Page 114 of The Forever Play

Is he about to cry?

I’ve never seen my dad this emotional before, and it’s freaking me out.

“Uh… guys, are you?—”

“How old are you, Zoey, sweetheart?” Mom’s smilingat my daughter, tinkling her fingers and giggling when Zoey holds up her fingers.

I correct the amount she’s showing. “Two. You’re two.”

“Me two.” She nods, then holds up the leaves she’s been collecting. “Lellow!”

“You’ve been collecting yellow leaves?” Mom is fully engaged now, and it’s kind of funny listening to her high-pitched voice and expressive demeanor. “Aren’t you a clever girl.”

Zoey grins at the phone, then looks at me with a worried frown. “Why cwying?”

Glancing at my dad, I let out a soft laugh and explain, “Those are happy tears. My dad’s just really happy to meet you.”

Dad blinks and sniffs, swiping a finger under his nose. “Does she know you’re her father?” He’s asking me but using the same tone my mother just was. Keeping this all light and playful.

“She’s getting there.” I kiss the top of her curls again, and Mom lets out this soft whimper.

“She’s so cute.”

“Yeah, I know. You’ll have to come meet her in person sometime.”

“When?” Mom jumps off her stool, running over to the calendar on the wall. “Can we come one weekend?”

“That’s a long way to go for just the weekend, Elise.”

“Oh, Brett, stop. It’s just a two-hour flight and a ninety-minute car ride.”

“And the first forty minutes to even get to the airport.”

“It’s not too far!”

“And he’s got football. We can’t get in the way of that.”

“Oh!” Mom lets out a little growl, and I quickly cut through the brewing argument.

“Why don’t you guys come for Thanksgiving? I’m playing on the Friday, but we could see you on Thursday maybe. I’ll need to check with Sienna first. And if you come, you have to promise me you’ll be nice to her.”

“Of course we’ll be nice to her.” Mom looks offended.

I shoot a dry look at the phone. “Yeah, because you were always so warm and inviting when we dated in high school.”

Mom opens her mouth to counter me, but she’s got nothing.

They were just plain mean to my girl back then, and I can only imagine how she’ll react if they show up in Nolan for a weekend.

“Let me just talk to her and I’ll get back to you. If it’s not Thanksgiving, then we’ll try to find another time, okay?”

“You’re not going to deny us access to our granddaughter, are you?” Dad asks.

“I just introduced you to her.” I bulge my eyes at him and am already dreading their visit.

But then Dad catches Zoey’s eye and blows her a kiss. She giggles and blows one right back. Then Mom gets in on the action, and I crouch there until my knees start aching while Zoey attempts to catch wayward kisses.

“Zan-Man, where you at?” Tyrell calls through the house, and I quickly stand, bringing Zoey with me.

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