Page 110 of Levi Bailey has Butterflies

Dinner—whew, everyone quiets down some at dinner.

We gather around the table, squeezing in Mom’s dining room. Miles and Alice share a bench to fit everyone at the table and in the quaint space.

“So,” Coop says—attempting conversation, even kindness. “You’re an author?”

I haven’t told my brothers or my mom Bob’s pen name—they simply know him by Bob, Meredith’s uncle. Coco knows, but then, I tell her most things. She has a little more finesse than the boys.

Bob gives a nod toward Cooper.

“Have you written anything I’d know?”

Meredith sets a hand over Bob’s—who I’m pretty sure would love an escape at this point. “The Road at the End of the World,” she offers.

“I’ve heard of that,” Cooper says, holding out his fork and waving it toward Bob.

“That’s—wait,” Miles scratches the back of his neck. “Isn’t that Allen Finch?”

“That’s his pen name,” Meredith says to which she gets a side eye from Bob. “Well, it is.”

“Allen Finch?” Owen’s roast falls from his fork, but he doesn’t seem to notice. “TheAllen Finch?”

“Yes. But to everyone else, Bob Allen.” Meredith grins at him. “He’s brilliant.”

“I read an article once that said you read people like a baker reads recipes—err something like that. Is that true?” Miles grins—clearly, my shy brother hadn’t planned on meeting a literary hero tonight.

“He understands people,” Meredith says.

Cooper laughs. “Can you read us? What would you say about me?”

“Coop,” I growl and attempt to kick him beneath the table.Whoops—sorry Owen.

“You are motivated,” Bob says, surprising us all with an answer, “and a bit of a goofball.”

Alice laughs. “Do me!”

Bob gives the young girl a small smile. It’s the most he’s offered today. She’s hard to resist, our Alice. “You are wise and will be wiser still.” He’s taken on a regal tone like he might be our personal fortune teller.

“Whoa.” Alice has one brow spiked on her head. “You’re good. I am so wise!” She stabs a finger toward my brother. “Now Miles!”

Bob peers at Miles for only a second. “Quiet—”

“You don’t have to be intuitive to know that,” Cooper mutters with a chuckle. Only to have Alice elbow him in the side.

“Yes,” Bob agrees. “But he listens to everything. He understands. You remind me of Jackson Hall.”

“Who?” Coops asks.

“A character from one of his books,” Miles says.

“Shush,” Alice sets a finger to her lips and gets right in Cooper’s face. “Let the man do his thing.”

“Sit, ma’am,” her father tells her.

She bounces in her seat like this is the best show she’s ever been to. “Now Uncle Bear.”

“Uncle Bear? That must be our Levi.”

My cheeks burn pink with Bob’s use of the word “our”.

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