Page 47 of Painting Together a Family
“Me, too, man. Me, too.” For all the reasons.
CHAPTER TEN
Dev woke up to barely muffled giggles and whispers, and a pounding headache.
He’d been up and down all night, but about five a.m., he’d crashed hard, just finally giving up.
“Hey,” Bryan said quietly. “I bet you’re hurting. It’s nearly eleven a.m. I didn’t have the heart to wake you at eight.”
“It’s okay. How are the kids?” Are they all getting along?
“They’re great. My boys are loving this pajama day thing. Let me get you your pills, yeah?”
“Just one, not two. I want to be awake for the day.” Dev was already fuzzy enough.
“Okay, but if it gets to be too much for you, let me know and I’ll give you the other one. I’ll be right back.” Bryan was as good as his word popping into the kitchen and coming back with a glass of water with a straw. Bryan handed him a pill and the glass.
“Thanks. I appreciate your help. Really.”
“It’s no problem. Honestly. The kids are having a blast. And Marley and I put in a grocery order—we’re going to do cooking lessons and you all get to eat whatever we manage to cook.” Bryan looked pretty amused at that.
“Perfect. I texted my lawyer last night—she’s having security cameras installed, and we can have movers get the rest of your things, if that is something you want to discuss.”
“Like everything?” Bryan looked a little stunned.
“It’s totally up to you, and we can discuss things in a few days if you want. He’s going to get bail. He’s going to be free. So maybe you have things you want for a few days, a few weeks?” He didn’t mind the idea of being roommates, to be honest. It was good to have another adult around, and he liked Bryan. In fact, he liked Bryan a whole lot more than you liked a simple roommate.
The guilt of knowing he had put Bryan in this situation was also a factor.
“Yeah, you’ve got a point.” Bryan nodded. “After the boys are in bed tonight, I’ll go back with the duffel bags empty and make sure we have everything that can’t be replaced. Just in case.”
“We’ll talk about it, okay? When everyone else is busy.”
“Or asleep,” Bryan suggested. “They are having a blast by the way. I hope it’s okay, I told them they didn’t have to do any schoolwork. I figured pajama day meant full-on day off.”
“Absolutely. I figure the periodic mental health day is necessary.”
“After yesterday, I’d agree.” Bryan shivered. “Okay. Breakfast—do you want any? Or do you just want some of whatever we have for lunch? Which is going to depend on whether or not our grocery order arrives.”
“Whatever. I’m easy. I just want to?—”
“Daddy!” Juni jumped right in the middle of him.
“Careful!” Bryan cried out. “Remember how we talked about being gentle with your father?”
“Oh! Oh, sorry. How’s your hand, Daddy?”
“Broken, but it’s going to heal.” He hugged her close.
“Is this okay?” Juni asked, curling into him. It felt so good to hold her.
“Absolutely. I missed you yesterday evening. Did you like Jennie?”
“Uh-huh. She was cool. She can crotch-et.”
“Crotch-et?”
“Uh-huh. With yarn and a stick.”
