Page 24 of Manny Included

“Why would I be angry with you?You care about these kids in an enormous way.It’s amazing.Of course I’m not angry with you.”

In fact, he respected the hell out of Pete.In this whole process, Pete was being absolutely selfless.

“I honestly don’t know what I would do without you, let alone what the kids would do.We owe you a whole lot.Some time off being the least of it.”

“I love them.I was there when every one of them was born.I was the third person to hold them.It’s important.”Pete sighed softly.Then he peeked at Merida.“What are you doing, little girl?Do you want a bite of donut?”

She shook her head.“I watch tooners.”

“Tooners.”Bay chuckled.“I can figure that one out.What kind of cartoons do you let her watch?”

“She likesBabarandDaniel Tiger’s Neighborhood.She’s also very intoPAW Patrol.And of course she’s seenBrave.She’s seen it since the day she was born.”Pete chuckled.“She’s allowed to watch cartoons in the mornings for about an hour.It gives me a chance to just relax, plan lunch, plan activities, and get the baby changed.”

“Good to know.We played fling the stuffed toy this morning.I think she was pleased.”Bay shrugged.He was doing the best he could.

“Oh, excellent.That’s one of her favorite games.”Pete leaned forward and grinned at him, warm eyes dancing with mischief.“Did you kiss the panda?”

“Shut up.”He took a bite of his dutchie.Damn, it was good.

“That’s true love right there.She let you kiss her panda.Sometimes she didn’t even let Tony kiss the panda.”

“Really?”That made him unexpectedly warm inside.“Well.Flynn chewed on a highland cow stuffie.”

“Flynn is still in a very oral stage of his life.”Pete looked over at the baby, who was now sound asleep lying on top of the cow.“I guess I should probably wake him up.Otherwise, he won’t want to take a nap this afternoon.”

“Can’t you just let him have his nap right now?”

“I could.”Pete leaned forward like he was telling a secret.“But if they can both take a nap at the same time, then I can take a nap.”

“Ah.”He grinned.“You know, being a Manny is a lot like being Chief Executive.”

“Is it?Do you have to wipe a lot of butts?”

Bay stared at Pete, utterly shocked for about half a minute.

Just about the time that Pete started looking nervous, he cracked up loud enough that the baby woke up and started crying.

“Oops.Sorry, Flynn.”And also Pete, because Pete was the one who had to go and deal with Flynn.

“I just meant there’s a lot of moving parts and the trick of it is to get everything going the way you want it.”

“I know what you meant.I was just teasing.”Pete bounced the baby and handed him a rattle.

“Ah.I didn’t get that.”He gave Pete a wink.

“It’ll take a little while before we get our cues together.”Pete’s smile was warm, gentle.

“I think we’ve got time.”Flynn wasn’t even one yet; they had years.

“Yeah…” Pete let his eyes go wide.“Lots of that.”

“Still don’t want me to bring in another nanny?”

“No.Not yet.Maybe later when you’re traveling or I need a vacation, but the kids don’t need anything new.”

“I don’t do vacations,” Bay admitted.

“No?I would have thought that you could have gone to the beach and the mountains and Paris for romantic dinners.”Pete actually looked surprised.