Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 88742 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 444(@200wpm)___ 355(@250wpm)___ 296(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88742 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 444(@200wpm)___ 355(@250wpm)___ 296(@300wpm)
I get back home after work and find all of the kids running around. It also smells like Tammy might have something cooking in the kitchen. I leave my briefcase in the closet, where it usually sits while I’m at home, and make my way to the kitchen, hugging and kissing whatever child happens to pass by me. It’s wild to think we have seven kids. I love each and every one of them, but I just never thought I’d have a whole brood. I grew up an only child, and after throwing myself into my work, I’d never thought about having kids myself, not really. But Tammy changed all of that.
“Something smells good,” I say to my wife before giving her a kiss on the cheek. Every time I see her, intense feelings of love and adoration take over. She’s a great mother, a successful businesswoman, and the best partner I could ask for. She’s perfect.
“Yeah, I thought I’d make some baked mac and cheese and broccoli. The kids have been begging, and I couldn’t say no anymore.” Every single one of our kids is absolutely obsessed with cheese. I’m sure Sofie and Sammie will join in on that begging soon enough. They already love stuffing shredded cheese into their mouths the way some kids do cheerios.
“Well, I cannot wait to eat it.” Tammy finishes mixing everything together and pops the dish into the oven.
“It should be done in thirty minutes, so you’ll get to eat it pretty soon.” Her lips come up to touch mine, and I wrap my arms around her. I hear a peanut gallery of whispers from the children. I stop kissing my wife and look at the few who have gathered around us.
“Hello, children.” They all laugh and giggle before running off once more. The amount of energy these children have is astounding. “I’m going to get cleaned up before dinner.”
“Okay, I’m going to check on the twins. I’m sure they’ve gotten into some sort of mischief in this short amount of time.” I know those two girls are going to run us ragged. It always seems like they are plotting something, but they’re barely one, so that’s all in my mind, I’m sure.
But still, I just know.
Tammy and I split up. I go upstairs to wash my hands and face before changing out of my work clothes. Since I know dinner is going to be served soon, I do a sweep of the upstairs to see if anyone needs to be brought down with me. Everyone’s room is empty except for Dominic’s. He the quietest kid of the bunch.
“Hey, Nic. Are you reading something?”
“Yeah,” he holds up the book for me to see. “It was one of the items those companies sent to Harlow. She said I could have it.”
“Is it a good book?”
“Really good, but I have to finish it before I can know for sure.” He’s so advanced for his age. All of our kids succeed in their own ways, and it was a challenge to foster that individually at first, but it has become easier as time has passed.
“Well, Mom’s almost done making dinner. Can you come downstairs with me?”
“Yeah, okay,” he nods excitedly. We go back down to the living room, where the food is already laid out on a plate for everyone. I help Tammy get all of the kids settled.
We’re all sitting around our huge dining table, digging into the yummy mac and cheese, when I notice the kids have stopped eating. They’re all giving Harlow weird looks, and Aurora, who is sitting next to her big sister, is whispering something I cannot hear.
“Is everything okay?” I know the kids have their own little secrets, as siblings do, but I can’t help but be a little curious.
“Well, Daddy, we heard you and Mommy talking, and we want to know more about some stuff.”
“What stuff do you want to know about?”
“Like how you met. My friend Abby was telling me her daddy met her mommy on a plane. Did you guys meet on a plane?”
Tammy smiles, trying to hide her laughter.
“No, we didn’t meet on a plane. But I think your mommy tells the story better.” I’m a bit surprised that we’ve never told the kids a version of how we found one another. I guess we got too busy and just forgot.
“Well, I met your dad because I wanted to be a reality show contestant.”
“A reality show?” Bryson asks. “Like Top Chef?”
“Yes, honey! Like Top Chef, but this one was for flowers. Now, none of you should ever do this, and I apologized over and over for it, but I went to Daddy’s work without asking. I wanted to use the cameras because I thought it would make my video nicer, but I should have asked first.” The kids are focused on their mom telling this story.