Page 31 of A Summer Mismatch
“Gah,” he said, lurching his head into the backboard, groaning when it cracked the wood.
Leo and Amelia giggled before climbing onto his bed, followed by Gatsby, who sprawled across Logan’s legs like a lap dog instead of a seventy-five pound lab.
He’d forgotten how early Leo and Amelia liked to wake up. It wasn’t even six yet. He rubbed the back of his sleep-mussed head and kicked Gatsby off the bed.
“How’d you sleep?” he asked the kids. He’d set them up in the queen bed in his guest room. He’d told Gatsby to stay in the kitchen, but he had no doubt that the dog had sneaked into the kids’ room to curl up with them all night.
“Wonderfully. The bed was so lovely,” Amelia said.
Logan bit back a smile. Amelia’s vocabulary was above and beyond most five-year-olds, and she adored reading, which often meant she was trying out new words. Which reminded him…
He got out of bed and grabbed Julia’s picture books. “Do you guys want me to read you a couple of books before breakfast?”
The kids cheered and he led them to the living room to snuggle on the couch, everyone still in their pajamas. He’d worn his Christmas pajamas from a few years ago—a two-piece flannel, button-up set, complete with tiny llamas wearing Santa hats. His mom had always been able to find the strangest pajamas for them. Last Christmas, no one had thought to buy pajamas. He resolved that this year, he’d be the one to do it. He didn’t want to lose that tradition.
He read Julia’s three picture books to them, which kept the kids’ attention the entire time. She knew exactly how to connect to the kids’ sense of humor, as well as making them feel things deeply. The pictures were a great addition as well—colorful and bold.
They finished reading the stories, and he complied with the, “Again!” twice, but his stomach’s twisting told him it was time to eat breakfast. They ate pancakes shaped like clouds, all changed their clothes, and then piled into the truck to go see Nonna and Grandpa. He’d packed a duffel bag with swimsuits, sunscreen, and hats.
“Bring Gatsby, okay?” Leo said.
“He’ll pee on your carpet if you don’t,” Amelia informed him matter-of-factly.
Logan raised his eyebrows. “I only have carpet in the bedrooms, and I’ll close the doors.” Nonna would start flipping tables if he brought a hairy dog into her pristine home.
Nonna had hugs, kisses for each cheek, and treats for them as they came into the house. Grandpa had bought a couple of puzzles and games to play with the kids, and they ate up the attention like they were starving for it.
“Should we pack a lunch and head to the beach?” Logan asked Nonna.
“Let’s get lunch down at the clubhouse. I want to show Sweetie to the kids.”
“Who’s Sweetie?”
“An alligator that wears costumes,” Nonna said. “It’s the darndest thing.”
“Like the book we read!” Amelia said. “Sweetie’s costumes get stolen, and she and her friend Bear have to go looking for them.”
“What book is that?” Grandpa Byrd asked. He was bouncing Leo wildly on his knee, and the little boy was giggling and making noises to match the bumpiness of the ride.
Logan paused before answering. Should he say anything? He didn’t want to risk inciting drama so early in the morning.
“The author’s name is Julia Peters,” Amelia answered before he could make a final decision. “We read three of her books this morning, but the one about Sweetie was my favorite.”
“Julia Peters.” Grandpa frowned.
“You’re saying Sweetie is a real alligator?” Logan asked Nonna before Grandpa could press further.
Nonna’s smirk let him know she’d caught on. “That’s exactly what I’m saying. And he lives down at the community center fountain.”
“How is that safe?”
“Sweetie’s mouth is bound when she’s out in public.”
Logan still didn’t like the idea. He’d seen too many careless people get hurt by animals, and he’d learned to respect wild animals for what they were. Someone might dress Sweetie up to make her look friendly and benign, but Logan knew better. “Sweetie being at the community center is even more reason for us to go to the beach.”
“It’ll be fine,” Nonna assured him. “I won’t let the kids get too close. And Aaron, his trainer, is working today, so it’ll be extra safe.”
“They’re serving the chicken cordon bleu for lunch,” Grandpa added.
