Page 92 of Bonus Daddy
Back at the farmhouse, no one mentioned the little snuggle nap Jess and I had taken. Though when I woke up, I was subjected to questions from both her brothers.
Josh, who’d been a teenager when I visited twenty years ago, was now a broad, serious investment banker turned maple farmer. Jasper,the baby of the family, had been a little boy when I met him. Now, he was a tall, lanky fireman covered with tattoos, and he sported the kind of confidence that came with being under thirty and having visible abs.
While neither of them had explicitly asked about my intentions, I got the sense that we were two beers away from a full-blown interrogation.
I’d spent the day preparing for the eventuality. So when two little spitfires cornered me after dinner, I was thrown off-kilter.
When Kit and Greta asked me to help them get a few board games from the upstairs closet, I gladly followed them. Yet as I peered into the open closet, Kit shut the bedroom door behind her and crossed her arms over her chest.
“We need to talk to you,” she said.
Greta stood next to her, making sure to block my exit. “Have a seat.” She gestured to an old wooden rocking chair next to a large picture window.
I eased into the seat, careful to make sure it was sturdy before giving it all my weight. My heart hammered, because the serious expressions the girls wore were unfamiliar and a tad worrisome.
Five minutes ago, they had been competing with their cousins to see who could fit the most brownies in their mouths, cackling and full of glee. Greta, in fact, still had some chocolate smeared above her lip. Yet here we were, and by the way they scrutinized me, it was clear they meant business.
“Our mom is awesome,” Kit said.
“The best,” Greta echoed.
“And our dad sucks.”
“Kit.” Greta’s little brown eyes widened in shock.
“You know it’s true.” She huffed. “He doesn’t think of anyone but himself.”
Greta’s lips turned down, but she nodded in agreement.
I was tempted to get up and hug her. Kenneth was amotherfucker. Right here, as I sat waiting for their lecture, I vowed to find more ways to fuck up his life when I got back to Jersey.
“We made a deal that we would never let anyone hurt her.”
I surveyed the girls, who both looked so much like Jess. “I would never hurt your mom.”
Greta’s body relaxed like she was satisfied with my response, but Kit only narrowed her eyes.
“I told you to stay away from her. But now she’s all giggly and happy and talks about you all the time.” She sighed. “She hasn’t been herself since we came up here, but then you show up, and suddenly she’s smiling again.”
My heart swelled with pride and hope. My rash decision to come here had been out of the ordinary for me, but the moment I stepped out of my car and Jess smiled at me, I’d known it was right. I wanted to be here. Jess, Kit, and Greta were my people.
“We also agreed that we would not let her date anyone unless they were extremely super awesome and got our approval.”
“How does one earn your approval?” I asked in my most professional tone. “Is there a written application? Lo can prepare some paperwork.”
Kit smirked. “Just an interview.”
“An interview? Will I have time to prepare?”
“Sure. But we’re gonna be tough.”
“Bring it, kiddos, because I really like your mom.”
The girls looked at one another, and Greta giggled. Kit, to her credit, did not, but I swore her lips twitched.
“That’s a good start,” Greta said, giving me a thumbs-up.
Kit nodded. “But this isn’t over.”
