Page 61 of Manny Included

There was no reason to bother Bay.

He called Bay, worried, a little sick to his stomach.“Bay?”

“I don’t want you driving in this bad weather, Pete.”Bay’s voice was gruff but sure.

“Well, I don’t have a car, love.”He didn’t have a way to drive home.

“No Uber, either.I don’t want you on the road, okay?It’s too dangerous.”

“I—” Oh.Oh, poor Bay.He got it now—his lover had lost his family, just like he had.“All right.We’ll just hang out.Maybe get an ice cream.”

“That sounds perfect.It can’t storm forever and I’ll come get you as soon as it’s safe.”

“All right.Okay.Sounds good.Thank you.”He hung up and smiled.“Ice cream?”

“We aren’t going home?”Bella asked him.

“We are.But there’s an ice cream store right here.I thought we could have a cone while we waited.”He wasn’t sure his excuse would work, but there was a chance.

“Any flavor we want?”Eric asked.

He nodded.

And Eric pumped the air, Merida said “Cocolate!”and Belle looked happy with the answer.

They headed over, dodging the raindrops on the way to the ice cream with their shopping cart.

God, what a weird situation.

Still, the kids were happy, Eric wanting him to read every single flavor that was available.Belle examining the list of flavors for herself.Merida stuck with her desire for chocolate.

The baby could have a bottle, if he woke up.

They ended up with a chocolate, a strawberry, a mint chocolate chip, and a raspberry dark chocolate chunk.

Then they sat to wait.

They ate their ice cream and talked about what they could do on such a rainy day when they finally got home.And the rain kept coming down.

Finally he shook his head and called Bay back.“I’m getting an Uber.The food’s going to spoil.”

“No.I’ll come now and get you.I’ll be ten minutes or so.”

“All right.Thank you.”He hung up.“Uncle Bay is coming.”

“Good.I’m bored,” Eric told him.

“Well, when we get home, you can play outside in the backyard in the rain.Doesn’t that sound fun?”

“Yes!Mud-jumping!”

“Mud!Mud!Mud!”Merida cried out.

“That’s right.”He held up one finger.“Whenwe get home.”