Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 88041 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88041 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
“There is my favorite baby girl.” She tries to get Alex, who hides her hands in her chest as she lies on her father, hiding in his neck. “Well, I see she hasn’t lost her love for dad.” She laughs as she kisses Max on the cheek. “Hey, son.” It didn’t take my mother long to fall in love with Max, and as soon as Matthew and Cooper saw that she accepted him, it was a little easier convincing them.
“Come see Mommy,” I tell Alex while I try and grab her. “So Daddy can bring in the things.”
She grunts out her displeasure in leaving her father. “Dada, Dada, Dada.”
I roll my eyes as I carry my whiny daughter inside the house as the boys unload the car. I place her down in the family room as she crawls over to her toys that she hasn’t seen in a while. She puts everything in her mouth.
“You look like you lost weight. Are you okay?” my mother asks and I just nod.
“Yeah, I’m fine. It was a hectic summer. Alex was all over the place. I spent half the time running after her,” I explain to her as the front door swings open and Michael runs in.
“Uncle Matthew is here with Auntie Karrie,” he says as Matthew walks in with Karrie following behind him as the kids around them, all going to see Alex in the room, who shakes her hands up and down in excitement seeing all the kids.
“We brought pizza,” he says as he puts down the five pizza boxes he is holding on the island as Karrie smiles and places paper plates she is carrying beside them.
“Welcome home. Nothing says welcome home like twenty people showing up, right?” She looks at Matthew, who rolls his eyes.
“I wanted to come and see my niece and nephew. Kiss me,” he says as he walks into the room, picking up Alex, who grabs his face, pinching him as he tosses her in the air, blowing bubbles on her stomach.
“You look just like your mommy.”
She laughs, not understanding what he says, so she counters with, “Dada, Dada, Dada.”
“I look like my dad,” Michael says from beside him as Matthew looks down at him, putting Alex back on the floor and taking Michael, tossing him up.
“You may look like your dad, but you’re all Grant inside.”
“Horton,” Max says as he comes into the room. “Ignore your uncle. His old age is getting to him.”
I see Matthew whisper fuck you to him.
“You’re older than me.”
“Your sister keeps me young.” He winks at him and then Matthew throws his head back, groaning.
“Sick, sick, sick.” Then he turns back to Michael. “Did you practice your stick handling while you were gone?”
Michael shakes his head. “We went fishing.”
“Okay, fine, but tomorrow you come over and we can play hockey.” He puts him down, coming into the kitchen, grabbing a plate, and putting pizza inside.
“Did you get the e-mail Oliver sent everyone?” Matthew asks while chewing his pizza, “he is insane.”
“Why?” I ask as I cut a tiny piece of pizza and give Alex some as she sings da da da da.
“For the Horton Grant Pediatric foundation picture, he wants us all to be in our tux suits, with no pants.” Max tells me, leaning over and kissing Alex.
I laugh at the thought, “I mean it might be really really good.”
“You know some of the guys cover their junk when he comes in the room right.” Matthew says, “when you came in they would stand up and lift a leg to have it hang, meanwhile now they just cover it. It’s hilarious.”
Our quiet night becomes a welcome back party as everyone drops by. Even Zoe and Zara, who come in with candy for the kids. Luckily, I intercept it before they can give it to them. By the time everyone leaves, Michael is dragging his feet to his bed and Alex sleeps on her father’s shoulder, her hands under her. He places her in the crib as she fusses a bit.
“It’s okay, princess, Daddy is here.” He taps her bottom as she falls back to sleep.
I tuck Michael in as Max comes into the room, kissing him goodnight as he turns on his side and falls asleep before we walk out the door.