Page 80 of Laws of Love
It was the day’s second game, and the kids were having a blast. They’d let the youngest group play first, and it was just a chaotic mess of children running around and trying to take each other’s flags regardless of who had the ball. He hadn’t expected it to be any other way, and as long as they had fun, he and Ezra didn’t care how they played.
Knox glanced over to where the art stations were. After the first game, Aiva and Yasmine went to sit at one of the tables and draw while his daughter talked to Aiva about who only knew what. From the smiles on both their faces, they were enjoying whatever the conversation was about.
He returned his attention to the game as one team cheered while Ezra yelled touchdown. He and Coen, who was overseeing the obstacle course, were probably having more fun than the kids. Wolfe had taken it easy and sat in a lounge chair, ensuring no child fell and hurt themselves while hula hooping.
When the game ended, and the flags were returned, he and Ezra placed them to the side. There was one more game, but they’d scheduled it for later in the afternoon. Knox went over to Aiva and Yasmine, looking over their drawing.
“Hi, Daddy,” Yasmine greeted as he sat beside her.
“Hey, sweetie. Those are some pretty flowers.”
“Thank you. These are all the flowers I remember from Nana’s garden.”
“She’s been teaching me about some of them,” Aiva stated as she set her crayon aside. “She really likes flowers.”
“And vegetables. Nana grows a couple in her garden,” Yasmine added.
“Every time we visit my parents, it’s the first place she wants to go,” Knox stated.
“I wish I could grow my own garden, but they wouldn’t get enough sunlight inside the house. Nana says some things don’t do well in small spaces either,” Yasmine stated absently as she colored the stem of a flower.
“That’s true,” Aiva responded. “Some things need space because they grow to be quite big. Like a rose bush or a cornstalk.” She paused for a second. “If you want to, you can start a little garden in my backyard.”
Yasmine’s head shot up, and her eyes widened. “Really? I can?!”
Aiva laughed. “Yes, if that’s okay with your dad.”
“Can I?” Yasmine asked hopefully as she looked at him.
“I don’t see why not.”
“Can we do it today?” Yasmine questioned.
“It’ll be late when we leave here, but we can go to the store to get seeds and plants in the morning and do it before it gets too hot out,” Aiva suggested.
“Yes, please,” his daughter responded with a smile and an enthusiastic nod. “Can Kaley come and help us?”
“I’ll call her mom and see,” Aiva responded.
They sat there for the next ten minutes while Yasmine finished her drawing, and she spoke excitedly about her little garden and how excited she was. When she finished her picture, she asked if she could go hula hoop, and Knox felt comfortable letting her go alone since Wolfe was there.
Aiva folded Yasmine’s drawing gently, placing it into a drawstring bag she’d brought with her that contained sunscreen, bug spray, and hand sanitizer. There had also been three visors in it, but she’d put on one and given the other two to him and Yasmine.
“Are you sure you’re okay with her starting her garden in your backyard?” Knox asked once Yasmine was safe with Wolfe.
“I wouldn’t have offered it if I wasn’t. Besides, I have this area that would be perfect for starting a small garden. It’s already sectioned off into two areas, like whoever lived there before might have had one, but they took all the plants with them.”
“She will want to come by often to check on it. She does the same thing with my mom.”
Aiva shrugged. “I don’t mind if you’re okay with that.”
Knox reached over and grabbed her hand, kissing her knuckles. “It means I get to see you, so I’m not complaining.”
“I suppose you’re smooth or whatever,” she teasingly responded.
He chuckled. “I told the guys about the cruise, and Ezra is coming. Wolfe and Coen have commitments they can’t get out of.”
“No worries. We’ll have to let them know sooner next time.”
