Series: Little Cakes Series by Pepper North
Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 45110 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 226(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45110 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 226(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
It was such a simple solution. She’d have the pillow she always needed to sleep as well as a change of clothes. With Evan standing in her bedroom, she couldn’t worry about what clothes to take. Tori grabbed comfortable clothes and underwear and stuffed them into the improvised suitcase.
“Can we take Coral, too?” she asked.
“I think she needs an adventure, too. Is Terry home? We should alert him that you’ll let him know if you won’t be home.”
“Okay.” Tori swallowed hard. She knew that was the right thing to do, but it was embarrassing.
Knock, knock, knock. The couple turned to find Tori’s brother standing in the open doorway. “Heading out?” he asked.
“Yes. We’re going to have a cookout at my house after hiking. Tori may wish to crash there,” Evan said easily.
“You’ll text me if you’re not coming home?” Terry asked Tori directly.
“I will,” she promised.
“What’s your number and address, Evan, in case I need to get in touch with you?” Terry requested, pulling out his phone.
“That’s not necessary…” Tori began before Evan provided the requested information without hesitation.
“Thanks,” Terry said to Evan before turning to Tori. “You get to make your own decisions now. Be sure. You can’t rewind time.”
Tori peeked at Evan’s face. Would he be mad? At the sight of his nod of agreement, she answered, “I’ll text you, Terry.”
“Have fun hiking,” he answered and disappeared out the door.
Evan picked up Coral and plucked the sunglasses off before cuddling her in the nook of one arm. “You hold on to these. We don’t want to lose them again,” he instructed before picking up the pillow.
“I can carry Coral,” Tori said quickly. She needed to apologize to the stuffie. As she followed Evan from the room, she whispered her sorries into Coral’s ear and hugged her close when the sweet dragon forgave her.
“All better?” Evan asked as he held the front door open for the two to step outside.
“Yes, Daddy,” she confirmed happily.
“Off to the hiking trail,” he enthused, guiding her with a hand on her lower back to the car.
“Where are we going?” she asked a few minutes later when they were on the road.
“A preserve known for its gophers. I thought you’d enjoy watching their antics.”
“Gophers?” She bounced in her seat. “This is going to be so fun. I can’t wait to see them.”
“I want you to promise you’ll listen to my instructions when we’re in the park. It would be easy to get distracted by all that’s around you and miss something important. This is an easy hike but there are more creatures in the area and it’s easy to turn an ankle or fall.”
“Okay, Daddy,” she answered automatically as she thought of gophers. She couldn’t wait to see them pop their heads out of the holes. “Think I’ll get to pet them?”
“No, Curls. Don’t even try. They’re wild animals. We want to enjoy them as they are naturally.”
“Are you going to take pictures?” she asked, peeking in the back at the large camera bag on the rear seat.
“I thought I might.”
“Are you going to take pictures of me?”
“I’d like to snap a few shots to remember this day,” he answered, looking over at her. “Would that be okay?”
“Just for us, right?”
“I would never share anything between you and me without your permission.”
“That’s okay then,” she agreed. “I don’t take pictures well, but I’d love to have a picture of us.”
“There will be lots of picture of us, Curls. I can’t wait to capture your sweet smile on film. We could even print a few pictures this afternoon if you’d like,” he offered.
“You can do that yourself?” she asked in amazement.
“I’ll even teach you if you’d like to learn.”
“Oh, I wouldn’t be good at that.”
“You never know until you try, Little girl.”
“Do you develop them in your darkroom?” she asked.
He grinned. “I don’t really have a darkroom these days, Curls. I was kidding about that. I have a fancy printer. That’s all I need.”
“Ohh,” she responded.
“Look! There’s the turn off.” Evan pointed ahead at a large sign at the entrance in front of them.
He turned into the small parking lot and pulled his car into a space. There were only a few cars in the lot. Evan looked meaningfully at Tori when she automatically reached for the door release. Instantly, she slumped against the seat back.
“I want to go see the gophers,” she protested.
“We’ll be on the trail in five minutes. I promise.”
Sticking her lower lip out slightly, she waited for Evan to get out and circle the car to open her door. Tori scrambled out and started forward only to freeze at his authoritative, “Stop right there, Little girl.”
“What now?” she asked, gesturing emphatically at the visible trail leading over a small rise.
“Wait for Daddy. Come stand next to the car,” he instructed. “Put your palm on the paint. Don’t move it until I take your hand.”