Page 13 of Manny Included

Pete nodded.“It’s nice in there.The basement is going to be good too, for relaxing.”

“Is it finished or does it still need work?”He hadn’t even had a full tour of the house yet.And tomorrow, the packers were coming to box up the entire master bedroom.He wasn’t even going to go in there until it was done, though.He was thankful, yet again for Will.Best hire he’d ever made.Ironic too because Will had been having trouble finding work because he was older, but his life experience was what made him so good at his job.

“The construction is done.We were working on it—there’s a game room, a media room, and an art space slash library.”

“That does sound like a great basement.So it still needs furnishing, I’m guessing that is the missing component?”That would be easy enough.He had money to spare, and he didn’t plan on using any of the money Tony had left—that would all go to the kids for college funds and for when they got older.

Pete nodded, swallowing hard.“The three of us had made all these plans…”

“Well let’s make them come true then.Honor their wishes.”He wanted to make everything better.He needed to.It was who he was—he made things happen, made them work.

“I think… I think that sounds really nice.”Pete began to cry, and Bay wasn’t sure he even knew it.

He put his hand back on Pete’s shoulder, squeezed once or twice and patted it a few times.He didn’t know what else to do, but he couldn’t just ignore it either.

Pete seemed to be a good, decent type, someone who worried about the children, loved them, had adored Tony and Cindy… And they’d obviously believed in Pete, to make sure he stayed with the kids in the event they were gone.

“It’s going to be okay.You and the kids have each other.We’ll make it through this.”Even he’d figure it out sooner or later.

“They have you too, and you have them.Tony said you were a good man.”

He sort of doubted that… not that Tony would have said he was bad, but he knew he’d disappointed his brother more than once by not being available for family.A bitter voice at the back of his head said that this was Tony’s revenge—forcing him to be there for family.

“Food will be here soon,” he said because he didn’t knowwhatto say.

“Excellent.I’m starving.”He got a quick, almost real smile.“I bet the kids will be over the moon.”

“Is ordering out a treat?”He did not cook for himself, so ordering out was the name of the game.He and Doordash were on very friendly terms.“Who usually cooked?I mean we won’t have to worry after Monday.Will has arranged for two meals a day to be delivered, I think in weekly batches.Anyway, my point is aside from breakfasts we aren’t going to have to worry about it.”

“We all took turns—we enjoyed it.The three of us took cooking classes together.”

“Seriously?Even Tony?”He actually laughed at that, the thought of his brother in an apron, learning how to cook.It wasn’t something they’d ever been interested in growing up.

“Oh, god yes.He loved making stir fries and noodles.”

“Huh.So the kids eat stir fries and noodles?That’s pretty sophisticated for little ones, isn’t it?”He seemed to remember loving french fries and hot dogs and peanut butter sandwiches when he was little.

“They are all decent eaters, and Belle loves to experiment sometimes.Eric’s a tad pickier.”

“Good for them.Do they all like peanut butter sandwiches?”Like the burger, that felt like a comfort food for him.

“The two eldest do.Merida will just make a mess.The baby isn’t old enough.”

“I can make peanut butter and jam sandwiches.”Although that was about his limit in the kitchen, so maybe it wasn’t much of a boast.

“I love a nice PB&J for a snack in the afternoon.”

“On plain white bread.And with a glass of milk.”Like when he was a kid.He’d had that for lunch for several years running.The same thing over and over.Of course, he still had favorites that he could always eat, and when he was on his own, he’d get Korean BBQ ribs with rice or General Tso’s chicken night after night for supper.

He liked his food a little bit spicy, along with his men.Of course, he hadn’t been laid in far too long.

He finished the last of his whiskey, the booze taking the sharp edge off.

The doorbell rang, and he sighed softly.“Time for supper.I’ll get the food, and you get the kids,” he suggested.He got up and headed for the front door.

The food smelled good, and when he got back to the table, everyone but the baby was sitting there, waiting.

He hadn’t seen them altogether like this until now.It was amazing how much alike they all looked.“I’ve got supper right here.Deep fried tarantulas and boiled seaweed for everyone,” he teased.