Page 65 of Manny Included

“They’re having a ball.Do you want me to try to catch her?”

“She might like it, eh?To be able to use it?”Bay nodded.“Yeah, let’s give her the chance.”

“Sure.I’ll grab her.”Pete ran for the bathroom.“Belle?You want to use the big bathroom?”

“Mommy and Daddy’s?”she asked, frowning.

“Uncle Bay’s,” he nodded, breaking a little bit, but just a little bit this time.“The big bathroom, you want to go play in the big bathtub?”

She thought about it for a long moment, then nodded.“I would like to use Uncle Bay’s bathroom.”

“Cool.You need help starting the water, or do you have this?”Do you need help letting that room be Uncle Bay’s?

She took his hand and held on tight.“You can help me start it, please.”

“I totally will.Absolutely.”He helped her go in, glad that Bay had changed things around—the furniture was Bay’s, the artwork was Bay’s.It wasn’t the kids’ folks anymore.

Even the bathroom had different artwork, a solid dark shower curtain, and very masculine towels and bathmat.It smelled like Bay in here, too.

Belle took a deep, shaky breath and pushed into his arms.“I miss them, Petey,” she whispered.

“I know, honey.I do too.We all do.”He held her tight.That and a few reassuring words were all he had.All anyone had.

“You too, huh?”

He nodded.“Me too, huh.”

“Okay, well I’m cold…”

“So let’s take a nice warm bath.I can put music on if you want.”There was a smart speaker in this bathroom.He could play some of her favorite music.

“Oh, I’d love that.Can you leave the bedroom door open so that if I need you, you can hear?”

“Sure thing, sweetie.”

She gave him another tight hug before turning her attention to the bath.“Do you think Uncle Bay has any bath bombs?”

“Ooh… I bet I know someone who has a glitter bath bomb.”He’d been saving it for her birthday, but he’d buy another one.

“Glitter?”Her face lit up.“Yes, please.”

He chuckled.“You get your bath going and I’ll go find it.”

He left her happily running the water.

He found the bath bomb, got it sparkling and glittering for her, and then went to hose off the other two.

He found Bay in the middle of the task, both Eric and Merida laughing, their teeth chattering.Bay turned off the hose.

“Okay, you hooligans—time for your bath.”

“Come on!Bathtime!”He scooped Merida up, and wrapped her in his arms.“Let’s warm up.”

“You too, Eric.”Bay held out his hand and Eric took it and they all trooped upstairs to the main bathroom.

Pete got Merida washed off in the shower and then wrapped her up in a big towel and took her to get her dressed and warmed up for a nap.He left Eric to Bay, knowing the man would get him warmed up and watching a movie or coloring or something quiet.

“Luff.”