Page 58 of Hot Cops

“When I grow up, I’m going to marry you, Pop Pop, so you won’t be alone anymore.”

Now he blinked back tears. “That’s a lovely gesture, my sweet girl. Would you like to see some more pictures of your grandma?”

Sunnie nodded eagerly, and Patrick was pleased to have found something they could enjoy together. Looking at family photos was one of his favorite things to do.

He flipped the book to the beginning and pointed to the black-and-white photo. “This is my first photo of your grandma Sunday. It’s how she looked the year I first met her.”

They’d only flipped a few more pages when Landon appeared at the door. “I hurt my elbow.”

Patrick spotted the rug burn on the boy’s arm. “Wrestling again?”

Landon shrugged, clearly not willing to confess.

“I can fix it.” Sunnie darted into the bathroom, emerging with the box ofToy StoryBand-Aids he kept there. His grandchildren, Sunnie especially, were enamored of Band-Aids, always needing one for some tiny paper cut, scratch or imagined wound.

She peeled off the wrapper, placed the brightly colored bandage on his elbow, and then, adorably, kissed the boo-boo.

Landon smiled in appreciation, then looked at the album in Patrick’s hands. “What are you doing?”

“Looking at pictures of my grandma Sunday,” Sunnie said. “I’m named after her.”

“Can I see?”

Patrick patted the empty spot on the other side of him, and Landon climbed onto the bed as well. They flipped through several pages, as Patrick pointed out who everyone was.

“I’m going to be a Collins one day too,” Landon decided, clearly unaware of how families worked.

“You’d make a fine Collins, Landon.”

Patrick was even more pleased when Finn found them a few minutes later, hopping on the bed to look at the album as well.

He’d found a way to allow Sunnie to play with the boys with no one complaining.

Patrick wasn’t sure how long he and the children sat there, flipping through the pages as he told them story after story, delighted by their curiosity about his past and their laughter when he told an amusing tale. He was lost in the memories when Riley’s voice at the doorway startled him.

“Pop?”

They all looked up together. “Oh, Riley. I didn’t hear you come in.”

Patrick was amused by Riley’s expression—one of confusion and shock.

“What are you doing in here?”

“Looking at old pictures,” Sunnie explained. “Of Grandma Sunday and Pop Pop. You made his hair gray.”

Riley glanced from her daughter to him and then to the stack of albums on the foot of the bed. They were three deep, but none of the kids wanted him to stop.

“Have you been here a while?”

Patrick glanced at the clock. “About an hour and a half.”

Riley’s eyes widened. “Hypnosis?”

He gave her a wink. “I’ll never tell.”

“Aaron got off early. He’s on his way back.” She looked at the kids. “Grab all your stuff and I’ll get the baby ready.”

Finn and Landon headed toward the living room, while Riley went to her old room, where the baby was sleeping.

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