Page 114 of Nothing to This

“Don’t encourage them,” she said.Before she could reach up to the high shelf for the detergent, he’d retrieved it for her.“Thank you.”

“Mommy says people get wedded if they love each other.”

“Yes, that’s true.”

“Mommy loves you.”

“Does she?”

“Yes, she said so.Mommy loves you.Do you love Momma?”

“Okay,” she said, getting in there before he could answer.“You two, stop stirring things up.”She pointed at each of the kids, then gave JD a shove.“And you stop looking so proud of yourself.”

“Come on, Momma,” he said, scooping an arm around her to bring her into the circle between him and the kids.“It’s an easy question.”

“One we won’t be answering today.”

“I want a baby sister.”

“Oh my God,” she said, her head falling back as a single burst of laughter came from the man at her back.

“Ha!Sky, sweetheart, you are my hero.”

Holding up both hands, she tried to push back, but JD just wrapped his arms around her.

“Did you pay her to say that?”

“That little girl works for me,” JD said into the top of her head for all to hear.“We’re increasing their allowance.”

“They don’t get an allowance.”

“Not a boy,” Sky said, in her own world, as usual.“No more boys.”

“Well, see…” she said, bowing closer to her daughter.“That’s up to Daddy.He decides whether our baby would be a boy or a girl.”

“Daddy, I want a baby sister.”

“Thanks, put that one on me.”

“Just telling her how it is.”

“It’s not a conscious choice, Sproutette.But I’ll take as many shots as necessary to get you a baby sister.”

“You do not mean that,” she said, bumping her hips against him.His embrace loosened to slide his hands onto them.“As many shots?”

“Yep.”The beaming pride in his tone shook her head.Was this guy for real?“If we get a boy first, second, third—”

“We’re out of here, baby Dawes’!”Brenna called from beyond the room.

She put Sky down as JD set Kye on his feet so both of them could run and say goodbye to their aunt.JD turned, but she caught his hand.

“Don’t encourage them,” she whispered.

He cupped her face.“They want our family together,” he said.“They’re happy.”

“I thought we weren’t telling them about us.”

“I didn’t tell them.Did you?”