What have we talked about?”

Avery dropped his head. “If my binkie falls out when I’m outside playing it has to be cleaned.”

“That’s right.” Jace walked over and held his hand out.

Avery shook his head frantically and he held his hand behind his back.

Jace sighed. “It needs to be washed.”

“I want it!” Avery wailed.

Jace reached into his pocket and pulled out a green pacifier with a turtle on it.”

“No! Giraffe.”

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