Page 33 of Adventures in Spring

I hear them thundering down the stairs, laughing.

“Can we see the otters?” Kaito asks.

“Of course we can. Let’s grab some fruits and snacks for us and the otters.”

We grab a few snacks and drinks to take with us and head out to the otter pond. Francesco started with one otter family, they’re in an enclosed area that the tourists that come to the campgrounds can see. But they can’t touch them without the caretakers there. The rest of us who either live there or know what to do can come and go with the otters.

“I love the otters. I wish we could have one back home.” Miyuki giggles as the otter sits on her lap.

“Maybe we can get a dog. I’ll talk to your mom and see what she thinks. So, I wanted to talk to you both about something. But I need you to keep this a secret from Mommy. I know we always say secrets are bad. But this one is a good secret.”

“Are you gonna marry our mommy?” Kaito asks.

“Would that be okay?” I ask both of them.

“Does that mean you’re our new daddy?” Miyuki asks.

“If you want me to be, yes. But your daddy will always be Seth too. I won’t ever take his place, you can always talk about him to me and tell me your memories. Show me your pictures. I’m here to be your daddy since he can’t be here now. He was a hero. And I don’t want you to ever forget that. I also know that he loved you more than anything in this world.”

“How do you know that? You never met him,” Kaito says as I sit down between them.

“I know because your mommy has told me. About how happy he was when he would come home to all of you after a hard day at work. How he would take all of you on adventures.”

“Will you take us on adventures?” Kaito asks.

“I’ll take you anywhere you want to go.”

“Then yes. You can marry our mommy. But you have to promise to love all of us. And never lie to us,” Miyuki says as she hugs me.

I grab both of them and hug them.

“I promise. I’ll never lie to you and I’ll protect all of you with my life.”

“Is this the secret we can’t tell Mommy yet?” Kaito asks.

“Yes. Just until tomorrow. It has to be a surprise, can you do that for me?”

The twins nod excitedly.

“Then we can tell her about you being our new daddy?” Miyuki asks.

“Yes, after dinner you can tell her.” I chuckle and hug them again. “I love you both.”

Epilogue

Emiko

Something’s up with Rhett and I don’t know what it is. He told me to dress casually and then don’t come out of the house until someone comes to get me. Oh, and don’t peek out of the windows. It’s sounds like something that should be easy. But it’s not. I don’t even have the kids with me to keep me company.

I know there’s something going on outside. I need to know…this isn’t fair. I sit down and pout, but there’s no one to see me throw my mini tantrum.

As I’m wallowing in my self-pity, the front door opens. And in walks my dad.

“What are you doing here?” I say to him.

“I’m here to put the blindfold on you and lead you into your future.”

I have no idea what my dad is talking about.

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