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I glance out the back window. “She’s at it again with Christian.”
Allie cranes her head to see. “There are worse things than Bug playing soccer with Christian every day.”
I study the two teens.Playingsoccer is a stretch. With Christian’s mobility limitations, he pretty much stands there and kicks the ball when she sends it his way.
“She used to do this with Mel, you know. They were on a rec team together for a few years when they were younger.”
“You should be happy she’s making friends.”
I scoff. “You mean friend. As in singular. Even with all our attempts to introduce her to every other teen in Calloway Creek, he’s the one she clings to.”
“He’s a great kid, Asher. And it’s nice that she’s not staying locked up in her room texting Mel all hours of the day like she did last month.”
“I suppose.”
I watch Christian through the glass, amazed at his determination. His drive to be so confident and cheerful in the face of his disability.
His dad, Carter, and I have become friends despite Allie not holding him in high regard—other than raising the amazing kid he’s raising. But I think that just stems back to some old family feud. It’s still a bit confusing why she’s best friends with Mia but has an aversion to her brothers, even her twin, Dax.
Oh, right… Mia is a twin.
“Has Mia given you any pointers on having twins?”
She laughs, taking our dirty breakfast dishes to the sink. “Miaisa twin. She didn’traisetwins. Big difference. If you want to know about all the mischief she and Dax got into as kids, then, yeah, I have a lot of stories. Other than that…”
I rub my brow. “No, no. I don’t want to know. I’d rather live in ignorant bliss thinking our kids will be little angels.”
“What fun is that?” She sets down the dish she’s rinsing. “You’re not going to be the kind of dad who doesn’t let his kids get into a bit of trouble now and again, are you? It’s all part of growing up.”
“You’re going to have to cut me a break. My only experience has been with Bug, who’s been the perfect kid.” I hear my own words and backtrack. “Present circumstances notwithstanding. I mean, the most rebellious thing she’s ever done was take an Uber without my permission.”
“The most rebellious, huh?” She takes the seat next to me. “How about the texts she sent to the women you were dating? The note with the flowers. The pool incident? The—”
I close my eyes. “Okay, I get it. So she’s not perfect.”
Allie grabs my hand and rubs it gently. “No child is perfect, Asher. All we can do is try to give them the proper tools to deal with whatever comes their way. You’re a wonderful father. And Darla is a good kid. You should be proud.”
“Proud, huh?” He gazes back outside. “I’m not proud of the way she treats you.”
“It’s not as bad as it was. At least she eats dinner with us now.”
“We’ve been living in Calloway Creek for weeks, and all we have to show for it is that she eats dinner with us? I’m doing this all wrong.”
“You’re doing nothing wrong. You’re letting her accept things at her own pace. Believe me, that’s better than forcing it on her.”
I turn and look her right in the eyes. “But sweetheart, I want to marry you. At this rate I’ll be old and gray before that happens.”
She touches my temple. “Who says you already aren’t?”
I laugh. She takes every opportunity to joke about our age difference. It doesn’t bother me, though. It just reminds me how lucky I am to have her.
“Speaking of that, how would you like to celebrate your upcoming birthday?”
I shrug. “Forty-one isn’t that important.”
“Every birthday is important.”
“Well then…” I wrap an arm around her and whisper in her ear, “I’d like to celebrate by making love to my beautiful—”