Page 51 of Recipes for Life

I gave him a nod, confirming that what she said was true.

I heard Lux screech from outside, “Daddy! You’re home! Wynn said I had to leave her and Momma alone so they could have someadulttime. You never have adult time, Daddy!”

“Lux, that’s rude.”

“It can’t be rude if it’s true. Daddy doesn’t have friends; he has me, Leon, Grandma, and Grandpa.”

“Gee, thanks, kid, there go all my cool points.” He grinned at her, not the least bit offended that our child basically called him out for havingnofriends.

“It’s Thursday! It’s journal day!”

Oh yeah, the journals.

“Maybe not tonight, Lux…we have company.”

“Oh no, you don’t. I was about to leave, anyway.”

Wynn started gathering up her stuff to take off, shot me a wink, and left farearlierthan she had originally planned. Giving me, Murphy, and Lux the house for once.

“Journal time! Journal time!”

“Okay, okay, you go grab yours, and I’ll get mine.”

I didn’t miss the way that Murphy's face was now crimson, and I had to admit that Ilovedit.

Lux was back in seconds, and I could tell Murphy was intentionally taking longer.

“Daddy! Let’s go!” Lux shouted before I could call him on it, and I chuckled.

Forever the charmer, that girl.

He rounded the corner, sheepishly, and then said, “Okay, you first, kiddo.”

She listed her good things, her bad things, and how they made her feel. If she could have reacted differently to a situation, which one would it be, and why? I was a little bit in awe.

“Do you do this often?” I whispered.

“Every Thursday.”

“Okay! Your turn, Daddy!”

Murphy did the same thing, keeping his questions and answers pretty vague.

“Okay! And now Mom’s!”

I looked at both of them in confusion.

“Mine?”

“Of course, silly!We update yours every Thursday, too!”

“Maybe not tonight, Lux.”

“No, this is the way we do it.”

I could tell she was a few seconds away from throwing a tantrum. Even though she was starting to adjust back to her normal self and routine, the first few days after the accident really scared her. She was thriving on her routine, and who was I to mess that up? Not to mention, I was dying to find out what they were talking about.

“Please,” she begged, and I saw Murphy’s face cave.

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