Page 50 of The Beta's Heart

“Tonight?!” Charlie’s eyes widened, and a hand flew to her mouth as tears welled in her eyes.

“Don’t even tell me you can’t go because there’s not enough time to get gussied up,” I warned her with a fake scowl.

“No, it’s not that. It’s just… yellow roses are my favorite.”

It took her a while to get ready, especially since she changed her outfit seven or eight times, but she finally stood at the front door, looking at me with wide, scared eyes.

“You’ll do great, Charlie. Be yourself and have fun.”

“Thank you. Don’t forget to pick the boys up from—”

“I won’t,” I assured her. “Dawson and Sawyer are at a birthday party, Austin and Zach are at karate practice, and Rook’s field trip will be back at 8:30 p.m. I got it, Charlie, I promise.”

Taking a deep breath, she nodded and went out the door.

“Good luck,” I murmured as I went to find Honor.

She was in her room, messing with her baby dolls, and I knocked on the jamb before I went inside.

“Hey, pretty lady.”

“Beta Ty! You want to play babies with me?”

“I’ll take a rain check on that since I already have other plans.” When her bottom lip pooched out in a pout, I hurried to add, “Plans that includeyou. Want to go on a date with me tonight?”

“Yes, yes, yes!” Her eyes lighting up, she stood and started jumping up and down. “My first date!”

“I’d hope it’s your first. You’re only six, after all,” I chuckled.

Letting her lead me to her closet, I helped her pick out a “fancy” dress, which ended up being one of her costume princess gowns, then watched as she tried to pull her hair up in a ponytail, failed, and turned to me with a trembling chin and glossy eyes.

“Oh, hey, now, none of that. It’s okay to cry, but this is a tiny problem and not worth even one of your precious tears. I’ll help you.”

When she nodded and held up her brush, I swallowed hard. I didn’t know what to do with a little girl’s hair! I barely knew what to do with my own! But she was trusting me, so what else could I do except step up to the plate and swing at the ball I was pitched?

If I had my druthers, I would have left her hair down, but she insisted that princesses wore their hair up with their fancy dresses, so I did my best to gather it all up in one fist, then held out my other hand for the hair tie she’d picked out.

“Why is it so dang small?” I groused as I tried to get my thick fingers through it. “Piddlin’ thing!”

After two attempts, I finally managed to tie up her hair, and ninety percent of it was actuallyinthe ponytail, so I took that as a home run and turned her to face the mirror.

“There you go, little missy. Pretty as a peach,” I told her, and she beamed.

Since Charlie had taken her personal vehicle, I fired up the orphanage minivan, and we headed to Roger’s Diner. The moment we stepped inside, the familiar aroma of coffee and burgers on the grill hit my nostrils, and I took a big inhale of the comforting smell.

“Beta Ty,” Honor whispered urgently and tugged my sleeve.

Looking down, I saw her scared face and realized she’d been startled by everyone’s eyes on us before they went back to their meals.

Scooping her up in my arms, I hugged her tight.

“It’s okay,” I murmured as she dug her face in my neck. “I’dneverlet anything happen to you, little pup.”

As I patted her back, I saw Nathan and Evie Barlow, along with most of their sons, settled at the large corner booth, and Mr. Barlow spotted me at the same time. Taking in my armload of shy little girl, he waved us over while linking me to join them with my date.

As I walked over to their table, Honor peeped out of her hiding spot, scanned the group, and whispered, “Down,” in my ear.

The second I set her on her feet, her fear magically vanished, and she scampered over to sit next to Wesley, who stared at her like he didn’t know whether to check his butt or scratch his watch, bless his little heart.

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