Page 81 of A Me and You Thing
Bree is watching us, her eyes following our hands. I grant her a smile too. “Thank you, Bree. Thank you for taking care of my girls.”
She shrugs. “Hey, I love my stolen life.”
I’m not fooled by her flippant attitude. I know how much she loved my babies and how she longed for her own children. I know she did it out of love.
The girls are watchingMoana,and every once in a while, they softly sing along. My heart does a little flip flop in my chest when I hear their voices. They’re so tiny and adorable. I think my heart just melted.
When the movie ends, Josie sits up and looks at me with surprise in her features. Jordyn follows.
“Hi,” Josie says.
“Hi, Josie. Hi, Jordyn.”
Jordyn reaches out and touches my overly long hair, then touches her own hair. It’s the same color as hers and she seems fascinated by that fact.
“Lello.” Jordyn no longer seems scared of me as she gets a little braver and plays with my hair.
“Yes, yellow. I have yellow hair and you have yellow hair. And Josie has yellow hair.”
“Daddy too,” Josie chimes in.
“Beezy, red,” Jordyn informs me.
Bree gets to her feet rather suddenly. “Apparently, I’m not a member of the club.”
“Of course you are, Bree.” Sawyer stands as well.
“Sorry, Quinn,” Bree says. “I hate to interrupt your time with them, but I know they’re hungry and dinner’s ready.”
“It’s okay.”
Bree claps her hands. “All right, girls, dinner time. C’mon, Grandma Claire made a yummy dinner for you.”
The girls toddle off behind Bree, leaving my arms feeling empty.
To me, Sawyer says, “Let’s get you in bed.”
I raise one eyebrow at him. Unfortunately, I don’t think he means what I hope he means.
“You need your rest. I’ll bring dinner up to you. You can eat in bed. C’mon, I’ll help you up the stairs.”
I can manage the stairs just fine, but I link my arm in his anyway because I’m craving his touch. Once at the top of the stairs, Bree calls out to him.
“Sawyer, can you help me with the lid on this jar?”
We face each other. “That’s part of my job description around here. Opening jar lids. That and killing spiders.”
“You’re needed.”
His half smile makes an appearance. “I’ll be right back. Will you be okay?”
“I’m fine. I remember the way.”
“Sorry, I know you do. It’s just that... I don’t want to leave your side. Don’t disappear on me,” he whispers.
“I’m not going anywhere.”
I watch him quickly take the stairs. At the bottom, he looks back up at me and smiles again, his huge smile that I love so much. It’s a besotted smile—and I return one his way. He brings his hand to his lips and blows me a kiss. I blow one right back at him.
