She’s wearing light-up sneakers, sparkly purple leggings, a pink puffer coat, and what looks like a cape. Her dark, curly hair is in a ponytail that probably looked nice and neat before they left the house, but now looks like a bird’s nest.
Her little face is flushed from excitement, her eyes wide and bright.
Savannah appears, carrying two coffees and looking like she’s already ready to call it a day.
“You made it,” my sister says with a smile.
I set a squirming Rhyan down and pull Savannah into a one-armed hug. “Told you I’d be here.”
“You did, but you told me you’d be here for baseball too.” She says it lightly, but I hear her disappointment underneath.
There it is. A hit to the ribs.
She says it lightly, but I hear her disappointment underneath.
“I know,” I say quietly.
Her expression softens. She can cut me open with one sentence, then try to put me back together within minutes.
“Hey,” she says, squeezing my arm. “I’m not trying to make you feel bad.”
“Yeah, well, too late.”
“It’s just because I miss you, you know?”
I huff a laugh. “I miss you too.”
She hands me one of the coffees. “It’s black, like your soul.”
“How thoughtful. And also needed.”
“I know.” She winks at me.
“Chris working today?” I ask.
“Yeah, he was supposed to be off, but he got called in. Emergency C-section.”
I nod. I like my brother-in-law, but I hate how often my sister is alone.
Rhyan tugs hard on my hand. “Uncle Wyatt, you have to watch Remy. He’s a beast on the ice.”
“A beast, huh?”
“Yes.” She nods seriously. “But not as dangerous as me.”
Savannah sighs. “She told her teacher yesterday that she plans to rule the dragons by combat.”
I look down at my niece. “Smart. Diplomacy only gets you so far.”
“Wyatt,” Savannah warns.
I shrug. “What? I fully support leadership development.”
My sister points at me. “Please don’t encourage the monarchy.”
“Honestly, I’m surprised she’s still in this phase. I thought, by now, she would have moved on to something else. Maybe something dance related?”
“Oh, she’s still in dance, and surprisingly hasn’t kicked anyone lately. But I think we’re in the dragon phase for a while. She asked Chris if she could have a throne for Christmas.”
