Page 53 of Higher Notes

“I love it!” Nolan bounced on the bed. “Thank you, Mr. Wyatt and Mr. Sniper.”

“You’re welcome, silly boy.” I snagged him off the bed mid jump and swung him through the air. “Now you’re an airplane in your zoo room.”

Nolan giggled. “It’s not a zoo.”

“It’s not?” Looked like one to me.

“Well, I guess it kinda is. What did Gabe get?”

These two had been so busy messing about in their rooms they hadn’t seen Gabe’s.

“Let’s go find out.” I zoomed him out of the room, flying through the air and into his brother’s room.

“That’s so cool!” Nolan pointed to the vintage Nintendo controller on his wall. Gabe’s room was a series of video game decals.

“Yeah, it is.” Gabe was busy loading his clothes into his new dresser. Likely the one and only time he wouldn’t complain about putting his laundry away.

“Glad you like it,” Sikes said.

“Yeah, thanks.” A preteen of few words.

“Let’s go see Mom’s room, Mr. Sniper.”

“Lead the way, little man.” He broke into a silly penguin march, so we followed behind him doing the same.

“To what do I owe the March of the Penguins?” Dana smiled wide. “You’ve seen that movie a million times, Nolan.”

“I know ‘cause it’s the best!” He hopped up on Dana’s freshly made bed. “Your room is ginormous. Like the size of our old apartment.”

“It is. We’ve all been spoiled by your brother and these wonderful men.”

According to Jason, Dana had the same mattress since he was born. She was more than due the new one we bought that hopefully would include a great night’s sleep for her.

“I know I sound like a broken record, but I just can’t believe this is really our life.”

“Get used to it, Mom,” Jason laid a big noisy kiss on her cheek. “’Cause we’re gonna spoil you rotten.”

“You already are. All of us. I saw the kids’ rooms and they’re every kid’s dream. I only wish I’d have been able to give you all of that growing up.”

“None of that, Mom. You gave me all I needed. We’ve all got it now and we’re all together and that’s all that matters.”

“That was a lot of alls, Jase.” I loved the levity in Dana now. Long gone was the worried mother of three, taking the weight of the world and her family upon her overworked shoulders.

“Yup, for all of us.” Jason winked.

“Oh yeah, I forgot,” Sikes smiled. “We have one more surprise. Everyone, follow me.”

Down the stairs we went. How the kids had missed this I’d never know. The damn thing was huge. Sikes whipped open the sliding door. “Ta-da!”

More squeals came from Nicole and Nolan just as they had when they’d first seen their bedrooms. They ran right outside and onto the jungle gym with Gabe behind them.

“You men have truly outdone yourselves.” Dana gave us each a hug. “It’s wonderful that they now have a safe outdoor space.” And a safer area to live in, though I kept that comment to myself.

“Yes, and there’s a lock on the gate.” Sikes was all about safety, as was I. “Cameras front and back. There isn’t a portion of the outside of the house we can’t see at any given time.”

The app had been loaded on all our phones. Anytime the alarm we’d each chosen chimed all we had to do was pull up the app and see what was going on. Fizzbo could review the notifications if need be but unless we or the alarm company alerted him of an issue he had no reason to pry.

While the kids played outside, Gabe included, the adults prepared dinner. It’d be an early night for us given the long day we had. Full bellies and tired bodies told me the little ones would be down for the count shortly after we ate. It was nice sitting down to a family dinner at the same table with everyone for the first time.

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