Page 63 of Manny Included

Bay chuckled, helping him take in all the bags.“They’re going to be a mess, aren’t they?”

“They are.They work off the ice cream, and they can bathe, have food, and then go to bed.Well, maybe not Belle, but you know what I mean.In fact, I got hot dogs so that dinner is easy.”Pete winked at Bay.“Hot dogs for everybody, chili dogs for us.”

“Which are just hot dogs with chili and cheese on them.”Bay was learning.

“Yep.Maybe even diced onions.”

“Ooooo.But no mustard,” Bay said, winking.

“No mustard.Got it.”He grinned over and put the lettuce and peppers in the fridge.

Bay helped him, emptying the bags and setting everything on the counters for him.

Every so often, he peeked out of the kitchen window, searching out the kids.

They were well and truly muddy.It was going to be fun getting them all cleaned up.

But they were playing, having fun, and no one was fighting.He’d take it.

Bay leaned against the counter next to him, watching the kids for a moment.“They don’t need a lot to make them happy, do they?”

“No.Love, food, a little fun—that’s enough.”

“Yeah…” Bay kept watching, seeming far away.

“Are you all right?”He touched Bay’s hand, stroking it nice and gentle.

Bay blinked a couple times, then nodded.“I am.I was just… I guess I hadn’t really thought about them in a while.Today sort of caught me by surprise.”

“Yeah.Grief surprises you sometimes.”He knew that.

Bay nodded and slid an arm around his shoulders, gave him a side hug.

He leaned in, sighing softly.“We’ll figure it out.”

“Yeah.I’m just having a day.I’ll find a happy face for the kids, I promise.”

Oh, poor Bay.“How can I help?”

He hated this… sorrow.

“A hug?”

“Anytime.”He turned and hugged Bay, folding the dear man in his arms and holding on.“I have you.I promise.I won’t let go.”

Bay’s arms wrapped around his waist, head buried against his neck, and just held on.

It was easy to let Bay rest, to comfort him.He stroked Bay’s head, humming deep in his chest.

Eventually Bay took a deep breath, let it out, and then stepped away.“Sorry.”

“For what?I care for you.”And he didn’t mind at all.

“I try not to fall apart.I need to be strong for them.”

“We both do, thank god we have each other, huh?”

“Yeah.We can take turns falling apart.”Bay gave him a wink.“So what’s the game plan for getting the mud off them?”