Page 113 of Nothing to This

“That’s what they’re paid for.”

“Gimme your backpacks,” she said, helping Kye remove his as JD put him down.Brenna handed over the bigger pack when she opened a hand for it.“Both of you come with me.”

The kids fell into line behind her, following her into the laundry room.

“Did you have fun, Mommy?”

She smiled.“Yes, sweetpea, I did.”She helped one kid and then the other remove their tee-shirts.“I missed both of you, like crazy.”Lifting them onto the counter beside the washer, she discarded their little boots.“We have to wash those later.Are you going to help me?”

“Did you get wedded, Momma?”Sky asked.

She hadn’t expected the question but wasn’t surprised hers had been swerved.“Married, honey.People have a wedding to get married.”

“Did you do it?”

Tipping the clothes in the packs into a basket, she sorted them into the washer.“No, sweetpea.”

“Why not?”

“Weddings aren’t like that.They’re not like the movies when it happens overnight.Weddings take a long time to plan.”

“Daddy could plan it,” Sky said, cupping her hair in a palm to let it slide through, like a pet running from one hand to the other.“We want Daddy to stay forever.”

“I know you do, sweetpea, but that’s not a reason to get married.”

“What is a reason?”Kye asked.

“People get married because they love each other.”

Sky’s inhale was so elated, it startled her.“Mommy loves Daddy!”

“Baby—”

“Mommy, we love him!”

Cupping one face, then the other, she kissed each of them on the head.“Yes.Because he gave me you.There’s nothing in this world I value more than both of you.”

“Everyone behaving?”JD sauntered up beside her to plant his hands on the counter on either side of the twins.“Did you miss me?”

Trust him to ask that question.“Can I have their pants, please?”

He got to work balancing each kid to slip off their tiny cargo pants.

“Daddy, we want you to stay here.Not go away like before.”

“I am staying,” he said.“Don’t you worry about that, Sproutette.”

“Will you wedded Mommy?”

“Will I what?”

“Madded,” Kye said, then frowned.“Mommy—”

“Married,” she explained, checking pockets for anything that shouldn’t end up in the washer.“You have a wedding to get married.”

“You have to wedding Mommy,” Sky demanded.“Now, like now.”

“Okay.”That smirk in his voice tickled the back of her neck.“Vegas?”