Page 8 of Painting Together a Family
“No, I’m not, but I do read during story hour at the community center a few days a week.”
“Oh, that’s nice. I don’t like reading a lot…”
“No? There are some amazing books out there. Such a huge variety. What don’t you like about reading?” Bryan asked before taking a sip of his tea.
Marley tugged Dev’s hand. “Where’d you meet him?”
“Through a lawyer. He was married to the evil one.”
Marley made a face. “Poor man.”
“Yes. He has kids too. Little ones.”
“That bites.”
It did. He knew exactly how much it did.
“So what have you got for homework?” Bryan asked Marley, turning his attention to Dev’s older daughter.
“I have a book report.” Marley frowned at him. “You’re sure you’re not a teacher?”
Bryan chuckled. “I’m very sure I’m not a teacher. But I do have two boys. They’re a lot younger than you guys, though. Is asking about homework a teacher thing?”
“I guess. I mean, a little.”
Juniper rolled her eyes. “Teachers give homework!”
“Okay. No more homework questions,” Bryan said solemnly.
“You have little boys? How old are they?” Juniper asked.
“Micah is four and Dylan is six. Dylan sometimes has homework,” Bryan told her with a wink.
Marley’s eyes lit up. “Oh, they’re little. I have my babysitting certification. I mean, if you ever need someone!”
“Oh, now, I could maybe use a babysitter. I don’t have one at the moment. You’ll have to meet my boys and see if you like them.”
“Oh, I will. I’m good with kids. I got an A in my class.”
“And you’re sure you’d be good with hanging out with two young boys?” Bryan asked.
“I would. I have my CPR, my first aid.”
“You’re so grown up,” Bryan told her. “I believe that my boys would be safe with you.” Bryan glanced over to him, met his gaze.
He smiled, nodded once. His girl was a sweetheart. “Decide what you want for supper, girls, and I’m going to sit with Bryan and chat.”
“You said we were having soup and matzo balls,” Juniper told him. It was one of her favorite meals.
“So I did. Well then, I guess you can go watch some TV.”
“Yes, Da!” Juniper bounded off, Marley moving more sedately, clearly too ‘grown-up’ to be rambunctious.
Bryan took another sip of his tea and shifted slightly, although there was plenty of room for him on the couch. “They seem like great girls. I’m gladyou know whodidn’t turn them evil.”
“Juniper doesn’t remember him. Marley went to therapy.” So had he. For years.
“I’m glad she doesn’t. Micah remembers a little bit—it’s more in the occasional nightmare than anything day-to-day. He goes to therapy too, though, because his big brother does. I mean, they go separately, but because Dylan goes, Micah wants to go too, and now that I can afford it, I figure there’s going to be something he needs to talk to a neutral party about, right? And it’s not like he has another parental figure he can talk to…”
