Page 9 of If I Didn’t Have You

“Well, we’re not looking at shoes today.”

“What kind of computer do you want to get?” Bailey asked excitedly.

“Oh, I was thinking of one of those fun colored computers.”

“A colored computer?” Krista snorted. “Do you even know how to use a computer?”

“I used to,” I snapped. “But my children kept taking over until I had no time on the computer at all. It’ll be fine.”

“Maybe you should start with something cheaper until you learn how to use it,” Bailey said gently. “You know, just in case you decide it’s too…complicated.”

“Bailey Bennet Parker, are you telling me that I’m too old to figure out how to use a computer?”

Her eyes widened as she shook her head. “No, not at all.”

“Good, because I’m getting the one I want, and I’m getting a new desk as well. Maybe even a cool lamp for the corner.” I beamed as I imagined my new workspace. “And I want a new CD player.”

Krista stifled a snort from the front seat. “Mom, you can just get a speaker.”

I bristled at her tone. “What good does a speaker do if I don’t have music to play from it?”

“It plays from Bluetooth. That way, you can just listen to a streaming service and play whatever you want.”

“Can I still listen to the radio?”

“Of course.”

“So…I don’t need my CDs?”

“Nope. That’s a thing of the past,” Bailey grinned. “Well, they are starting to make a comeback, but this saves on space. You just scroll through your phone and find the music you want.”

I pulled out my flip phone and handed it to her. “Show me.”

Chuckling, she handed it back. “I think we’re going to have to do a little bit more shopping before we get her a speaker.”

4

BEN

“You want to do what?” Liam asked as we stared at the living room wall.

“Your mother wants to rip down this wall.”

“For what purpose?” Michael asked.

I grunted in amusement. “Because she’s a woman.”

“Yeah, I have one of those, but even so, I wouldn’t rip down a perfectly good wall for her.”

Very slowly, I turned to face my extremely stupid son. “This from the man who gets thrown through a window when he disagrees with his wife.”

He shrugged as he continued to stare at the wall. “Okay, you might have a point, but surely you can reason with her.”

“Since when can you reason with a woman?” Liam asked, sighing heavily. “Let’s face it. As soon as the women see what we’re doing here, we’re going to hear about all the improvements needed in our homes.”

“But I just built my home,” Michael argued. “My home doesn’t like changes. It will literally kill you if you try.”

“Then be grateful that you’re saved from having to make too many home improvements,” I said, slapping him on the shoulder. “In the meantime, we have to figure out how to tear down a load-bearing wall and turn this into an open concept.”